Tea is often viewed as a comforting everyday beverage, but for connoisseurs, certain varieties are nothing short of liquid gold. Not just your average bags from the grocery store, these 15 exquisite teas come with a price tag reflecting their rarity and unparalleled quality.
Yellow Gold Tea Buds
Available only at TWG tea in Singapore, these soft buds come from one mountain in China’s Sichuan province. They are picked once a year, and skilled workers use golden scissors to cut the buds, which are then covered in 24-karat edible gold, giving them a special metal taste.
Makaibari and Jungpana Tea
If you want a really special cup of tea, Makaibari Tea from Darjeeling’s oldest tea garden is a great choice. It tastes fantastic and is made in a way that cares for the earth. Makaibari has been a leader in using organic, fair trade, and earth-friendly farming.
Da Hong Pao
Grown in the rocky Wuyi Mountains of China’s Fujian Province, this rare oolong tea has a special taste and a high price. Called “Big Red Robe,” it has a rich smell like orchids. What makes Da Hong Pao even more special is the association with an old legend where people say it once cured an emperor
Tieguanyin
This tea is special because it’s made through a careful process of picking, drying, rolling, and then drying again to create its unique taste. The tea picked in the spring and autumn is the most popular because it has a fruity and sometimes berry-like flavor. It was named after the goddess Guanyin.
Pu’er Tea
Famous for its special aging and fermentation process, Pu’er tea is like fine wine. It grows in Yunnan, China, and can be kept for many years, getting tastier over time. The traditional way, called “shēng” (raw), takes a long time, while the quicker “shóu” (ripe) method speeds things up.
Gyokuro
First made popular in the 1830s because of its special taste. Unlike regular sencha, which grows in bright sunlight, Gyokuro leaves are covered for about 20 days before they are picked. This changes the taste of the tea, making it very rich and sweet.
Narcissus Classic
Although Narcissus Classic has the same name as some lower-quality teas you find in dim sum places, this one is the real thing. Grown on dark rock cliffs in the Wuyi Mountains, this tea tastes very different. Like many oolongs, Narcissus Classic goes well with many foods and desserts.
Junshan Yinzhen
Interestingly, this tea was said to be Chairman Mao Zedong’s favorite tea and is sometimes sold as white tea. When we think about expensive teas, Junshan Yinzhen really stands out. Just think about sipping tea that is connected to important people in China.
Longjing (Dragon Well)
A special green tea called Longjing comes from Hangzhou, China. It is known for being soft and sweet. People make it by hand, which makes it better quality. The good quality of this tea comes from how it is made, the right weather, and the extra care given to grow the tea leaves.
Jasmine Pearls
With its lovely smell and taste, tea fans love luxury tea. The careful work of rolling the leaves by hand and adding a jasmine scent makes it special and valuable. You may find yourself dreaming about having a cup of this sweet-smelling tea, enjoying its one-of-a-kind flavor and gentle aroma.
Pu Erh Mini Tuocha
The Pu Erh Mini Tuocha is a delightful black tea in high-end brews. Shaped like small nests, these compressed tea portions offer a rich, sweet flavor and a smooth finish. Perfect for tea lovers, just steep one “nest” in hot water for 3 to 5 minutes.
High-Mountain Tea
High-mountain tea, or Gaoshan tea, comes from the tall mountains in central Taiwan. This tea grows high up, more than 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, where the air is thin and cool. Because these leaves grow slowly and are picked by hand, not much tea is made yearly.
Tienchi Flower Tea
One reason this tea is so rare and expensive is that it only grows and is picked every three years. Tienchi herbal tea comes from the Tienchi flower, which grows wild in Yunnan and Guang Xi in China. This flower has small green buds that look like tiny broccoli.
PG Tips
It first appeared in the 1930s under the name Pre-Gestee, meaning it could help with digestion. Over the years, this tea has changed names and styles but has kept its focus on quality. PG Tips uses only the best parts of the tea plant, specifically the top two leaves and the bud, to create its blends.
Gorreana Broken Leaf
This tea is picked by hand and made using methods used in the olden days, which helps each cup taste real and rich. The island’s volcanic soil and coastal weather make it a great place for growing tea, giving it a special taste that tea lovers really enjoy.