Tea is a hallmark of many cultures around the world and is considered to have medicinal value in the East.
The history of tea originates from China, around 2737 BC, when Emperor Shen Nong was sitting under a tree waiting for his servant to boil water. A leaf from the tree accidentally fell into his cup of boiling water.
Shen Nong, a famous herbalist of his time, decided to taste the drink that had been inadvertently created by his servant.
This drink is the result of what we now call tea, made from the leaves of a plant scientifically known as Camelia Sineusis.
During the Tang Dynasty, tea began to become a popular beverage in the country, and a writer named Lu Yu wrote the first book entirely about tea called Ch’a Ching (also known as Classic of Tea).
Later, Zen monks from Japan who traveled to China for spiritual cultivation brought tea back to the Land of the Rising Sun. Tea began to thrive in Japan and gradually developed into the renowned art of tea ceremony.
In today’s modern world, tea is considered a quintessential and widely consumed beverage in countries such as China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey.
Moreover, tea shops and luxury brands with some of the most expensive teas are specially selected for tea connoisseurs.
The Plant Known as “Da Hong Pao”
On Wuyi Mountain, located in Fujian Province, southern China, there is a stone inscribed with three red characters “Da Hong Pao.” These characters were presented by the abbot of the Tianxin Temple, naming a type of tea plant that grows precariously on steep cliffs, known as China’s “national treasure.” In fact, this is a group of 3 trunks and 6 root systems of tea plants collectively referred to as “Mother Tree Da Hong Pao” or Da Hong Pao of Wuyi Mountain. So what kind of plant is the Mother Tree Da Hong Pao?
This type of tea grows on the steep cliffs of Wuyi Mountain, shrouded in mist and clouds year-round.
Valued at approximately $1.2 million per kilogram, Da Hong Pao tea is the most expensive tea in the world grown in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province, China, and is recognized as a national treasure due to its rarity, according to Lifestyle Asia.
During the official visit of former U.S. President Richard Nixon to China, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong, gifted him 200 grams of Da Hong Pao symbolizing peace and friendship between the two nations.
Da Hong Pao is a type of oolong tea, with its history tracing back to the Ming Dynasty. The name Da Hong Pao means “Great Red Robe,” and according to legend, a Ming Dynasty emperor gave his robe in exchange for a pot of this oolong tea to help his ailing mother.
Da Hong Pao is protected and regarded as a national treasure in the land of over a billion people due to its exceptional quality, fame, and rarity.
According to Pure Taiwan Tea, about 100 years ago, 6 Da Hong Pao tea plants were discovered on a cliff in Wuyi Mountain. This type of tea has a fragrant aroma. In the next 50 years, efforts were made to cultivate this tea, but with no results.
In the 1970s, it was discovered that this tea variety could only survive on the rocks, and Da Hong Pao gradually became popular until the 1980s. With its difficult cultivation, low yield, and high quality, Da Hong Pao tea is considered the most precious oolong tea in China.
The best Da Hong Pao tea comes from the mother trees, of which only 6 varieties exist today. About 20 grams of Da Hong Pao from the mother tree were sold for approximately $30,000 in 2005, setting the record for the highest auction price.
Da Hong Pao is so special that brokers must enter the world of wealthy tea lovers to mediate between sellers and buyers.
Premium Da Hong Pao tea is priced not only by weight in gold but is 30 times more expensive than its weight in gold, equating to nearly $1,400 for 1 gram of tea, which amounts to over $10,000 for a pot of tea.
According to tea experts in Wuyi Mountain, the original Da Hong Pao tea is so expensive because there are only a few ancient tea trees left today.
Why is the Da Hong Pao Wuyi Mountain tea plant so sought after and cherished?
Experts say that the high value of this plant is due to several reasons.
First, the tea plants grow on cliff faces. This area receives minimal sunlight, primarily only reflecting rays; coupled with the significant temperature difference between day and night, the cliff tops have streams flowing year-round that carry minerals enriching the Da Hong Pao tea plants in Wuyi Mountain. Thanks to these unique natural conditions, the Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea possesses a unique taste.
Second, the meticulous processing method. The Da Hong Pao tea needs to be hand-picked entirely, only once a year in May or June. The standard for picking fresh tea leaves is that each bud should have only 2-3 leaves and cannot touch the ground. Da Hong Pao tea does not use water washing methods to clean the leaves.
After being picked, the tea leaves are spread under the sun, using sunlight and wind to dry. Once the leaves wither, they are taken to a shaded area. Next, the leaves are placed in a large bamboo container to facilitate the oxidation of polyphenols. This is a very important and complex step in forming the special flavor of this tea. Tea can be roasted by hand or machine. The roasting temperature, whether by hand or machine, is strictly regulated. The next step is to knead the leaves by machine or by hand to twist and shape the leaves into strands. Finally, the leaves are placed in a basket and heated at different temperatures to dry them.
To produce the premium Da Hong Pao tea, many complex steps must be taken. (Photo: Sohu).
Third, the distinctive flavor of the tea. The dried Da Hong Pao tea leaves resemble slightly twisted ropes. They are green and brown in color. The brewed tea has a characteristic orchid fragrance and a lingering sweet aftertaste. Its liquid is a rich golden-orange color, clear and transparent. Da Hong Pao tea can maintain its flavor after 9 brews.
Fourth, the rarity of the Da Hong Pao Wuyi Mountain tea plant. Since the discovery of these ancient tea trees about 100 years ago, experts tried to cultivate this variety for 50 years but to no avail.
According to a tea expert, Da Hong Pao Wuyi Mountain tea is incredibly expensive because only 6 mother trees remain. Therefore, this tea is extremely precious, if not priceless. It is so special that brokers must participate in the world of wealthy tea lovers to mediate between sellers and buyers. Currently, due to its extremely limited quantity, Da Hong Pao Wuyi Mountain tea is only served to diplomatic guests of the State and at significant events.
Furthermore, to prevent this tea plant from being destroyed, the Fujian provincial government has stationed people to strictly guard the 6 mother trees on Wuyi Mountain.
