Are you wondering what’s the price of tea in China? There are many variables that affect tea prices in China. However, the typical price range for a 500-gram tea is between CYN 70 ($10) and CYN 7059 ($1000). Even the most expensive Chinese teas can cost up to $2.8 million!
The wonder of a good cup of tea is how rejuvenating each sip is. So having some tea leaves on hand is always a good idea.
If you’ve heard this saying a lot and have been curious about how much tea costs in the region where the Great Wall was constructed, keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
The Type of Tea
Throughout China’s history, numerous tea varieties gained popularity. These tea varieties (although, they come from the Camellia sinensis tree) come in six basic categories. Color, flavor, and processing are just a few of the differences. The price varies as a result of variations in how the tea is made. The six varieties of Chinese tea are listed below.
Green Tea
The oldest and most widely consumed type of tea is green tea. The tea plant’s shoots are used to make it. The leaves are then dried, rolled, and subjected to water motion. Green tea is one of the least expensive varieties of tea because it is simple to make.
White Tea
White tea is short-dried green tea that has not yet been fermented or cured. Most white teas are typically more expensive than green tea.
Yellow Tea
The damp tea leaves are allowed to naturally dry to produce yellow tea. This tea is of a high caliber and is renowned for its distinctive flavor and color. The cost of yellow tea can be quite high due to its quality and method of market circulation.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea, also called blue tea, is a distinctive unfermented tea. It boasts a robust flavor and aroma. Because of this, oolong tea can be pricey; a 500-gram pack costs about $40.
Black Tea
In China, black tea ranks second in terms of production. Tea shoots that have been wilted, rolled, fermented, and finally dried are used to make it. Due to its size, this type of tea is less expensive than oolong tea, with a typical 500-gram pack costing only $20.
Dark Tea
A post-fermented tea that has actually undergone a fermentation process with the aid of bacteria is referred to as dark tea. Dark tea is typically the most expensive of them all due to its complex manufacturing process.
The Age of the Tea
The price of tea in China increases as it gets older. The cost of the tea would increase as the processing time increased. Consider the dark tea, for example. It is more expensive than the easy-to-process green tea because it requires more effort to produce (and it ages for a long time). These aged tea leaves require careful handling and storage. They become more costly as a result of the addition of these additional costs.
Fermentation is one step in a lengthy process that involves many different tea varieties, including dark tea. They are more expensive in part due to this.
Factors Affecting the Price of Tea
Chinese tea is a beloved beverage not only in China, but also elsewhere in the world. Many Chinese restaurants all over the world offer a cup as a complimentary beverage or as a special menu item. Do they all pay the same price for the tea? The short answer is “no.” The final cost of tea in China can range from $10 to more than $1000 for 500 grams (roughly 16 ounces) depending on a number of factors.
The parameters listed below are the primary factors that affect tea prices in China.
1. Type of Tea
Black tea, green tea, white tea, puerh tea, and oolong tea are the main categories into which Chinese tea can be divided. The types differ in terms of origin, aging, color, flavor, and processing. It goes without saying that the costs of these various types also differ. Puerh tea is frequently the most expensive type of tea, with white and oolong teas occasionally being more expensive than black and green teas. However, there is more to tea valuation than just the basic color and flavor the leaves add to the boiling water. A typical 500-gram pack of black tea costs $20, whereas an equivalent amount of oolong tea may cost you outrageously more than $40.
2. Quality of the Leaves
There are many factors involved in tea cultivation, so there can be quality variations brought on by the environment or other farming practices. In the end, a significant factor in the pricing of tea in China is the caliber of the tea leaves.
The way the leaves appear, their size, and the flavor and color they impart to the finished product after processing are just a few characteristics that set a bunch of high quality leaves apart from the competition. Tea of average quality can be purchased for as little as $20 per 500 grams, while tea of the highest quality can cost thousands of dollars for the same amount.
3. Quantity of the Tea
Like with everything else, the supply and demand chains are taken into account when determining tea’s value in China. Bulk supplies of some tea varieties are available all year long, but Puerh tea, for example, is only offered in smaller amounts. These types of tea have a very high demand and a very limited supply, which drives up their price to the ceiling. Such teas become highly sought after by consumers, which causes the price to soar even higher.
4. Age of the Tea
When aged properly, products other than wine and whiskey are also more expensive. Chinese tea falls under the same limitation. Using Puerh tea as an example, certain varieties can become very expensive when they have been aged for years and have undergone the proper amount of fermentation. They must be handled and stored carefully, which adds to their staggering costs.
These types of fermented tea are typically sold in tiny bricks, also referred to as tea lumps, tea cakes, or tea nuggets, and are also known as fermented tea. Be ready to burn a hole in your wallet to pay thousands of dollars for a small brick of this sought-after tea.
5. the Popularity of the Tea
There are many aspects of tea in China that go beyond flavor. There are legends connected to various types of tea, some of which date back a very long time. In China’s history, various sagas are associated with the various tea varieties that were served to various emperors. These elements all play a part in making some tea varieties more well-liked than others, which raises the price of those teas on the market.
In China, the time of year that the leaves are plucked also affects how popular tea is. For instance, tea leaves with white fuzz on them are picked during the Qingming Festival, which marks the start of spring in China. In comparison to leaves harvested later in the season, these are more sought-after.
6. Organic Varieties
Chinese tea cultivation is no exception to the rule that organic farming is expensive. Due to the use of controlled, natural farming practices as well as chemical-free processing and storage, organic tea in China is typically more expensive than non-organic varieties. Bulk organic Chinese tea of average quality could cost more than $50.
7. Economy of China
Tea quality and quantity aren’t always factors in Chinese tea pricing. The value of tea is significantly influenced by the nation’s economy. It is simpler to find high-quality tea at a lower price during an economic boom in China than it is during a slump. Make sure you research the country’s current economic situation if all you want to do while visiting China is bring back a few tea packets as gifts for your loved ones. If not, you might need to significantly loosen your budget for a packet of tea than you would have in more favourable circumstances.
Final Words on Tea Price in China
If you are an avid fan of the aroma that tea brings into your life, you probably already know that a perfect cup is not about getting the morning caffeine kick. A good cup of tea should be enjoyed for the priceless originality that each sip brings. Fortunately, there is the ideal Chinese tea blend available for every kind of budget.
However, Chinese tea is a fantastic place to start if you have little experience with tea and simply want to learn more.
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