Maybe the most valuable trees in the world... resembling social status
- Gordon Dumoulin
- Nov 10, 2021
- 2 min read
Talking about 𝗪𝘂𝘆𝗶 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝘀 grown in the Wuyi Mountains in the North of Fujian province, 𝗗𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗼 (Big Red Robe, 大红袍) tea comes in the minds of true tea lovers worldwide.
The six mother tea trees of Da Hong Pao have been growing in the rocks of Jiu Long Ke 九龙窠 of Wuyi for around 360 years. The Da Hong Pao Oolong Tea made by the material from the six tea trees had been tributed to the Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty (AD1736-1795) and historical records show that at that time the yield from the the six trees was 400g. Later on the peak of annual yield reached about 1kg.
In the early 2000’s, the local authorities decided to protect the six mother trees and stopped harvesting. One of the last yields in 1998 was 20 grams mother tree Da Hong Pao’ tea leaves which were auctioned for about USD 20,000.
The mother trees are now under national protection and insured for about RMB 100 million.
Though in the immediate 160-acre area around the mother trees, “Purebred” Da Hong Pao Oolong tea is cultivated and considered one of the most exclusive teas in the world with prices usually ranging from RMB 10,000-100,000 (USD 1,500-15,000) per jin (500 grams). In the larger surrounding region, “Commodity” Da Hong Pao tea is cultivated, still considered exclusive.
The few “Purebred” Da Hong Pao tea brands are marketed with the whole concept of the complex tea mastery of cultivating and processing, history and legends. These teas are usually not used for own consumption but as unique gifts to cultivate relationships and status. The more exorbitantly priced the tea, the higher the corresponding social status of its recipient.
And leaving the “Commodity” Da Hong Pao tea brands to the exclusive tea lovers all over the world. DaHong Pao tea is characterized by a warm roasted aroma and taste with unique floral, slightly rocky (minerals) and nutty flavors.
The mother trees are one of the symbols of Fujian’s renowned tea culture.
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