Customer Inquiry: What is a reasonable price for Oriental Beauty Tea? When buying at a tea shop, I’ve seen it sold anywhere from NT$1,000 per 600 g to NT$6,000 per 600 g, but the more expensive ones don’t necessarily taste much better. Could you share what a fair price range is for Oriental Beauty Tea?
Chang-Hsing Tea: Oriental Beauty Tea harvested around the Dragon Boat Festival is generally of the highest quality. Because the weather at that time is ideal for the activity of the green leaf hopper, the tea develops a richer honey flavor and commands a higher price. Due to the difficulty of harvesting, tea from this season typically starts at NT$2,000 per 600 g or more. Batches with better quality and heavier bite marks from the hoppers are even more expensive.
After August, the green leaf hopper gradually disappears, and the quality of the tea leaves declines. The Oriental Beauty Tea produced during this period has lighter, duller red leaves, and the honey aroma becomes less distinct. Because both the quality and appearance are inferior, the price is adjusted accordingly, making it the lower-priced season for Oriental Beauty Tea. Wholesale prices at the origin range anywhere from NT$600 to NT$1,300 per 600 g, varying based on yield and quality.
Ultimately, a reasonable price for tea depends on whether it suits your palate. If it doesn’t suit your taste, no matter how expensive the tea is, it isn’t a good tea for you. If you don’t care for it, a champion tea costing over a hundred thousand NTD per 600 g is still inferior to an everyday tea priced at NT$1,000 per 600 g. Next time you visit a tea shop, try not to look at the price first—smell it and see if you like it before anything else!