Customer Question: I searched on Yahoo Auctions and found that Zhangshuhu tea prices range from NT$500 per 600 g, NT$1,500 per 600 g, to NT$3,500 per 600 g. Which one is the authentic Zhangshuhu tea? Why is there such a huge price difference for Zhangshuhu tea?
Chang-Sing Tea: It’s hard to tell the authenticity of Zhangshuhu tea just by price, since tea leaves don’t come with the origin printed on them. Looking at 2012 prices, spring Zhangshuhu tea was around NT$1,000 to NT$1,500 per 600 g. In winter, because the yield is only half that of spring tea, prices ranged from NT$1,500 to NT$2,200 per 600 g. These are wholesale prices. Some customers who bought our spring tea in 2012 were shocked when winter rolled around, wondering why the price jumped from NT$1,700 to NT$3,000—such a big difference. This is actually due to the very low winter harvest, which drives up wholesale prices at the origin.
Coming back to your question: at NT$500 per 600 g, given the wholesale price for hand-picked spring tea, it’s very unlikely to be authentic Zhangshuhu tea. However, it’s impossible to tell for the NT$1,500 and NT$3,500 options. As mentioned before, you really need to taste it yourself to know.
If you have any doubts about your purchase, we recommend visiting the producing region in person or buying from a reputable tea merchant. Online auction sites feature a lot of imported and blended Zhangshuhu teas, and their common trait is a cheap price. Before buying, it’s best to ask thoroughly about the origin and processing methods so you don’t end up paying for foreign tea leaves.