[Netizen Question]: I bought Dayuling tea at a tea shop for NT$8,000 per 600 g, but home shopping channels sell less than 1.8 kg (3 jin) for NT$4,000. Did I overpay? What is a reasonable price per 600 g?
Dayuling Tea Price: What is a Reasonable Market Price?
For Dayuling tea priced at NT$8,000, it depends on the grade of Dayuling. Generally, the wholesale price for 100K to 103K Dayuling tea is NT$3,000–NT$4,000 per 600 g, based on a bulk purchase of 18 kg (30 jin). Winter tea is slightly more expensive, while spring tea is a bit cheaper. After acquiring the tea, merchants grade it further; meticulous ones will hand-pick the tea stems and remove tea dust and broken leaves. Accounting for loss, the cost of Dayuling tea is around NT$4,000, and a reasonable retail price is between NT$4,500 and NT$5,000. This refers to entry-level Dayuling tea. Higher quality batches will command an even higher price.
In the Dayuling tea region, the tea plantations at 104K and 105.5K sit at the highest elevation and receive the best reviews. The 105.5K plantation has a registered brand, with a market price of NT$12,000 per 600 g. Merchants purchase 104K tea for NT$3,500 to NT$4,500 per 600 g; after factoring in costs, a reasonable price range is between NT$6,000 and NT$9,000.
If the quality of the NT$8,000 per 600 g Dayuling tea lives up to its standard, it is a normal price. Tea harvested under ideal weather conditions around noon and crafted with uncompromising standards will be even better, but such teas are usually pre-ordered well in advance and rarely make it to the shelves of average retail tea shops.
2024 Update: Most Dayuling Tea Plantations Have Been Cleared
2024 Update: Most Dayuling tea plantations have been cleared, and the 104K and 105.5K plantations are gone. Currently, only three plantations at 100K, 101K, and 103K remain in small-scale production, with an annual total yield of 4,200 kg (7,000 jin). Wholesale prices range from NT$5,000 to NT$7,000, and a reasonable retail price is NT$10,000 or more per 600 g.