Customer Question: Which region produces the most expensive tea in Taiwan? Is it Alishan tea, Oriental Beauty tea, or Lishan tea? I saw in the news before that Oriental Beauty tea from Hsinchu was sold to mainland China for NT$110,000 per 600 g. Is Oriental Beauty Taiwan’s most expensive tea?
Taiwan's Most Expensive Tea
Liao Chang Xing: Taiwanese tea is of exceptional quality, and with the strong demand from consumers across the strait, prices for tea sold to mainland China are often much higher. Naturally, Taiwan’s most expensive teas are award-winning competition teas. For instance, champion Pouchong tea from Pinglin has fetched over NT$100,000 per 600 g, Oriental Beauty tea has reached over NT$300,000, and some high mountain oolong teas have even gone for over a million. However, those are specially selected competition teas, and auction prices can be somewhat inflated. Excluding competition teas, the most expensive tea regions in Taiwan are Lishan and Dayuling.
Oolong tea is a signature tea of Taiwan, with high mountain oolong tea being the most popular variety. High mountain oolong teas are priced by elevation—generally, the higher the altitude, the higher the price. Among them, the Lishan region reaches up to 2,500 meters. With low yields and exceptional quality, Lishan tea has long been among Taiwan’s top-tier high mountain teas. Since 2010, wholesale prices for Lishan tea grown above 2,000 meters have consistently ranged from NT$2,000 to NT$3,200. Meanwhile, the Dayuling tea growing region, situated between 2,100 and 2,650 meters, commands even higher prices, with wholesale prices per 600 g ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$12,000.
If you are looking for the most expensive tea in Taiwan, apart from competition teas, Lishan tea and Dayuling tea are undoubtedly at the top of the list. However, because of their high prices, the market is flooded with counterfeits. Exercise caution when purchasing, and ideally buy directly from the origin. You are also welcome to consult with Liao Chang Xing.
▲ Tianchi tea from Fushoushan Farm at an elevation of 2,500 meters.
▲ Dayuling tea at an elevation of 2,650 meters.
2022 Update: Most Dayuling tea plantations have been cleared. Currently, the most expensive tea is Tianchi tea from Fushoushan Farm.