Ancient tree tea is expensive not only because of its considerable age and deep roots but also due to its unpolluted, natural environment which gathers the essence of heaven and earth, thus nurturing the unique aroma and taste of ancient tree tea.
Why is Ancient Tree Pu'er Tea so Expensive?
① High Cost of Manual Harvesting
The ancient tea trees in Yunnan are tall with many branches. Fresh leaves grow on the tips and ends of branches, making manual harvesting time-consuming and labor-intensive. It takes a long time to harvest one large ancient tea tree, and there is some risk involved, so the wages for tea pickers are relatively high.
Moreover, most tea farmers allow their ancient tea trees enough time to rest by only harvesting them during the spring and autumn seasons, resulting in a limited quantity of tea, which naturally drives up the price due to scarcity.
② Traditional Handcrafted Processing Techniques
Good Tea processing techniques are crucial for producing high-quality ancient tree Pu'er tea, and only by carefully controlling each step can excellent tea be made. For example, temperature control during the initial steaming process, the force used in kneading, and the pressure applied when forming cakes…
Compared to machine-made tea that can produce thousands of pounds per day, handcrafted tea has many disadvantages. For instance, stir-frying is one of the most critical steps in tea processing, requiring precise temperature control. If the temperature is too high, the tea will burn, imparting a burnt aroma instead of a tea fragrance; if it's too low, the tea's aroma won't develop properly.
③ Rarity and Non-renewability in the Short Term
Ancient tea trees are a scarce, non-renewable resource, and as the saying goes, “rarity breeds value.” Under market dynamics, ancient tree tea becomes highly sought after.
While there are many tea trees, there are fewer ancient ones, and even fewer wild types. Ancient spring tea is like a spring in the desert, precious because of its scarcity. Flatland tea is widely cultivated, with tea gardens stretching as far as the eye can see, yielding massive quantities; ancient tree tea comes from scattered trees, producing less but of higher quality.
Everyone wants good tea, and when 80% of tea enthusiasts focus on the 20% of ancient spring tea available, this tea becomes a hot commodity, illustrating how demand determines price.
④ Pollution-free and Rich Inner Substance
The growing environment of ancient tree Pu'er tea is far from modern pollution, and no pesticides or fertilizers are used, allowing the tea to grow in its most primitive state.
Secondly, ancient tree tea is a scarce resource. Its most significant characteristic lies in the advantage of age – older trees yield deeper flavors. With well-developed root systems, they can absorb nutrients from deep within the Soil, making ancient tree tea rich in inner substances and full-bodied in taste.
Why Are Tall Ancient Trees So Expensive in Pu'er Tea?
In recent years, a particularly popular concept in high-end Pu'er tea has been tall ancient trees. This term started appearing around 2013 or 2014.
What are tall ancient trees: They primarily form due to competition for sunlight in the primary Forest, as the tea trees grow to match the heights of other towering trees, and another reason is the lack of artificial intervention to dwarf them. Generally, trees over 5 meters tall can be considered tall, with some reaching over 20 meters in height.
Why are they so expensive? Because ancient trees that haven't been artificially dwarfed tend to have a more balanced taste, ample tea Qi without being harsh, and particularly evident throat resonance. Additionally, their growing conditions are better, allowing for ample photosynthesis, which justifies the higher price of tall trees.
However, the capital-driven tea market often leads to inflated prices for products, so consumers should always choose reliable tea merchants for their purchases!