Surging prices
However in the past few decades, people have focused more on the price of fresh tea and what type of tea will become the next King of Tea, Tie Guanyin (a variety of Oolong tea), Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) Tea or Pu-erh.
Reports on this year's harvest show that the prime Dragon Well Tea from West Lake costs 180,000 yuan (US$28,567) for 500 grams. Some say the price is ridiculous, affordable only by wealthy connoisseurs or those presenting gifts to officials.
Still, just as some people believe fine red wine is part of French culture, so tea represents Chinese culture and the latest West Lake Dragon Well is considered the near equivalent of Chateau Lafite.
China has six kinds of teas:
Green tea, black tea, dark tea, Oolong tea, yellow tea and white tea. Here are 10 of China's best teas
West Lake Dragon Well Tea (Longjing Tea)
Price: 350 yuan/100g
Type: Green tea
Yellow Mountain Maofeng Tea (Maofeng Tea)
Price: 100 yuan/100g
Type: Green tea
Tie Guanyin Tea
Price: 50-80 yuan/100g
Type: Oolong tea
Dongting Biluochun Tea
Price: 158 yuan/100g
Type: Green tea
Xinyang Maojian Tea
Price: 20 yuan/100g
Type: Green tea
Keemun Tea
Price: 66 yuan/100g
Type: Black tea
Da Hong Pao
Price: 75 yuan/100g
Type: Oolong tea
Lu'an Guapian Tea
Price: 98 yuan/100g
Type: Green tea
Taiping Houkui Tea
Price: 400-600 yuan/100g
Type: Green tea
Junshan Yinzhen Tea
Price: 50-130 yuan/100g
Type: Yellow tea
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