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International Tea Day is celebrated every year on May 21, and for most of the people, tea is far more than just being a drink. It is a sense of comfort after a long, hectic day, something over which long conversations happen, and with something that morning begins. But beyond everyday chai lives another charming side of tea culture, the world of ultra-premium teas that get sold at incredible prices and are treated almost like luxury collectables.
Some of these teas are handpicked only during a few weeks of the year, whereas others need a delicate processing that can take up to hours for just a small batch. In India, particularly, regions such as Darjeeling and Assam deliver teas so rare and prized that they get auctioned internationally for surprising prices. What makes them pricey is not just the taste, but the labour, climate, rarity and craftsmanship behind every bit of leaf. Unlike the regular tea bags, these teas are usually consumed slowly and enjoyed almost the way people enjoy sips of fine wine.
This International Tea Day, here are some of the most lavish and expensive tea varieties from around India and beyond that that tea lovers around the world deeply admire.
Da Hong Pao, China
Da Hong Pao is one of the world’s most legendary and pricey teas, often associated with Chinese royalty and ancient tea rituals. Grown in the rocky mountains of Fujian province, this oolong tea makes a deep roasted flavour with earthy sweetness and smoky details. The original mother plants are deemed to be incredibly rare, which adds immense prestige to the tea.
The Da Hong Pao is expensive because production is particularly limited, and the ageing improves its value over the passing of time. Unlike the ordinary teas, its flavour varies slowly across multiple brews, making a layered tea-drinking experience that many collectors cherish deeply.
Approximate Price: Can exceed Rs 8 crore per kg for original mother plant tea
(Image credit: Freepik)
Manohari Gold Tea, Assam
Manohari Gold is one of India’s most talked-about luxury tea varieties that is produced in Assam’s Manohari Tea Estate. What makes it even more impressive is the careful hand-plucking of delicate golden buds early in the season. The leaves turn into soft golden strands after processing and then brew into a naturally sweet, smooth tea with hints of honey as well as malt.
Unlike strong, regular Assam chai, this tea feels much softer and more refined. It has achieved global attention after fetching exceptionally high auction prices. Since production is very little and labour-intensive, every small batch becomes highly prized among the tea lovers.
Approximate Price: Rs 1 lakh per kg
Silver Tips Imperial, Darjeeling
Silver Tips Imperial, hailing from Darjeeling, is often defined as one of India’s most loved teas. Harvested especially during moonlit nights and early dawn hours, this tea uses only unopened buds that are covered with silvery fuzz. The processing is quite delicate, which is why it has a luxurious price.
Once brewed, the tea tastes floral, light and almost smooth rather than being bold. Many tea lovers like the experience of sipping perfume-like spring water that has subtle sweetness. As the weather conditions and harvesting windows are too precise, only small quantities of it are produced every year, making it one of India’s rarest premium tea varieties.
Approximate Price: Rs 1.4 lakh per kg
Golden Needle Tea, China
Golden Needle tea from China is renowned worldwide for its unique golden appearance and naturally sweet taste. Only the most immature tea buds are picked, giving the tea its signature needle-like shape after it gets dried. The taste feels smooth, rich and a bit chocolatey without any bitterness.
Since the buds must be plucked at a very particular stage, the harvesting process requires extraordinary talent and patience. Golden Needle teas often occur in luxury tea collections because of their rarity and beautiful appearance. Even experienced tea lovers often describe it as a tea that feels unusually soft as well as calming.
Approximate Price: Rs 30,000–Rs 60,000 per kg
(Image credit: Freepik)
Gyokuro Tea, Japan
Gyokuro is among Japan’s most luxurious green teas and is loved for its unusually rich umami flavour. Before harvesting, the tea plants are shadowed from sunlight for many weeks, which changes the chemistry of the leaves thoroughly. The slow-growing process gives the tea a deep emerald colour and soft savoury taste that feels very distinct from that of the regular green tea.
The brewing process is almost ceremonious because water temperature must be carefully managed. Since shading the crops needs extra labour and accuracy, Gyokuro remains more expensive than most regular Japanese teas.
Approximate Price: Rs 15,000–Rs 40,000 per kg
