UK’S MOST EXPENSIVE CUP OF TEA FOR £180 IN LONDON
- Osa Eka
- Oct 2, 2014
- 2 min read
Considered as quintessentially English, drinking tea has become a vital part of life for many British people. But how much are you willing to pay for a good cuppa? Baker Street’s upscale restaurant, Royal China Club, is now offering the UK’s most expensive pot of tea for £180.
So what makes this cup of Da Hong Pao tea so special? The tea is handmade from ‘tender leaves, withered, tumbled, curled and baked in small batches over charcoal to create aromatic infusion with distinctive dark cocoa notes, a toasted fruity flavour and a long smooth aftertaste that lingers for several minutes after being consumed’.
However, the costly tea, also known as the Imperial Red Robe, undergoes a lot just to reach your lips. Therefore, the elevated price comes from the rarity of the legendary tea leaves, rather than the expense to craft it.
In order to reach the most divine flavours, there are very precise procedures for the Wuyi Oolong artisan tea leaves before the tea can be consumed. The premium tea leaves are extremely seasonal, so they can only be harvested on particular days of the year and can only be served after 80 years of maturing, similar to that of a fine wine. The tea is also only served to customers exactly at 95˚C, which is a necessity according to the Royal China Club’s sommelier, Peter Chan.
Due to its superior quality, the high grade tea is usually only reserved for honoured guests of China. With an incredibly rich history, the leaves date back to the early 18th Century, where the Emperor Da Hong Pao of the Qing Dynasty enjoyed drinking this very tea. He was labelled the ‘King of Tea’ due to his distinct fondness of tea consumption. Even legend has it that these tea leaves cured his sick mother, so the Emperor sent great red robes to clothe the four bushes from where the tea originated.
If the price for this exclusive tea is too steep for your liking, then fear not, as the Royal China Club offers a wide range of artisan teas, starting from £4.80. But considering this prestigious tea is deemed so special, would you splash £180 to taste a refreshing pot of luxury?
Posted By: Jade Scott
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