Expensive tea is high quality tea ?

Well.. high quality teas always demand a higher price. However, there are companies out there which sell lower quality teas and try to pass them off as higher quality tea (not shocking). For example, the highest grade of matcha (ceremonial grade) is often disguised lower quality matcha, which is marketed and sold as ceremonial grade due to the higher price it demands. So I would say as long as the source is reputable the price is often a reflection of the quality.

Prices range, but generally, all online shops tend to be cheaper as they aren’t paying rent in a shopping area. Worst culprits are ones who have a physical shop somewhere expensive to rent as they have to cover their costs.

Also, some shops go out and source themselves, rather than paying a wholeseller. Some teas are just rare or exclusive amount, some you pay more for elevation, but doesn’t mean it is good or high quality.

Most important is to try a lot of tea, and judge for yourself and build a taste. Then keep within a budget. One can always buy an ounce/ 28 grams of something expensive for special occasions.

I wouldn’t say that more money will necessarily get you better tasting tea. It will get you rarer, more exotic, possibly higher quality teas, but that doesn’t guarantee a better flavor for you personal tastes. For example, PG Tips is one of my favorites, and I’m a fan of Lipton. Those are both some of the cheapest tea brands you can buy. In the US, you can get 50 bags of Lipton for $3. In UK, you can get a box of PG Tips 80 bags for £2.50. And yet people drink it all the time. It’s in every grocery store. I like the taste of those more than some rarer more exotic teas I’ve tried.

So in conclusion, more money does not equal better tasting tea. It can, but it’s no guarantee.

It’s a beginners mistake to think that more expensive tea is necessarily better.

Consider the following things:

Where the tea is grown. What is the climate like?

What type of tea is normally grown there?

The cost of labour in the region.

The type of tea. Are there special methods required to grow it?

How is it produced? What steps need to be taken to produce it? Ie special shading during growing or grinding afterwards?

Is it hand picked or do they use machines?

Is it hand rolled? Etc etc..