On the Jiulongke cliffs in China's Wuyi Mountain region, six ancient tea bushes grow tightly against the rock face. They are the six original Da Hong Pao Mother Trees. The age of the Da Hong Pao Mother Trees exceeds 360 years according to popular belief. And they are the source of one of the world's most famous teas: Da Hong Pao.

Tea from these specific bushes was incredibly rare over centuries. They grew naturally in this hard-to-reach spot. It was almost impossible to grow more of them successfully elsewhere. This made their tea extremely precious.

But in the 1980s, Wuyi Mountain specialists discovered a method to propagate new Da Hong Pao tea plants. They did this by taking small cuttings (clones) from the original Mother Trees. This cloning method was a huge success. It meant farmers could finally plant and grow Da Hong Pao bushes in other suitable areas nearby. This allowed much more Da Hong Pao tea to be produced. However, tea made from the original Mother Trees themselves remained the rarest and most valued.

To keep these ancient treasures safe, an important decision was made. Since 2006, no tea has been picked from the original six Mother Trees. They are now protected as national treasures. Just one year before this protection started, in 2005, a tiny amount of tea showed just how valuable it was. A batch weighing only 20 grams (less than one ounce!) sold for an amazing 198,000 Chinese Yuan. That’s roughly $27,600 in today's money. This price makes it one of the most expensive teas ever sold.

Where Does the Name “Big Red Robe" Come From?

A famous story explains the tea's special name. Long time ago, a scholar started his journey toward the capital city. He was going there to take the very difficult Imperial Exams. Passing through the beautiful but rugged Wuyi Mountain, he suddenly became very sick.

A nearby Buddhist temple monk cured him with the local tea plants. Once the scholar recovered from his illness, he continued his journey to the capital and he achieved the highest score.

The emperor rewarded the scholar with a special red robe after he attained the highest score. The scholar expressed his heartfelt thanks by removing his precious red robe and placing it upon the tea plants which had restored his health. This act gave the tea its name: The "Big Red Robe" (Da Hong Pao).