Tea farmhands pick wild tea in an idyllic plantation in Qingyuan county, Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

In the misty dawn of Yeying Valley in Qingyuan county, Lishui, Zhejiang province, farmhands from Wujixia village harvested the prized wild tea from ancient tea trees in spring.

Lishui's wild tea is picked from wild or naturally grown tea trees over 50 years old that are situated at altitudes above 500 meters.

In spring 2025, the Qingyuan wild tea set dizzy price records. The Shoujinya variety sold for 148,000 yuan ($20,656) per 500 grams at a Hong Kong auction, while the online sales of the Yeyingbai variety reached over 100,000 yuan in an hour.

In Qingyuan county, tea pickers harvest wild tea with ladders from ancient tea trees, with each standing 3 to 4 meters tall. Two tea pickers can only harvest 3.5 to 4 kilograms of fresh leaves each day. Moreover, the harvest season of the ancient tea trees is in spring, only once a year.

Tests conducted by Swiss verification and testing company Societe Generale de Surveillance SA confirmed zero pesticides and heavy metal residues in six Qingyuan wild teas, highlighting their purity. It's attributed to the fact that Qingyuan boasts an 85.92 percent forest coverage and pristine environmental conditions.

Scientific tests revealed wild tea's amino acid content is 23 percent higher than regular tea, with unique polyphenols enhancing its distinct flavor.

To support the industry, Lishui introduced China's first wild tea standard in April 2025, ensuring its overall quality and traceability.