The rare price of wild camellia is high, accounting for less than 2% of the camellia market, lack of origin stamp certification, easy to mix beads with fish eyes.

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Someone once said that tea is like a miniskirt, which is popular from time to time. Since the beginning of the history of making tea in Taiwan, we have all monopolized the market in the order of bao seed, oolong, black tea, green tea, Gaoshan tea, and white tea. In recent years, we have heard the famous name of "mountain tea." The biggest difference from the general discussion of tea is that camellia tends to be scarce, as well as the benefit of drinking, but because there is not much knowledge, the probability of miscalculation is high, and it also gives speculators more room for speculation.

What on earth is camellia? What is the definition of camellia? The camellia you are talking about is the camellia that grows in the mountains and has not been disturbed by people for many years. Or is the tall and sturdy tree or big-leaf variety Camellia? Or do you mean a specific variety of "Taiwan camellia" (Camellia formosensis)?

Wild tea forest with six tortoise vines in Kaohsiung. (photo courtesy of Liu Shifu) original camellia from underestimation to hype

It is generally believed that Taiwan tea species were introduced from China, but in fact, before the introduction of tea species from Fujian to Taiwan in the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan camellia was recorded in the Chronicles of Zhu Luo County in 1717, indicating that there were native tea species in Taiwan. The biggest difference between native Taiwan camellia and ordinary oolong tea is that camellia is a tree with a tall tree shape, which can grow up to 10 meters. To pick tea, you have to climb a tree or climb a ladder before you can pick the top buds.

The distribution of camellia in Taiwan is concentrated in the central and southern part of the island, mainly in the four counties and cities of Nantou, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Taitung, from Mei Yuan Mountain in Nantou to Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Taitung Mountains in the west of the Central Mountain range. Kaohsiung six turtles have the largest distribution area. The tea industry improvement field is named after the location where it was found: Meiyuan mountain tea, Phoenix mountain tea, Longtou mountain tea, Minghai mountain tea, Nanfeng mountain tea, Yongkang mountain tea, Leye mountain tea and so on.

Only with quantity and scale can we talk about the market. in terms of planting area, the six turtles in Kaohsiung is the largest distribution center of Taiwan camellia. In recent years, it has suddenly become popular because of media reports. Xinfa Street, which used to be full of people, is full of people during the tea season. The starting price of a jin of wild camellia is about 4,000 yuan on average, and there are also those whose price is more than 10,000 yuan. The more expensive it is, the harder it is to rob. Sometimes tea jingle is booked as soon as it is picked, and buyers compete to break the head. It's all because of the emphasis on the rarity and value of this tea cyanine. "it's only once a year, and it's not always possible to pick as much as God gives you!"