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From Roots to Leaves: Differences Between Ancient Tree Tea, Old Tree and Terrace Tree Tea
China, with its thousands of years of tea cultivation history, classifies tea based on the age of the tea trees. This leads to three primary categories: ancient tree tea(Gushu Cha古树茶), old tree tea（Dashu Cha大树茶）, and terrace tea（Taidi Cha台地茶）. But what exactly are the differences between these teas? Let’s explore their distinctions from tree age to tea flavor.
| Category | Tree Age | Growth Characteristics | Tea Liquor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Tree Tea(Gushu Cha古树茶) | Over 100 years (some over 200 years) | Arbors with sexual reproduction; strong pest resistance; large canopy; fewer but resilient leaves; rich in amino acids; low yield | Full-bodied, rich, layered taste; elegant, lingering aroma; steeping endurance over 15 brews | $230 to $14,000 per kg, depending on region, soil, tree age, and storage time |
| Old Tree Tea（Dashu Cha大树茶） | 40–100 years; planted with over 2-meter spacing | Arbors with sexual reproduction; moderate pest resistance; no prominent main branches; uniform leaves; good resilience; higher yield | Fresh, rich, uplifting aroma; steeping endurance around 10 brews | Below $1,000 per kg, affordable due to higher yield |
| Terrace Tea（Taidi Cha台地茶） | Under 40 years; densely planted for large-scale cultivation | Bushes with asexual reproduction; heavy human intervention; requires fertilization and pruning; small leaves; high yield | Thin liquor; noticeable bitterness and astringency; aroma fades quickly; steeping endurance under 5 brews | Below $300 per kg, economical due to massive production |
1. Tea Tree Age
Ancient Tree Tea(Gushu Cha古树茶)
Old Tree Tea（Dashu Cha大树茶）
Terrace Tea（Taidi Cha台地茶）
Ancient Tree Tea: Tea trees over 100 years old fall into this category. In some ancient tea gardens, trees over 200 years are specifically classified as “ancient tea trees.” These are often individually harvested due to their age and rarity.
Old Tree Tea: These are tea trees aged 40 to 100 years, typically planted with a spacing of over 2 meters. In some regions, they’re also referred to as “ecological tea” or “arbor tea.”
Terrace Tea: These are younger trees, under 40 years old, grown in carefully managed tea plantations with smaller planting distances, allowing for large-scale cultivation.
2. Growth Characteristics
Ancient Tea Tree Branch
Moss on the Ancient Tea Tree Branch
Ancient Tea Tree Leaves
- Ancient Tree Tea:
Ancient trees are arbors that reproduce sexually and thrive in natural environments. They have a strong resistance to pests, a large canopy, and prominent main branches. The leaves are fewer but highly resilient and rich in amino acids, leading to lower yields. Old Tree Tea:
These trees are also arbors that reproduce sexually and grow in natural conditions. They lack prominent main branches but maintain good pest resistance. Their leaves are more uniform and slightly more abundant than ancient trees, with moderate resilience and higher yields.Terrace Tea:
Terrace tea comes from bushes propagated asexually, often requiring heavy human intervention like fertilization, pesticide use, and regular pruning. After about 35 years, these bushes start to decline. Their leaves are smaller, covered with fine hairs, and lack the resilience seen in older trees. However, they produce high yields.
3. Tea Liquid
- Ancient Tree Tea:
The liquid of ancient tree tea is full-bodied, with a rich and layered taste. It offers an elegant, natural aroma that lingers and an exceptional steeping endurance, typically lasting over 15 brews in a gaiwan.
Old Tree Tea:
These trees are also arbors that reproduce sexually and grow in natural conditions. They lack prominent main branches but maintain good pest resistance. Their leaves are more uniform and slightly more abundant than ancient trees, with moderate resilience and higher yields.
Terrace Tea:
The liquid is thinner, with noticeable bitterness and astringency. The aroma fades quickly, and the tea lacks steeping endurance, often losing flavor after 5 brews.
4. Price
Ancient Tree Tea:
Due to ancient tree tea rich nutrients, exceptional flavor, and limited production, ancient tree tea is the most expensive. Factors like region, soil, tree age, and storage time significantly affect prices, ranging from 230 USD to 14,000 USD per kilogram during China’s spring season.Old Tree Tea:
Old tree tea offers a balanced experience with a more affordable price tag due to its higher yield. Prices usually stay below 1,000 USD per kilogram in China.Terrace Tea:
With massive production and lower quality, terrace tea is the most economical, generally priced under 300 USD per kilogram, depending on its origin and variety.
2024 Spring New Ancient Tea Price for Select Puerh Tea Mountains(CNY/KG)
Purcraftea’s Commitment to Quality
At Purcraftea, we are dedicated to selecting the best and most sustainable teas. After tasting hundreds of varieties, we have chosen 4 ancient tree tea and old tree tea. These teas not only showcase the signature orchid aroma unique to Jingmai Mountain but also deliver a rich, unforgettable flavor profile. Grown in an environmentally friendly manner, these teas align with our commitment to quality and sustainability.
To learn more about the pesticides in different kind of tea, you can read out blog——The Truth About Pesticides in Chinese Tea.
