Massive 3,000 Year Old Tea Tree in China Produces Incredible Pu’er Tea

I had to put away the fancy cameras because I don't want the security guards to know. I just need a bug. We have just left the city and are driving 10 hours west to Ailao Mountains where we will be hiking to a 2,700 year old tea tree. Now tea is one of the most lucrative cash crops in this part of China and the wild tea trees in this area are prized especially for their natural sweetness. We can't drink from this particular tree that we're going to but we can go and check it out. The Ailao Mountains are in Puerh City known for producing the most expensive teas in the world. For example, a single kilogram can sell for well over 2,000 USD. My guide today is Leah Lee. She's a local tea farmer and merchant and she often takes people on hikes into this protected national park home to the world's largest tea tree. So this area is heavily protected. There are even cameras in the tree. The only way that you can get in is if you apply for a permit beforehand which we have done. And it's because these ancient tea trees are worth thousands and thousands of dollars. So all of the trees that we've been seeing around here are numbered. Why do they number them? Now ancient tea trees are prized for a reason. They're sought after for their unique taste and because the trees get so big they can be quite dangerous to harvest. While it's illegal to pick from these trees, many people will make the journey anyways. Everyone is very curious about what tea from 2,700 years ago looks like. Because in our culture, we believe that there must be a god in a very big tree. He can bless the plants and trees around him and let them flourish for generations to come. We're here! Hurry up! For people like Leah, tea is not just another drink. It's a way of life. This is the ultimate pilgrimage. The opportunity to see the largest tea tree in the world.