1. The Most Bizarre Harvesting Method: Daughter Tea

The普洱金瓜贡茶 (Pu'er Golden Melon Tribute Tea), which began in the 7th year of the Yongzheng era (1729 AD), was made from the best 'daughter tea' in Xishuangbanna, formed into团茶 (tuánchá, cake tea) to be tributed to the imperial court. This kind of cake tea is also called '人头茶' (réntóu chá, human head tea).

It is said the raw material for the人头贡茶 (réntóu gòngchá, human head tribute tea) was all first-grade Pu'er bud tea picked by unmarried young girls. After picking, the leaves were first held in their clothes against their bodies, and only after accumulating a certain quantity were they taken out and placed into bamboo baskets. Thus, the harvesting method for daughter tea feels super bizarre.

2. The Most Bizarre Classification: Anji White Tea

Anji White Tea is produced in Xilong Township, Anji County, Zhejiang Province. It's called 'White Tea' because its processing原料 (yuánliào, raw material) is picked from a tea plant whose young leaves are entirely white.

But interestingly, its processing method completely follows the套路 (tàolù, methods) of green tea. So, no matter how hip its name is, it still belongs to the green tea category.

3. The Most Bizarre Name Origin: Biluochun

Biluochun wasn't originally called Biluochun. It had a俗到爆 (sú dào bào, extremely vulgar) name: '吓煞人香' (Xiàshàrénxiāng - 'Startling/Astonishing Fragrance'), describing its incredible aroma, so fragrant it could '吓煞人' (xià shà rén, startle/astonish people to death). The editor is really speechless!

It wasn't until the 38th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1699) during his southern inspection tour, that the emperor tasted this excellent tea. Feeling its name was too crude for elegant company, he renamed it '碧螺春' (Bìluóchūn - 'Green Snail Spring') based on its shape.

4. The Most Bizarre Way of Eating: 'Fried Sparrow Tongue'

At first glance, this title吓一跳 (xià yī tiào, gives a fright). Amitabha, frying sparrow tongues sounds so cruel! Actually, the '雀舌' (quèshé, sparrow tongue) here refers to the premium grade of黄山毛峰 (Huángshān Máofēng) tea.

The method involves brewing the tea leaves, draining them, then frying them in oil and adding eggs to stir-fry evenly—somewhat like the method for scrambling eggs with scallions. Calculating the cost, this dish is quite expensive! Eating tea like this is bizarre enough!

5. The Most Bizarre Appearance: Qian Liang Tea

Make tea just as tea, can't it just be a quiet little fresh thing? Qian Liang Tea is such a big, rough fellow. Made into long条形 (tiáoxíng, strip shape), Qian Liang Tea动不动 (dòngbu dòng, readily) weighs over a hundred jin (catties). Even if it's valuable, thieves won't steal it because—it's simply impossible to carry!

6. The Most Bizarre Mix: Insect Dropping Tea

Insect Dropping Tea, also known as '龙珠茶' (Lóngzhū chá, Dragon Pearl Tea), is a special type of tea enjoyed by ethnic minorities like the Miao and Yao people living in the border areas of Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces.

The preferences of these minorities are quite bold. Insect droppings, honey, tea leaves—things that seem completely unrelated—are actually combined to make tea. The editor feels无力接受 (wúlì jiēshòu, unable to accept this).

7. The Most Bizarre Name: Phoenix Dancong's 'Duck Shit Aroma'

Phoenix Dancong is classified into more than ten types based on aroma, like芝兰香 (zhīlán xiāng, orchid fragrance),肉桂香 (ròuguì xiāng, cinnamon fragrance), but the most bizarre is undoubtedly '鸭屎香' (yāshǐ xiāng, duck shit aroma).

Tea is supposed to be literary and elegant. How can one use a term like 'duck shit' to describe tea aroma? Is this really okay?

8. The Most Bizarre Thinness: Jiuqu Hongmei's Dry Leaves

Jiuqu Hongmei is a treasure among red teas, produced on the banks of the Qiantang River, with a unique charm and excellent color, aroma, taste, and shape.

The奇葩 (qípā, bizarre) thing about Jiuqu Hongmei lies in its dry leaves being as thin as hair, curved, fine, and tight like silver hooks entangled with each other, presenting a picture of being inseparable. Bizarre enough—the editor is impressed!

9. The Most Bizarre Raw Material: Liu'an Guapian

It's always said that the tea bud is the essence, but Liu'an Guapian is just so任性 (rènxìng, willful)—it doesn't want the buds! During picking, the buds and stems are removed. Thus, Liu'an Guapian is the only tea in the world made solely from single leaves. Truly bizarre!

As for where the buds of the Liu'an Guapian tea plant actually go, opinions vary. Some say they are made into Huangya tea, others say they are taken for extracting high-tech substances. There are even funny friends asking if they are used for foot soaking, which really吓跑焦了 (xià pǎo jiāo le, startled the editor into losing focus) the editor.

10. The Most Bizarre Weight: Seven Sons Cake Tea at 357g

Friends who drink Pu'er tea all know that Seven Sons Cake Tea on the market is always 357g per cake. The editor was also puzzled when first seeing it. Wouldn't a nice round number in jin (catty) be better? Why insist on 357g?