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Lecturer to grow rare tea with panda droppings

2011-09-06 13:25    Ecns.cn     Web Editor: Su Jie
An Yanshi has already received a patent approval from the Sichuan Intellectual Property Administration.

An Yanshi has already received a patent approval from the Sichuan Intellectual Property Administration.

(Ecns.cn)--"When a thing is scarce, it is precious. I am going to grow tea with panda droppings. Some first-rate products will be sold for 219,865 yuan ($34,412) per 500 grams, and some good ones 2,186 yuan ($342) per 50 grams," said An Yanshi, a calligrapher, painter, and lecturer at Sichuan University, who has already received a patent approval from the Sichuan Intellectual Property Administration.

An said he was inspired by the tea culture in Sichuan, and the fact that pandas cannot digest well, wasting about 70% of what they eat.

"I believe the droppings will be much better than chemical fertilizers. This is a way to turn waste into treasure," explained An, adding that "green tea is a preventative against cancer and so is bamboo," which accounts for 99% of a panda's diet.

However, Zhang Hemin, director of the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan, noted that "it has never been scientifically proven that the panda droppings are preventative and protective."

To make it the most expensive tea in the world, An said he will increase the price once there is more expensive tea.

At this, Zhang warned that many people are trying to gain off the panda brand, thus it is ridiculous to price the tea high without any scientific basis.