Panda poo helps make dear brew

A Chinese entrepreneur is convinced he has found the key ingredient to produce the world's most expensive tea - panda poo.

An Yanshi has purchased 11 tonnes of excrement from a panda breeding centre to fertilise a tea crop in the mountains of Sichuan province.

The former calligraphy teacher says he will harvest the first batch of tea leaves this spring and it will be the "world's most expensive tea" at almost £44,000 per kilo.

Chinese tea drinkers regard the first batch of tea to be harvested in the early spring as the best and successive batches, regarded as inferior, will sell for slightly less.

The 41-year-old quit his job at Sichuan University to throw himself "heart and soul" into his company, Panda Tea.

He is so passionate about the venture that he dresses in a panda suit for press photos to promote his product.