Nowadays, there are basically two types of ginesng tea on offer. Now, I refer to packaged types, not fresh ginseng tea made from the natural root!

Assuming you are looking at just ginseng tea and not ginseng mixed with other things like green tea etc.

Type one (probably the most common and easiest and quickest to prepare). That's granule / powder  EXTRACT type.This comes in sealed individual sachets usually. It's a brownish color and it dissolves almost instantly in hot or warm water. It also can be made to dissolve in cold water, with a little stiring. Just add milk or honey, or drink it as it is. This kind of ginseng may well have other things added like glucose/lactose etc.

Type two (less common). That's 'live' ginseng tea. It's not really alive, but it is actual ginseng that has been prepared (various methods) and then dried, It's not really an extract, it is actually the root chopped up into wee tiny bits, just like any 'regular' leaf tea. It comes in teabags and is an INFUSION. That means you have to pour hot water over it and wait for a few minutes,. It is not exactly instant. I guess 'live' ginseng tea is getting closer to the real thing. not a bad brew at all.

Both types are splendid. The smell is great and the taste, although an aquired one, is actually full of depth.

Drink it up, you'll probably notice the difference it makes in your life. Take me for instance. I am often a little sluggish to get going on winter mornings but a couple sachets of ginseng tea, with milk and honey certainly help me to get a shift on and it allows the body to KEEP going for a lot longer than that the energy that coffee provides. It's a boost but not a unpleasant short-lived caffeine type boost. Caffeine will get you going quick! But ginseng will help you win the race so to speak. You'll particularly notice it when endurance and concentration are critical, like playing a musical instrument etc.

Another thing, beware of nasty low grade ginseng out there. And don't get ripped off! I think it is fair to say that on average instant ginseng tea shouldn't cost much more than 10 or 20 dollars (in some cases less). Although there are many superior brands that deserve to command higher prices.

When it comes to fresh or preserved roots, price is dependent on many factors such as age, location, quality etc.

 High quality mountain ginseng from Korea may well sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars a root since it is so very rare. Mountain ginseng is beatiful, rare, mysterious, and magical stuff. And MUST be treated with the utmost care and respect. It is so rare in fact that many people have searched their whole lives for it and still not found anything! Now , you have to respect that!

Scientific studies have shown that Korean ginseng still maintains an edge over produce from other countries. Why is that? Not sure, I guess you could ask similar questions about many things.

Health is above wealth. Have a wonderful day.