Yiwu Gaoshan Village 易武高山村

Yiwu's Gaoshan Village is located in Yiwu Town, Mengla County (勐腊县), Xishuangbanna Prefecture (西双版纳州), Yunnan Province. It is one of the seven villages in Yiwu's "Seven Villages and Eight Strongholds." Its geographical location is in the north of Yiwu Township. Gaoshan Village is 9 kilometers away from Yiwu Township Government and adjacent to Manxiu Village. It has an altitude of 1,200 meters and an average annual temperature of 17.5 degrees. There are currently about 140 households. Most of the residents of Gaoshan Village are the “Xiangtang” ethnic group (香堂族), a branch of the “Yi” ethnic (彝族) minority in China.

Origin of Name 名称由来

It is said that the origin of the name “Gaoshan” is due to the village being built on the top of a high mountain among the clouds and mist (“gaoshan” means “high mountain”). The village has a good climate for tea, dense forest vegetation, abundant rainfall, and the natural ecology is very intact. There are many large Pu'er tea trees in the village. Most of the various large Pu'er tea trees in the ancient tea gardens in the village are ancient tea trees that are several hundred years old. The environment of Gaoshan is one of the best in Yiwu.

Tea Aroma and Characteristics 香气特点

Pu'er tea from Gaoshan Village will have a faint floral aroma when brewed. The tea leaves are dark green in color, with thick leaves and long strands. The soup is bright yellow and translucent, with a special floral aroma. Its aroma is elegant, and the tea soup tastes mellow, smooth and sweet, typical of Yiwu Pu'er tea.

Pearl Hidden in The Mountains: "Bajiao Lin Ancient Tea Tree" 隐于山间的高山明珠“芭蕉林古茶树”

“Bajiao Lin” means banana forest, and in the Pu'er tea world, this sentence is used to describe the “Bajiao Lin Ancient Tea Tree.” In comparing Bajiao Lin tea with the very famous Ban Zhang Pu’er they say, “the Ban Zhang is the most competitive in Yiwu in its tenth year, but the Bajiao Lin Ancient tea is better than the Ban Zhang in its eighth year." (“十年班章赛易武，八年芭蕉林胜班章”)

Bajiao forest is the oldest tea garden in Gaoshan Village and the earliest residence of the ancestors of Gaoshan Village. For thousands of years, the ancient alpine tea trees hidden here have coexisted with other vegetation in the wild Bajiao forest.

Due to the deep mountainside of the Gaoshan village here, under the conditions of sufficient nutrients, moderate light, and primitive ecological environment, the tea here grows extremely well and has outstanding “shanye qiyun” 山野气韵 (“mountain and wild charm,” referring to its terroir and aftertaste).

In terms of taste, Bajiao Lin Pu'er tea has a particularly strong aroma and a sweet taste. Perhaps due to the unique natural environment. The taste of the younger, un-aged tea leaves is also quite good. After being stored for a period of time, the taste becomes thicker and can fully represent the soft and sweet taste of Yiwu Mountain Pu'er.

           Gaoshan Village Location Diagram (高山寨位置示意图)

An Ancient Nation — “Yi” 古老民族

Origins of the Yi Name 

The Yi people were originally called "Yi" (夷), and the Yi people call themselves "Luoluo" (罗倮). In Yi language, "Luo" means tiger, and "倮" means dragon. Calling themselves after these two animals that represent strength, mystery and fearlessness means that the Yi people are a brave and powerful nation, and more importantly, it refers to the pride of the Yi people in their own nation. 

Languages

The Yi language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family (藏缅语系) of the Sino-Tibetan language family (汉藏语系). The Yi script is a syllabic script. Yi language is a syllabic script that was formed more than 6,000 years ago. Yi language is divided into six major dialects: northern, eastern, southern, southeastern, western and central dialects. Each dialect is divided into many sub-dialects and dialects. The differences between dialects are large, but they all have obvious common historical origins

Yi Culture 彝族文化

Religion 

The ideological basis of ancestor worship of the Yi people is the "Three Souls Theory" (三魂说) and the concept of "Ancestral Realm" (祖界). The Yi people generally believe that their deceased ancestors have three souls. These three souls each have different destinations. One of them guards the burning site or the tomb, one soul returns to the ancestral realm to be reunited with the souls of the ancestors, and the other soul takes over the throne of the ancestors enshrined at home. In primitive times, the Yi people had totem worship and believed that humans have a blood relationship with animals and plants. At present, there are still a large number of totem worship relics in Yi society. Many villages in the Yi areas of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan have their own "sacred trees" and "sacred forests." A Yi ethnic group in Ailao Mountain (哀牢山), Yunnan, who calls themselves "Luoluo" (罗罗), regards "Tiger" as their ancestor. Each family enshrines a portrait of their ancestor, called "Nie Luo Mo" (涅罗摩), which means "Tiger Ancestor."

Traditional Festivals 

Fire is the eternal hope of the Yi people. It is not only a way for the Yi people to worship their ancestors, drive away evil spirits, and pray for a good harvest and peace, but also a way for the Yi people to display their unique customs.

The "Torch Festival" (火把节) is held every year on the 24th of the sixth lunar month in the Chinese lunar calendar and lasts for three days and three nights. It is one of the first representative works of national intangible cultural heritage and is known as the "Oriental Carnival."

It became popular in the Han and Tang Dynasties and has been followed for more than a thousand years. According to records, the "Torch Festival" originated from the worship of fire by the ancestors of the Yi people. The ancestors of the Yi people lived in alpine mountainous areas and had a strong dependence on and reverence for fire. They believed that fire was a treasure given to mankind by God, which could drive away wild beasts and evil spirits and protect them, bring good crops and peace in the family. Every year, the Yi people hold a grand fire ceremony to thank the God of Fire for his gift and pray for a better year ahead.

National Tea Culture 民族茶文化

"Roasted tea" (烤茶) is a traditional tea custom of the Yi people in Longlin (隆林). The ancient Yi book "Tea Classic" records: "At the beginning of the Yi people's society, tea leaves were roasted in pots."

Since ancient times, the Yi people have grown, made, and drank tea, and they have an indissoluble bond with tea. Ancient books in the Yi language record the medicinal value of tea, and the Yi horse caravans can still be seen on the ancient Tea-Horse Road (茶马古道). "It is better to live without food for three days than to live without tea for one day" (“宁可三日无粮，不可一日无茶”) is a true portrayal of the Yi people.

In the Yi language, tea is called "Lu" (鲁), tea leaves are called "Lu Du" (鲁堵), and tea water is called "Lu Yi" (鲁移). Legend has it that thousands of years ago, in order to avoid war, a group of Yi people crossed the Jinzhong Mountains (金钟山脉) and entered Longlin, Guangxi from Yunnan. They were protected by the ancient tea trees of "Dou Hong Po" (斗烘坡) and decided to live there. Along with the migration came their daily habits of making and drinking tea.

Since they live in the high mountains all year round, roasted tea is a daily necessity for the Yi people. The local high-altitude "Dou Hong Po" has extreme subzero temperatures. Such cold climate conditions also lead the Yi people to often drink rich hot tea to supplement nutrition and help them function during the cold winter days. Therefore, whenever guests come to the home, the host will invite the guests to the fire pit and put clay pots on to bake tea. This traditional skill of roasting tea with rough pottery has been inherited by the ancestors of the Yi people. When the tea leaves are roasted, their cold nature is removed, so the brewed tea helps to remove dampness and cold and has the effect of warming the stomach.

Yiwu Tea Area 六大古茶山之首——易武茶区

Yiwu Tea Area has a long history of tea production, and its average annual output has long been ranked first among the six ancient tea mountains. It is also the origin of the famous Qizi Cake Tea (七子饼茶).

Yiwu Tea Area is located in Mengla County (勐腊县), Xishuangbanna Prefecture (西双版纳州), and is actually a fairly large tea area. The area that produces some of Yiwu’s most well known tea is called the "Seven Villages and Eight Strongholds'' (七村八寨). The Seven Villages refers to Mahei (麻黑), Gaoshan (高山), Luo Shui Dong (落水洞), Manxiu (曼秀), San Heshe (三合社), Yibi (易比), and Mansa(曼撒). The Eight Strongholds are Yao Dingjia Zhai (丁家寨/瑶族), Han Dingjia Zhai (丁家寨/汉族), Jiumiao (旧庙), Luode (倮德), Dazhai (大寨), Zhang jiawan(张家湾), and Xinzhai (新寨). The following are the typical flavor characteristics of teas from these villages.

Seven Villages 

Mahei (麻黑) - Mahei is the largest and most productive ancient tea garden among the many hills in Yiwu. It is also one of the ancient tea gardens with the longest history, and one of the oldest villages in Yiwu. This is a village dominated by Han people. Handmade tea-making technologies have been passed down from the Mahei ancestors. The Mahei tea trees are full of life all year round. These trees grow early every season and are particularly capable of growing buds. See our 2019 Mahei and Gaoshan Puer Blend Tea.

Characteristics: The tea leaves produced in Mahei Village are thick, dark green, tightly knotted and even, black and bright. They have an outstanding aroma, a very full tea flavor, and clear and translucent tea soup. They are the most typical of the Yiwu characteristics of "fragrant and soft water” (香扬水柔). Mahei tea is truly unique among the many mountains in the Yiwu area.

Gaoshan (高山) - See above information for details. See our 2019 Gaoshan and Mahei Puer Blend Tea.

Luo Shui Dong (落水洞) - A village of only 33 households (roughly 120 people) that has a cave with a large water “sinkhole” at the center which connects to nearby rivers via underground currents.

Features: Luo Shui Dong ancient tree tea is of excellent quality, especially spring tea. Its appearance is black and gray, with pekoe exposed. After brewing, the soup is golden and translucent, with a sweet taste and fragrant honey aroma. The flavor can seem endless! 

Manxiu (曼秀) - Manxiu is a purely Han nationality (汉族) village with an altitude of 1,311 meters. It is surrounded by rich vegetation and is suitable for the growth of tea trees. After the 1990s, all the tea trees in the village were dwarfed, and the old tea gardens were all terraced, but the traditional tea-making process was still maintained.

Features: The tea in Manxiu Village is a very typical Yiwu style. The tea leaves are stringy, black and bright, moderately tight, taupe-brown, golden in color, and high in aroma. The tea soup is delicate, soft but not weak, long-lasting and moist. The honey aroma gives it a sweetness and the throat feels very soothed after tasting it.

San Heshe (三合社) - The village is located to the south of Yiwu Town, 7 kilometers away. It has an altitude of 1058 meters, an average annual temperature of 17.5°C, and an annual precipitation of 1800 mm. The ancient tea gardens of San Heshe Village are across the river from Mahei. The ecological protection in this area is excellent. The tea gardens and ancient forest trees are mixed together in this mountainous setting.

Features: The color of the tea soup is deep, the honey fragrance is strong, and the sweet taste is quick on the tongue.

Yi Bi (易比) - Yibi Village is located in the southwest of Yiwu, and is a village relatively close to Yiwu Town. Therefore, Yibi Village has a very authentic Yiwu taste, with obvious characteristics of “fragrant and soft water” (香扬水柔).

Features: The tea soup is golden and bright in color, has a pure taste, is full of tea aroma, has a good aftertaste and makes your mouth salivate. It has a rich honey aroma at the bottom of the cup that is long-lasting, and has a high foam resistance.

Man Sa (曼撒) - Located on a ridge, the terrain of Man Sa is special. Looking from the top of the mountain, it looks like a soaring dragon lying on the ridge. The altitude is very high and the view is panoramic. It is a very suitable place for viewing scenery. Standing in Mansa Laozhai, you can see the Manzhuan (蛮砖), Mangzhi (莽枝), Yibang (倚邦) and Yiwu (易武) tea mountains. Mansa Village is the center of the ancient tea mountain area. It stretches from Chawang Shuzhai (茶王树寨) in the south, to Mansa Laozhai (曼撒老寨) in the west, to Mannai Village (曼乃寨) in the north, and to Heishui Liangzi (黑水梁子) in the east. The early Qing Dynasty (清朝) was the most glorious period for Mansa Tea Mountain. At that time, it was the tea distribution center in Yiwu.

Features: The tea leaves in Mansa Village are tightly knotted, black and shiny, with a mellow taste. The tea soup has a long-lasting aroma at the bottom of the cup, and a delicate and smooth taste.

Eight Strongholds 

Gua Feng Zhai (刮风寨) - The “Windy Village” is located near the border between China and Laos with pristine, un-touched tea tree forests. Gua Feng Zhai tea is considered to be some of the best in the Yiwu area. 

Features: The Guafengzhai ancient tree tea is sweet and mellow with a natural and rich honey aroma. It is smooth and delicate, with a strong but restrained tea flavor. It is bitter and subtle, with a long throat rhyme. The new tea tastes sweet at first, with deep throat rhyme and full aroma. Later, the tea becomes thicker and full of flavor. The bitterness and astringency recede, and the aged fragrance gradually emerges.  

Luo De Zhai (倮德寨) - The village committee farthest from the Yiwu Town Government. Its geographical location is very remote, has a good environment, and the ancient tea gardens here are very well preserved.

Features: Luode's tea has a very beautiful appearance, thanks to the exquisite tea-making skills of local tea farmers. The aroma and taste are obviously better than ordinary raw Pu'er. Compared with several more famous villages in Yiwu, the taste is mellow and the aroma is pure. It is very good for “hui gan” (“returning sweetness”, i.e. aftertaste), it makes your mouth water, and has a mainly honey aroma. The tea soup is not very thick and strong, which is sometimes considered a disadvantage. 

Han Dingjia Zhai (丁家寨/汉族) - Han Dingjia Zhai is a village in a mountainous area. It has two sections: one is the area where the Han people live, but there are less tea plants here. The other section is where the Yao people live, and the tea gardens here are relatively small, but larger than the Han village. 

The ecological environment of Dingjiazhai is very good, and the well-known Wan Gong Tea Garden is located in Dingjiazhai.

Features: The tea leaves are thick and tightly knotted, grey-brown and shiny, and the aroma is rich but restrained, comfortable and not irritating. The taste is delicate and smooth, with an obvious aftertaste, and the mouth feels very sweet after drinking it.

Yao Dingjia Zhai (丁家寨/瑶族) - Yao Dingjia Zhai is a village composed of the Yao ethnic minority. Most of the region's famous Pu'er tea is picked and made by the Yao people. Dingjiazhai has basically become a tea distribution center in recent years. Wan Gong Tea Garden (弯弓茶园), Chawangshu Tea Garden (茶王树茶园) and White Tea Garden (白茶园) are all top ancient tea gardens in Yiwu Tea District. Every year, tea merchants gather in Dingjiazhai to collect tea from these three places.

Features: Dingjiazhai Ancient Tree Tea has slender leaves, fat and strong bud heads, a soft and strong flavor that is long-lasting. The leaves have fat and thick leaf bottoms, and are resistant to steeping. This is a rare and top quality tea in the Yiwu tea area.

Xinzhai (新寨) - The name Xinzhai sounds like a village built in recent years. In fact, Xinzhai is not new at all. It is the oldest ethnic minority village in the Yiwu tea area. Locally, they call themselves "the original ethnic group" (本族). This is an ancient custom. The ancestors of the Xinzhai ethnic minority were the "Pu people'' (濮人) who first planted Pu'er tea. Their attitude towards tea has always been respect and awe. Up through the present day, before the tea is harvested every spring, the villagers hold a tea ancestor ceremony.

Features: Xinzhai tea leaves are evenly distributed, the aroma of the tea soup is thick and moist, and the fragrance at the bottom of the cup is not particularly obvious. The tea soup is very sweet, full and plump.

Jiumiao (旧庙) - Jiumiao and Xinzhai are 3 kilometers apart. Their inhabitants belong to the same ethnic group and the same tea culture inheritance. They are adjacent tea gardens and use the same production technology. The only difference may be the mood and technique of the tea maker.

Features: The tea from Jiumiao Village is very similar to the tea from Xinzhai, and the difference is almost indistinguishable. The dried tea has neat strips; after brewing. After brewing, the tea soup has a mellow taste and full aroma.

Dazhai (大寨) - Located on a famous hilltop in the Manla tea area (曼腊茶区). Dazhai and the historical Wangong Dazhai (弯弓大寨) planted tea trees at the same time. Especially in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Wangongzhai (弯弓寨) and Dazhai were in their heyday of growing, making and selling tea. Later, the tea mountains were in turmoil and wars broke out. Many tea trees were planted in Dazhai. A number of tea trees were destroyed in the war, and Dazhai also declined as a result. It was not until 2007, with the prosperity of the Pu'er tea market, that Dazhai tea gradually became known to people.

Features: Dazhai’s tea buds are exposed and plump, the tea leaves are moderately tight, the color is dark and moist, the leaf bottoms are plump, tender, complete and soft. The overall coordination is very good, the layering is extremely rich, the tea is full of flavor, has good stability, and is relatively resistant to multiple steeps. This tea has a deep and refreshing taste that lasts in the throat.

Zhang Jiawan (张家湾) - Zhang Jiawan belongs to Manla Village (曼腊村). Zhang Jiawan, Zhujialiangzi (朱家梁子), Xujialiangzi (徐家梁子), and Dingjiazhai are all in this area, and only two or three kilometers apart. They have common features in terms of mountains, altitude, climate, and ethnic groups, and the tea leaves are all very good.

Features: Zhangjiawan tea is pure Yiwu flavor, with full and delicate taste, moist and sweet, extremely high aroma, and rich and soft honey fragrance.

Famous Tea Mountains of Xishuangbanna in Yunnan

The tea mountains that made Pu Erh tea in Yunnan famous are located in Xishuangbanna prefecture and are divided into two groups: the “Six Great Ancient Tea Mountains'' and the “Eight Great New Tea Mountains.” In terms of geographical location, the division is based on the Lancang River: the ancient six tea mountains are located to the northeast of the Lancang River, and so are also called the "North of The River Six Tea Mountains" (江北六大茶山) or the "Inside the River Tea Mountains" (江内六大茶山). The new eight tea mountains are located to the southwest of the Lancang River, and so are also called the "South of the River Eight Tea Mountains" (江南八大茶山) or the "Outside the River Tea Mountains" (江外八大茶山).

Yunnan Xishuangbanna Schematic Diagram of Ancient Tea Mountains (云南西双版纳古茶山示意图)

Six Ancient Tea Mountains & New Six Tea Mountains 古六大茶山和新六大茶山

The "New Six Tea Mountains" refers to the order in which the tea mountains were named, rather than the order in which the tea trees were planted. In fact, the history of tea cultivation in the "New Six Tea Mountains" goes back further than that of the "Ancient Six Tea Mountains", and their ancient tea trees are older and more plentiful. Due to historical factors, the division of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains and the New Six Tea Mountains has shifted, which is why there are different versions of the two groups. The original version of the Six Tea Mountains is referred to below as the "First Generation of the Six Tea Mountains" (初代六大茶山).

The First Generation of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains: Youle (攸乐), Gedeng (革登), Yibang (倚邦), Mangzhi (莽枝), Manzhuan (蛮砖), Mansa (曼撒).

Current Six Ancient Tea Mountains: Youle (攸乐), Gedeng (革登), Yibang (倚邦), Mangzhi (莽枝), Manzhuan (蛮砖), Yiwu (易武).

Mansa was originally one of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains. However, due to factors such as plague, place name changes, and wars, Mansa gradually declined and existed in name only. 

For this reason, Yiwu Town, 20 kilometers away from Mansa, developed into an important tea-producing town. Replacing Mansa and becoming one of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains. 

Today, the tea produced in Mansa and Yiwu is collectively called “Yiwu tea” (易武茶) or “Yiwu Mansa tea” (易武曼撒茶).

The First Six New Tea Mountains: Fohai (佛海), Mengsong (勐宋), Nannuo (南糯), Nanqiao (南峤), Bada (巴达), Lancang (澜沧), Jingmai (景迈).

The New Six Tea Mountains described here are the initial versions. "Fohai" in the above version is the old name for today's “Menghai” (勐海), and Menghai appeared after the government carried out regional adjustments and restructuring of Xishuangbanna (Dai) in January 1953, and this is still used today. Due to factors such as changes in place names and adjustments to regional divisions, the Six New Tea Mountains are now not exactly the same as the original. The more recognized versions today include Nannuo (南糯), Nanqiao (南峤), Mengsong (勐宋), Bada (巴达), Bulang (布朗), and Jingmai (景迈).

History of the Six Tea Mountains 历史因素

The Six Ancient Tea Mountains of the First Dynasty first appeared in writing during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, in the "Dianhai Yuhengzhi"(滇海虞衡志) written by "Tan Cui" (檀萃). The original text records: "Pu'er Tea is famous all across the world. It comes from the six tea mountains where Pu'er belongs. One is Youle, the other is Gedeng, the third is Yibang, the fourth is Mangzhi, the fifth is Manzhuan, and the sixth is Mansa, spanning hundreds of miles. ("普茶名

重于天下，出普洱所属六茶山，一曰攸乐、二曰革登、三曰倚邦、四曰莽枝、五曰蛮砖、六曰曼撒，周八百里。”）

During the Qing Dynasty, the government agency that managed Pu'er tea was the "Pu'er Fu'' (普洱府). At that time, there were only six "banna" east of the Lancang River that were under the jurisdiction of the Pu'er Prefecture ("banna" means small administrative areas, similar to today's villages or towns). 

There are six areas to the west of the Lancang River (澜沧江) that also have ancient tea mountains, but they are not under the jurisdiction of Pu'er Prefecture. Therefore, in the documents of the Qing Dynasty (清), only the six ancient tea mountains from the six banna under the jurisdiction of Pu'er Prefecture had been recorded.

The difference between the current Six Ancient Tea Mountains and the previous groupings lies in the decline of Mansa and the rise of Yiwu. The first New Six Tea Mountains were not named until after the founding of New China. 

After that, a large number of tea houses and large tea companies entered Fohai (now Menghai). People were surprised to find that on the west bank of the Lancang River, in addition to the six banna under the jurisdiction of Pu'er Prefecture in the Qing Dynasty (明朝车里宣慰司), there were the other six areas originally under the jurisdiction of the "Che Li Xuan Wei Si'' in the Ming Dynasty. There are actually large areas of ancient tea trees that are hundreds of years old. People immediately named them after the "six major tea mountains outside the Yangtze River": "Fohai, Mengsong, Nannuo, Nanqiao, Bada, (Lancang) Jingmai."

New Eight Tea Mountain 新八大茶山

The New Eight Tea Mountains are located to the west of the Lancang River. Going from north to south, they are: Mengwangxiang Town (勐往乡) Mannuo (曼糯), Menghai Mengsong (勐海勐宋), Nannuo Mountain (南糯山), Pasha (帕沙), Hekai (贺开), Bulang Mountain, Jinghong Da Menglong (景洪大勐龙), Mengsong (勐宋) and Bada Mountain (巴达山) in the west.

1. Mannuo Tea Mountain 曼糯茶山

Location: Mannuo Tea Mountain is at the northernmost tip of Menghai County (勐海县), belonging to Mengwang Village (勐往村), Mengwang Town (勐往乡). It has an altitude of 1200-1300 meters.

Planting History: This was once along the ancient road from Menghai to Lancang (澜沧). Historically, it was an important Pu'er tea production area. Later, the road from Menghai to Lancang was rerouted, and the Mannuo tea area gradually declined. However, a large number of ancient tea tree resources are still retained.

Villages: There are three main villages: Dazhai (大寨), Shangzhai (上寨) and Zhongzhai (中寨).

Tea Quality Characteristics: Clear “wild mountain” flavor (山野韵味), obvious bitterness, slow sweetness, and rich aroma.

2. Mengsong and Menghai 勐宋勐海

Location: These mountains are near Mengsong Town (勐宋乡), Menghai County. Naka Tea Area (那卡茶区) is 1,600 meters above sea level, and Baotang Tea Area (保塘茶区) is 1,700-1,800 meters above sea level.

Planting History: The oldest ancient tea area in Menghai, Naka, is also the most prestigious production area in Xishuangbanna. More than a hundred years ago, the Han Chinese people moved in to engage in the tea business. Damanlu (大曼吕) established a new tea garden in the 1970s and 1980s, which became an important source of raw materials for the Menghai Tea Factory.

Villages: Da'an (大安), Nanben (南本), Baotang New Village (保塘新寨), Baotang Ancient Village (保塘旧寨), Bameng (坝檬), Damanlv (大曼吕), Naka 那卡 (Laka 腊卡).

Tea Quality Characteristics: Naka and Baotang ancient tree teas (保塘古树茶) generally have a pure tea aroma, obvious bitterness, strong wild mountain flavor (山野韵味), and slow sweetness.

3. Nannuo Mountain 南糯山

Location: Nannuo Mountain is near Gelanghe Town (格朗和乡), Menghai County. The average altitude is 1,400 meters, and the average annual temperature is 16-18 degrees C.

Planting History: Nannuo Mountain has a long history of growing tea and enjoys a high reputation. Legend has it that Zhuge Liang planted tea here during his southern expedition. Although it is a legend, the ancient Pu people have a long history of growing tea. Later, the Hani people moved into Nannuo Mountain. Tea cultivation began, and the king of tea trees in Banpo Village (半坡寨) in Nannuo Mountain is proof of how far back this history stretches.

Villages: Zhulin Village (竹林寨), Banpo Village (半坡寨), Guniang Village (姑娘寨).

Tea Quality Characteristics: Traditional Nannuo Mountain tea has a fuller aroma and obvious bitterness. However, in recent years, the tea has a weaker bitterness and less pronounced aroma.

4. Pasha 帕沙

Location: Pasha Village (帕沙村) is southwest of Gelanghe Town, between Nannuo Mountain and Bulang Mountain, with an altitude of 1,200-2,000 meters and an average annual temperature of 22°C.

Planting History: During the Tang and Song Dynasties, ancestors of the Hani people lived in Pasha Village and grew tea, and a considerable number of ancient trees are still preserved there.

Villages: Pasha New Village (帕沙新寨), Pasha Ancient Village (帕沙老寨), Pasha Middle Village (帕沙中寨), Nangan (南干), Laoduan (老端).

Characteristics of Tea Quality: Pasha ancient tree has obvious bitterness along with a “wild moutnain” aftertaste (山野韵味).

5.He Kai 贺开

Location: He Kai Mountain is by Hekai Village, Menghun Town, Menghai County. The altitude of the mountain ranges from 1400-1700 meters.

Planting History: Hekai Lahu belongs to the remnants of the ancient Qiang people, and tea has been cultivated in Hekai for a long time. The local people regard Zhuge Liang as the ancestor of their tea and hold rituals to worship him every year. There are also legends about ancient tea trees circulating locally. In modern times, Hekai is also one of the more famous tea areas in the Xishuangbanna region.

Villages: Mannong New Village (曼弄新寨), Mannong Ancient Village (曼弄老寨), Bangpen Ancient Village (邦盆老寨), Manmai (曼迈), Manbang (曼蚌), Manyin (曼囡).

Tea Quality Characteristics: The tea soup is full, slightly bitter with the bitterness turning to sweetness quickly, and with an obvious “wild mountain” aftertaste (山野韵味).

6.Bulang Mountain 布朗山 

(See Bulang Old Arbor (2015) for details.)

7. Mengsong (Jinghong) 勐宋 (景洪)

Geography: Mengsong is located near Mengsong Village (勐宋村), Damenglong Town (大勐龙), Jinghong City, near the southernmost tip of Jinghong City. It is also the ancient tea area with the lowest latitude in Yunnan, with an altitude of 1,500-1,800 meters.

Planting History: Most of the villagers in Mengsong Village are from the Hani ethnic group, and Mansan Ancient Village (曼伞村老寨) is populated by the Bulang ethnic group. Tea planting here has a long history. In the ancient tea gardens near Manqian Ancient Village (曼迁老寨), there are very old ancient tea trees. During the Qing Dynasty, tea here was supplied to the imperial court.

Villages: Mengsong Dazhai (勐宋大寨), Miaochu mountain (苗锄山), Manqian Laozha (曼千老寨), Manjia pokan (曼家坡坎), Manwoke (曼窝科), Manjiaganbian (曼加干边), Manjiajiao (曼加角), Manmaiyao (曼卖窑).

Tea quality Characteristics: Obvious “wild mountain” flavor (山野韵味), full aroma, and thick soup.

8. Bada 巴达

Geography: The western part of Menghai County, formerly Bada Town, now belongs to Xiding Town (西定乡), facing Myanmar across the Nanlan River (南览河) to the west. The altitude is 1580-2000 meters.

Planting History: Bada tea is famous because of the Bada wild tea trees discovered in 1962. This tea area contributed to Yunnan becoming known as the birthplace of tea in the world. In addition to wild tea and terraced tea, Bada also has excellent cultivated ancient tree tea resources that were planted by the local Bulang ancestors. The Zhanglang Ancient Village (章朗古寨) has a history of more than 1,400 years.

Villages: Manmai (曼迈), Zhanglang (章朗), Manpale (曼帕勒).

Tea Quality Characteristics: Full “wild mountain” lingering aftertaste (山野韵味), pure aroma, obvious bitterness.

Tea Culture of The 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气茶文化)

According to Chinese tea culture, different tea varieties are recommended according to different seasonal “solar terms” observed throughout the year. The twenty-four solar terms are divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, with six solar terms in each season. These include:  the Beginning of Spring (立春), Rain Water (雨水), the Waking of Insects (惊蛰), the Spring Equinox (春分), Pure Brightness (清明), Grain Rain (谷雨), the Beginning of Summer (立夏), Lesser Fullness of Grain (小满), Grain in Beard (芒种), the Summer Solstice (夏至), Lesser Heat (小暑), Greater Heat (大暑), the Beginning of Autumn (立秋), the End of Heat (处暑), White Dew (白露), the Autumn Equinox (秋分), Cold Dew (寒露), Frost's Descent (霜降), the Beginning of Winter (立冬), Lesser Snow (小雪), Greater Snow (大雪), the Winter Solstice (冬至), Lesser Cold (小寒), and Greater Cold (大寒).

Tea “Yangsheng” (Nourishing Life) Recommendations for the Greater Cold Solar Term 养生茶饮指南 (大寒)

January 20 to 21 of the Gregorian calendar every year is the Greater Cold "Da Han" solar term, which basically means that the weather is extremely cold. Da Han is the last solar term among the twenty-four solar terms. After the Greater Cold, it is the beginning of spring. As winter passes and spring comes, a new cycle of the solar terms will begin again.

The ancients believed that during the cold season, people's metabolism would slow down and the energy in the body would be weaker. You can drink some hei cha (“dark” fermented tea) at this time, which has the effect of supporting Yang (阳) and replenishing (Qi). Therefore, it is recommended to drink Pu'er tea at this time.

The concept of Yin (阴) and Yang (阳) first came from the ancient philosophical work "I Ching" (易经). The concepts of this book are inseparable from Traditional Chinese Medicine. To put it simply, "Yin and Yang" are actually summarized by the ancients through their observation of all things. This observation was generalized from the movements and processes of all things in nature, constantly developing and changing. First there is the movement of Yang Qi, and then there is differentiation into Yin and Yang which are not purely opposites because there is a little bit of Yin in Yang and vice versa.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that yin and yang are based on yang energy. The yang energy in the body is of utmost importance, and is the foundation of human life. Maintaining health and care for your body in accordance with the seasons can make Yang Qi solid and dense. When “Yin ping Yang mi,” meaning when Yin is calm and Yang is safe and sound inside, then “waibu de xieqi buneng ruqin,” the external negative influences cannot invade. The four seasons of "birth, growth, collection, and storage" are actually all based on the rise and descent of Yang Qi in nature (processes associated with vitality, light, heat, growth, outward expansion). Human beings are in harmony with heaven and earth, and knowing how to adapt to changes in nature plays a very important role in maintaining health. Since ancient times, the ancients have followed the concept of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter" to adapt to the changes of the seasons and make corresponding adjustments to daily diet. This is also intuitive as many tea drinkers just feel more in the mood for darker and heavier teas (which support Yang) in the colder parts of the year.