Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) Pu-erh Tea Region Overview

Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (西双版纳傣族自治州), located in the southern part of Yunnan Province, China, is widely regarded as the birthplace of Pu-erh tea and one of its most important and famous producing regions. With a long history of tea cultivation, rich tea tree resources, and unique ethnic tea culture, Xishuangbanna is a cornerstone of the Pu-erh tea world.

Geographical Context

Xishuangbanna is characterized by its tropical and subtropical monsoon climate, abundant rainfall, and diverse mountainous terrain. The Lancang River (澜沧江) flows through the prefecture, dividing it into two main tea-producing areas: the tea mountains east of the river (historically known as the “Six Ancient Tea Mountains” - 古六大茶山) and the tea mountains west of the river, primarily centered around Menghai County (勐海县).

Major Sub-Regions and Their Characteristics

The Xishuangbanna tea region is broadly divided into two major administrative areas for Pu-erh production: Menghai County (勐海县) and Mengla County (勐腊县), which encompasses the traditional Six Ancient Tea Mountains.

Menghai (勐海) Tea Region

Menghai County is arguably the most famous and influential area within Xishuangbanna for Pu-erh tea. It is known for its robust, full-bodied teas with strong tea qi and a characteristic “Menghai flavor” (勐海味).

• Key Characteristics: Teas from Menghai are typically known for their rich aroma, strong taste, thick tea liquor, and relatively higher bitterness and astringency that transforms into a lasting sweetness. Famous mountains and villages include:
  • Banzhang (班章): Including Lao Banzhang (老班章) and Xin Banzhang (新班章), known for their powerful tea qi, intense flavor, and long-lasting huigan.
  • Bulangshan (布朗山): A large tea mountain range with many villages, producing teas with strong character, prominent bitterness, and robust tea qi.
  • Nannuoshan (南糯山): Known for its ancient tea gardens and teas with a balanced flavor, good aroma, and smooth texture.
  • Hekai (贺开): Produces teas with a strong aroma, full body, and good sweetness.

Mengla (勐腊) Tea Region (including the Six Ancient Tea Mountains)

Mengla County is home to the historic “Six Ancient Tea Mountains” (古六大茶山), which were historically significant centers of Pu-erh production during the Qing Dynasty. These mountains are known for their unique terroir and distinct flavor profiles, often characterized by a more gentle and aromatic quality compared to Menghai teas.

• The Six Ancient Tea Mountains (古六大茶山):
  • Yiwu (易武): The most famous of the ancient tea mountains, known for its soft, sweet, and aromatic teas with a gentle tea qi and long-lasting sweetness. Famous villages include Mahei (麻黑), Luoshuidong (落水洞), and Gaoshan (高山).
  • Yibang (倚邦): Produces teas with a delicate and refined character, often with a high fragrance and a subtle sweetness.
  • Manzhuan (蛮砖): Known for teas with a strong aroma, good body, and a balanced taste.
  • Gedeng (革登): Teas are often described as having a strong aroma and a refreshing taste.
  • Mangzhi (莽枝): Produces teas with a clear and sweet taste.
  • Youle (攸乐): Known for teas with a strong tea qi and a robust flavor.

Xishuangbanna Pu-erh Tea Characteristics

Xishuangbanna Pu-erh teas, in general, are highly prized for their:

• Diverse Flavor Profiles: Ranging from the powerful and bold teas of Menghai to the soft and aromatic teas of Yiwu.
• Strong Tea Qi (茶气): Many Xishuangbanna teas, especially those from ancient trees, possess a noticeable and invigorating tea qi.
• Rich Aroma: Complex and long-lasting aromas, often with floral, fruity, or honey notes.
• Excellent Aging Potential: Xishuangbanna teas are renowned for their ability to age gracefully, developing deeper and more complex flavors over time.
• Prominent Huigan (回甘) and Shengjin (生津): The returning sweetness and saliva-inducing qualities are often strong and quick to appear.

This overview provides a foundational understanding of the Xishuangbanna Pu-erh tea region. Further detailed analysis of each sub-region and famous mountain will delve deeper into their specific characteristics, prominent villages, and unique taste profiles.

Detailed Taste Profiles of Xishuangbanna Sub-Regions

Menghai (勐海) Tea Region

Banzhang (班章)

Banzhang, particularly Lao Banzhang (老班章), is often referred to as the “King of Pu-erh” due to its powerful tea qi and intense flavor. It is located in Bulangshan (布朗山) and is highly sought after.

• Taste Profile:
  • Powerful Tea Qi (茶气): The most defining characteristic. It provides a strong, invigorating body sensation that can be felt throughout the body.
  • Intense Flavor: Rich, full-bodied, and complex. It often has a prominent bitterness and astringency that quickly transforms into a profound, long-lasting sweetness (回甘 - huigan).
  • Honey and Orchid Aroma: A distinct aroma, often described as a blend of honey and orchid, which is persistent in the cup and on the leaves.
  • Thick and Viscous Liquor: The tea soup is thick, oily, and coats the mouth, providing a substantial mouthfeel.
  • Exceptional Endurance: Can withstand numerous infusions, maintaining its flavor and strength.

Bulangshan (布朗山)

Bulangshan is a large and diverse tea mountain range, home to many villages including Banzhang. Teas from Bulangshan are generally known for their strong and bold character.

• Taste Profile:
  • Strong and Robust: Characterized by a pronounced bitterness and astringency that is typical of Menghai teas. This bitterness, however, quickly dissipates, giving way to a strong and refreshing sweetness.
  • Full-bodied: The tea liquor is thick and full, providing a strong presence in the mouth.
  • Distinct Aroma: Often has a unique aroma, sometimes described as wild or earthy, with good persistence.
  • Invigorating Tea Qi: Possesses a strong tea qi that provides a stimulating and warming sensation.
  • Good Aging Potential: Bulangshan teas age very well, with their strong initial characteristics mellowing and developing more complexity over time.

Nannuoshan (南糯山)

Nannuoshan is one of the oldest cultivated tea mountains, with ancient tea gardens dating back centuries. Its teas are known for their balance and smoothness.

• Taste Profile:
  • Balanced and Smooth: Offers a harmonious balance of bitterness, sweetness, and aroma. The tea liquor is generally smooth and soft.
  • Clear Aroma: Often exhibits a clean and pleasant aroma, sometimes with notes of honey or light floral hints.
  • Moderate Tea Qi: Has a noticeable but not overpowering tea qi, providing a comfortable body sensation.
  • Good Huigan and Shengjin: Provides a pleasant returning sweetness and saliva production that is sustained.
  • Versatile: Nannuoshan teas are often considered approachable for both new and experienced Pu-erh drinkers due to their balanced profile.

Hekai (贺开)

Hekai is another significant tea mountain in Menghai, known for its distinct aroma and full-bodied taste.

• Taste Profile:
  • Prominent Aroma: Often has a high and pure aroma, sometimes with a subtle orchid fragrance.
  • Full-bodied and Smooth: The tea liquor is full and smooth, with a good texture.
  • Quick Huigan: The bitterness quickly transforms into a sweet aftertaste, which is both rapid and lasting.
  • Strong Tea Qi: Possesses a strong tea qi that provides a warming and invigorating feeling.
  • Layered Flavor: The taste profile can be complex, with a good interplay of bitterness, sweetness, and a refreshing quality.

Mengla (勐腊) Tea Region (Six Ancient Tea Mountains)

Yiwu (易武)

Yiwu is the most famous of the Six Ancient Tea Mountains, renowned for its soft, sweet, and aromatic teas. It is often described as the “Queen of Pu-erh” due to its elegant and refined character.

• Taste Profile:
  • Soft and Gentle (香扬水柔): The defining characteristic. The tea liquor is exceptionally soft, smooth, and gentle on the palate, with minimal bitterness and astringency.
  • High and Persistent Aroma: Known for its prominent and long-lasting aroma, often described as floral, honey, or fruity. The fragrance is often felt in the nasal cavity and retro-nasal.
  • Sweetness: A natural and profound sweetness that develops quickly and lingers for a long time.
  • Subtle Tea Qi: While not as overtly powerful as Banzhang, Yiwu teas have a subtle yet persistent tea qi that provides a comfortable and relaxing sensation.
  • Excellent Aging Potential: Yiwu teas are highly prized for their aging potential, developing incredible depth and complexity over decades.

Yibang (倚邦)

Yibang teas are known for their delicate and refined character, often with a high fragrance and a subtle sweetness. Yibang is characterized by its small-leaf varietals.

• Taste Profile:
  • Delicate and Refined: The tea liquor is fine and delicate, with a clean and crisp taste.
  • High Fragrance: Possesses a distinct and elegant aroma, often described as floral or honeyed, which is very persistent.
  • Subtle Sweetness: A gentle and lingering sweetness that is not overpowering.
  • Minimal Bitterness/Astringency: Very low in bitterness and astringency, making it a smooth and easy-drinking tea.
  • Unique “Cat Ear” (猫耳朵) Varietal: Some areas in Yibang produce a rare “cat ear” varietal, known for its exceptionally small leaves and intense fragrance.

Manzhuan (蛮砖)

Manzhuan teas are known for their strong aroma, good body, and a balanced taste, often with a noticeable sweetness.

• Taste Profile:
  • Strong Aroma: Exhibits a prominent and lasting aroma, often with floral or fruity notes.
  • Good Body and Thickness: The tea liquor has a good body and thickness, providing a satisfying mouthfeel.
  • Balanced Flavor: A good balance of bitterness and sweetness, with the bitterness quickly transforming into a pleasant huigan.
  • Lingering Sweetness: The sweetness is often long-lasting and refreshing.
  • Distinctive Character: Manzhuan teas have a unique character that sets them apart from other ancient tea mountain teas, often described as having a certain

sweetness and depth.

Gedeng (革登)

Gedeng teas are often described as having a strong aroma and a refreshing taste, with a unique character among the Six Ancient Tea Mountains.

• Taste Profile:
  • High Aroma: Known for its prominent and long-lasting floral or fruity aroma.
  • Refreshing and Sweet: The tea liquor is often refreshing, with a clear sweetness that emerges quickly.
  • Subtle Bitterness: May have a slight bitterness that quickly dissipates, leading to a pleasant huigan.
  • Good Tea Qi: Possesses a noticeable tea qi that provides a comfortable and invigorating sensation.
  • Smooth Texture: The tea soup is generally smooth and easy to drink.

Mangzhi (莽枝)

Mangzhi teas are known for their clear and sweet taste, often with a unique fragrance that distinguishes them.

• Taste Profile:
  • Clear and Sweet: The tea liquor is clear, bright, and has a distinct sweetness.
  • Unique Fragrance: Often exhibits a special fragrance, sometimes described as a blend of floral and honey notes, which is persistent.
  • Balanced Flavor: A good balance of bitterness and sweetness, with the bitterness quickly transforming into a pleasant huigan.
  • Good Body: The tea soup has a good body and texture, providing a satisfying mouthfeel.
  • Endurance: Can withstand multiple infusions, maintaining its flavor and aroma.

Youle (攸乐)

Youle teas are known for their strong tea qi and a robust flavor, often with a more pronounced bitterness that quickly transforms into sweetness.

• Taste Profile:
  • Strong Tea Qi: Possesses a strong and invigorating tea qi, providing a noticeable body sensation.
  • Robust Flavor: The taste is often bold and full-bodied, with a more pronounced initial bitterness compared to Yiwu, but this bitterness quickly transforms into a rich and lasting sweetness.
  • Good Huigan and Shengjin: Provides a rapid and strong returning sweetness and saliva production.
  • Distinct Aroma: May have a unique aroma, sometimes described as wild or earthy, with good persistence.
  • Endurance: Youle teas are known for their ability to withstand many infusions, maintaining their flavor and character over multiple steeps.

This detailed analysis of Xishuangbanna’s sub-regions highlights the diverse and rich spectrum of Pu-erh teas produced in this historically significant area. Each mountain and village offers a unique sensory experience, contributing to the complex tapestry of Pu-erh tea.

Sub-Region Deep Dives

• Menghai (勐海) Tea Region

• Mengla (勐腊) Tea Region

Xishuangbanna Tea Region Map