The terrain in the Menghai tea region is complex, forming small-scale Ecosystems where tea trees grow. Through natural hybridization, natural selection, and artificial selection, these ecosystems have given rise to a rich variety of tea tree species with distinct botanical characteristics.
Wild tea tree (Photographed by Zuo Lianjiang)
The main locations for wild tea trees within the county are Xiding, Mengsong, Meng'a, Bulang Mountain, and Gelande, belonging to the Dali tea species. These trees typically grow singly and scattered throughout mountainous areas at an altitude of around 1,500 meters. Looking at their distribution pattern, it decreases from southwest to northeast. Generally, these trees are tall with upright or semi-spreading postures, small leaves, few veins that are not prominent, flat surfaces, thick and smooth leathery textures, sparse downy hairs on young shoots, long internodes, and serrated leaf margins that are sparse and not obvious. The posterior part of the leaf often lacks serrations, and there are few rounds of leaf sprouting. The quality of tea made from these leaves is generally poor, with a bitter taste and a light color. They have strong resistance. A typical example is the “Tea Tree King” in Bada, which is over 1,700 years old.
The cultivated tea trees in Menghai are collectively known as Yunnan large-leaf tea, belonging to the Pu'er tea species. They are characterized by “thick flesh, plump buds, early budding period, abundant white hairs, strong sprouting ability, long growth period, and rich internal substances.” They can sprout five to six times a year, with a growing season lasting over 300 days. The picking season extends from late February to mid-November, spanning nearly nine months. New shoots can grow up to 185 centimeters in one year, and the fresh leaves are substantial, with mixed third-grade fresh leaves weighing 0.7 grams; the weight of one bud and two leaves can reach 0.8 grams, with the heaviest reaching 4.6 grams. According to tests conducted by the Yunnan Tea Leaf Research Institute, under the same conditions, the main indicators for evaluating tea quality—water-soluble extracts—are 3% to 5% higher in large-leaf varieties compared to small-leaf varieties, catechins are 5% to 7% higher, and the total content of catechins is 30 mg/g to 60 mg/g higher. In regions north of 25°N latitude in Yunnan Province, the water-soluble extract content of large-leaf tea grown there is 41% to 48%, the catechin content is 30% to 33%, and the total content of catechins is 135 mg/g to 150 mg/g. However, in the Menghai tea region (south of 25°N latitude), the water-soluble extract content is 45% to 48.75%, the catechin content is 32% to 37.37%, and the total content of catechins is 136 mg/g to 180 mg/g.
Menghai large-leaf tea is the primary local population variety in Menghai, and is one of the superior Yunnan large-leaf tea trees. It is native to Mount Nannuo in Menghai County. In 1985, it was recognized as a national tea tree variety by the National Tea Tree Variety Approval Committee (first batch). The plants are arborescent, with obvious trunks and sparse branching, and an open posture. The leaves are horizontally or upwardly inclined, long oval or oval-shaped, with raised surfaces, undulating edges, gradually pointed or sharply pointed tips, coarse and even teeth, green and glossy colors, relatively thick and soft textures, and slightly curled backs. The buds and leaves are yellowish-green with abundant downy hairs. The sprouting ability and tenderness retention are strong, and yields are high, exceeding those of other local population varieties by more than 39%. Harvesting begins in early March, and the peak period for one bud and three leaves is in mid-March. It is suitable for making Black Tea, Green Tea, and is a high-quality raw material for Pu'er tea.
The germplasm resources of tea trees in Menghai mainly include the Dali tea species, the Pu'er tea species, and the bitter tea variant: The Dali tea species trees belong to wild-type tea trees, mainly distributed in the primeval forest of Dahuishan in Bada Hesong, with wild ancient tea trees also found in Gelande and Mengsong, with ages exceeding 1,000 years. The Pu'er tea species trees are cultivated types, including local population varieties, new clonal cultivars, and some exceptional resources. Local population varieties are also known as sexual reproduction local varieties or farmer's varieties, formed through long-term evolution, cultivation, and artificial selection. Due to generations of sexual reproduction, there are differences in traits among individuals. The local population varieties in Menghai can be divided into several types based on leaf shape, bud and leaf color, and budding time, such as large round-leaf tea, large ovate-leaf tea, leathery willow tea, large green-bud tea, red-bud tea, dark tea, long-leaf tea, large-leaf tea, large white-haired tea, large yellow-leaf tea, and early-growing dark-leaf tea.
There are ancient tea gardens of the Pu'er tea species distributed across all towns and townships in Menghai County. As of 2004, the total area reached 45,000 mu, including 15,750 mu in Gelande Township (including 12,000 mu in the ancient tea garden of Mount Nannuo), 9,600 mu in Bulang Mountain Township (including 5,865 mu in the Ban Zhang ancient tea garden), 8,100 mu in Menghun Town (including 7,245 mu in the He Kai ancient tea garden), 3,750 mu in Mengsong Township, 780 mu in Meng'a Town, 1,995 mu in Mengwang Township, 3,390 mu in Xiding Township, 600 mu in Daluo Town, 495 mu in Mengzhe Town, 375 mu in Mengman Town, and 270 mu in Menghai Town. Among the local population varieties of tea trees in Menghai, the ancient tea gardens and ancient tea trees over 100 years old are the most precious. Representative ancient tea trees include: the ancient tea trees of Mount Nannuo, He Kai, Baotang, Manxi, Pa Sha, and Ban Zhang.
The bitter tea variant tea trees in Menghai also belong to cultivated types, mainly distributed in Laoman'e and Manuo in Bulang Mountain Township, covering a total area of 60 mu, with one tree having a canopy diameter of approximately 5.25 meters.