Distribution of the Mengsong Tea Region
Yunnan is a wondrous and beautiful place known and prospering due to tea. Pu'er tea can be considered one of Yunnan's most distinctive calling cards. Within these tea-producing regions, each famous mountain and village has its own unique ancient tree teas, each with a distinct flavor, truly embodying the saying that every mountain has its own taste and every village its own fragrance.
Let's take a look at the quality characteristics of the four tea regions in Mengsong Town, Menghai County.
#01
Naka Ancient Tree Tea
“Naka” means “a place with tea,” also written as Naka, Lakar, or Nakar. The Naka Village Group belongs to Manlu Village in Mengsong Town, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and is located in a mountainous area. It is situated in the northwest of Mengsong Town, 6 kilometers from the Manlu Village Committee, and 30 kilometers from the Mengsong Town government. The elevation of Naka Village is 1,660 meters, with an average annual temperature of 16°C and an annual rainfall of 1,900 millimeters. Forest coverage reaches 85%, making it suitable for planting crops like tea.
Naka ancient tea is one of Yunnan's famous teas. Naka Bamboo tube tea was renowned even during the Qing Dynasty, being presented annually to the “Cheli Xuanwei Fu.” In those times, the Burmese king also heard of its fame and demanded a yearly tribute, which continued for many years. The Lahu ethnic group, who have lived here for generations, have a long history of tea production, their methods refined through adherence to traditional techniques. The main Naka ancient tea garden is located at the edge of the Nabang River Basin National Nature Reserve, covering approximately 660 acres (30-40 trees per acre), with tree ages ranging between 300 and 500 years. In 2020, QR codes were placed on five ancient tea trees. The area is lush with vegetation, has clean water sources, rich Soil, is often shrouded in mist, enjoys ample light and heat, plentiful rain, and moderate temperatures, all without pollution, providing a unique ecological environment ideal for the development of green organic tea. Naka tea is the most representative tea in the Mengsong region, with a total tea garden area of 4,325 acres, including 1,100 acres of ancient tea trees.
Naka tea, due to its geographic, climatic, ecological, and soil conditions, naturally possesses a unique taste favored by many. Its characteristics include tightly rolled leaves that shine red in dark green, a golden and bright broth, uniformly yellow-green leaves, a strong wild character, and a pleasant orchid aroma lingering in the cup. It has a slightly bitter taste but no obvious astringency, with soft and full-bodied water. It is sweet and smooth upon entry into the mouth, leaving a cooling sensation in the mouth, high sweetness and a lasting aftertaste, rapid return of sweetness and saliva, a slight astringency on the tongue and the front of the palate, and a pure tea aroma.
#02
Baotang Ancient Tree Tea
Baotang is part of Balong Village in Mengsong Town, Menghai County. The entire village is located in a mountainous area, and the Baotang area consists of Baotang Zhongzhai, Baotang Old Village, and Baotang Han Village. It is 13 kilometers from the town government and 36 kilometers from the county seat, with an average elevation of 1,670 meters. It has a South Asian tropical monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 16°C and an annual rainfall of 1,500 millimeters. Baotang has a tea garden area of 6,106 acres, including 1,150 acres of ancient tea trees.
Baotang is famous for preserving large tracts of ancient tea trees, like a natural museum of ancient tea trees. “High altitude” and “ancient tea tree clusters” are two of its main features, making it one of the most representative ancient tea gardens in Mengsong Town. Geographically, the entire village sits halfway up Huazhu Liangzi Mountain. In the ancient tea garden, old tea trees coexist with forest trees, growing wild and untamed. Many of the old tea trees are covered with moss, lichens, stone slingers, and other epiphytes. The good ecological environment, red soil that is thick and fertile, contributes to the excellent quality of its fragrant and flavorful tea. In this high-altitude environment, Baotang ancient tree tea has a high degree of recognizability among the teas of Mengsong Mountain, with a strong wild character, a smooth and delicate soup, a rich and bright golden color, and a gentle yet potent taste. After drinking, there is a subtle honey-like fragrance in the return of sweetness.
#03
Mansiliang Ancient Tree Tea
The Mansiliang Village Group is a Lahu village located in Dahan Village, Mengsong Town, Menghai County. It is in a mountainous area, 7 kilometers from the village committee and 14 kilometers from the town government. In 2021, it obtained geographical indication certification for its tea. The age of the Mansiliang ancient tea trees is generally over 300 years.
Mansiliang has about 1,670 acres of ancient tea trees. The soil is fertile, and the area is often shrouded in mist, with ample light and heat, abundant rainfall, and moderate temperatures, all without pollution, providing a unique ecological environment ideal for the development of green organic tea. The elevation is 1,880 meters, with an average annual temperature of 17°C. The Mansiliang ancient tea garden is located in the southwestern corner of the Nabang River Basin National Nature Reserve in Menghai County, on the western side of Huazhu Liangzi Mountain, backing onto Nanben Old Village. The elevation of the ancient tea area is 1,756 meters, with an annual rainfall of over 1,600 millimeters. The tea trees in the Mansiliang ancient tea garden generally sprout densely, grow tall, have a semi-spreading posture, and sparse branching. The leaves are slightly upward or horizontal, elliptical, green in color, curled on the back, flat on the surface, with a slightly undulating margin, gradually pointed at the tip, and densely toothed. The buds are relatively plump, with high durability and strong resistance to cold and drought.
The natural ecological environment within the Mansiliang ancient tea garden is good, with thick soil, humid climate, ample sunlight, and perpetual mists. The excellent natural environment of Mansiliang has created high-quality Mansiliang ancient tea. The Mansiliang ancient tea has a high and elegant aroma, rich fragrance, golden and bright broth, rich and sweet taste, lingering aroma in the cup, and a lasting return of sweetness.
#04