Bangdong Ancient Tree Tea belongs to the Lincang production area. Its origin is located in the Bangdong Township of Linxiang District, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. It is characterized by tightly bound tea leaves that still show some downy tips, a dark green color with a slight grayish tinge. When brewed, the tea liquor is bright greenish-yellow, the leaf base is deep green and lustrous, the aroma is honey-like, and the taste is mellow with a hint of sweetness. After careful tasting, one can experience its strong tea energy.
Bangdong Ancient Tree Tea: Which Production Area Does It Belong To?
Bangdong Township is over 60 kilometers away from the urban area of Lincang. It includes Xigui ancient tea mountain and part of the Daxueshan area. Because Xigui tea has a higher profile and different tea quality and character, it has been classified separately; therefore, the Bangdong ancient tea mountain does not include the Xigui ancient tea mountain or the Daxueshan ancient tea mountain. Due to the vast size of Daxueshan and the large number of ancient tea mountains involved, to avoid confusion, the Daxueshan ancient tea mountain mainly focuses on wild tea resources.
The Bangdong ancient tea mountain enjoys unique geographical conditions and natural environment, as well as rich cultural heritage and diverse species resources. The soil in the Bangdong ancient tea mountain is primarily yellow sandy loam, interspersed with abundant “Lincang granite,” which forms a landscape of scattered rocks and a Forest of tea trees. There are many sandstone geologies in the ancient tea gardens of Bangdong, and the soil is rich in minerals and humus, loose, and deep.
Characteristics of Bangdong Tea
The taste of Bangdong tea is full and pure, with a strong yet restrained tea energy. It is initially bitter and astringent, but these qualities quickly dissipate, leaving a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. Unlike the domineering nature of Laobanzhang, although Bangdong ancient tree tea has a strong tea energy, it is not overly aggressive or stimulating, like a gentleman of great refinement.
When brewing Bangdong ancient tree tea, it is recommended to use fresh, sweet spring water, or purified water or Mineral water. Place about 5g of tea in a covered bowl and pour in hot water at 90-95 degrees Celsius. The tea-to-water ratio should be 1:20-30, and the tea can be steeped for 5-10 seconds before drinking.
Xigui tea is the most representative of Bangdong teas. Xigui tea is of the Bangdong large-leaf variety, with a high concentration of tea soup, a heavy taste, a sharp and high fragrance, and an immediate aromatic presence upon tasting. The tea has a smooth texture despite its strong tea energy, is rich in content, and is highly resistant to multiple infusions.