Jingmai Mountain belongs to the Pu'er Tea region. Pu'er tea is categorized into three major tea regions based on geographical location: Xishuangbanna, Lincang, and Pu'er. Jingmai falls under the Pu'er tea region. Located in the southwesternmost part of Yunnan Province, China, Jingmai Mountain is situated within the Huanong Township of Lancang County, which is home to the Lahu Nationality. It borders Menghai County of Xishuangbanna to the east and Myanmar to the west, serving as a tripoint between Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Myanmar. Jingmai Mountain is renowned for its Pu'er tea and comprises 14 traditional villages, divided between Jingmai Village and Mangjing Village administrative areas.
To Which Tea Region Does Jingmai Mountain Belong?
Jingmai Mountain is located in the southwesternmost part of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Menghai County of Xishuangbanna to the east and Myanmar to the west. It is at the tripoint between Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Myanmar. The village is 20 kilometers away from the town, with an elevation of 1,500 meters and an annual rainfall of 1,800 millimeters, making it suitable for growing crops like rice. There are 5,437.5 mu (approx. 362.5 hectares) of cultivated land, averaging 2 mu per person, and 58,595.4 mu (approx. 3,906.36 hectares) of forested land. The village consists of eight groups, with 721 households and a rural population of 3,008 people, including 3,008 agricultural workers, of whom 1,751 are engaged in primary industries, with 1,617 working directly in agriculture. In 2011, the total economic income of the village was 15.109 million RMB, with a per capita net income of 2,626 RMB. The main source of income for villagers is agriculture.
The Ancient Tea Garden of Jingmai Mountain
The ancient tea mountain of Jingmai is located in the Huanong Township of Lancang County, Yunnan Province, China. Historical records suggest that tea cultivation here dates back nearly 2,000 years. The ancient tea mountain consists of nine villages inhabited by the Bulang, Dai, and Hani nationalities, including Jingmai, Mangjing, and Manghong. The entire ancient tea garden covers an area of 28,000 mu (approx. 1,866.67 hectares), with 12,000 mu (approx. 800 hectares) of tea trees available for picking. The ancient tea mountains of Mangjing and Jingmai are prime examples of harmony between humans and nature and are the birthplace of Pu'er tea.
The ancient tea garden of Jingmai is a place where history and reality are closely intertwined. For centuries, regardless of what has occurred in the mountains, since the first tea seedling was planted, this place has been destined to be a sacred ground, a cradle of civilization.
The ancient tea garden of Jingmai Mountain spans 28,000 mu (approx. 1,866.67 hectares), with 10,003 mu (approx. 666.87 hectares) available for tea picking. It is mainly distributed across the villages of Mangjing and Jingmai, with the former being predominantly Bulang and the latter predominantly Dai. The largest existing tea tree measures 4.3 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 0.5 meters at the base, while another measures 5.6 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 0.4 meters at the base. The tea trees in the garden are primarily old trees over a hundred years old, with diameters ranging from 10 to 30 centimeters. Various epiphytes grow on the tea trees, one of which is known as “crab legs,” which has almost faced extinction due to excessive promotion of its health benefits.
Characteristics of Jingmai Mountain Pu'er Tea
1. **Excellent Tea Tree Environment:** The tea trees in the ancient tea garden of Jingmai Mountain have not been artificially dwarfed but grow alongside the original forest trees on the mountain. This mixed growth environment gives rise to the unique and strong aroma of Jingmai tea.
2. **Large Tree Age:** The tea trees in the ancient tea garden of Jingmai Mountain are mainly hundreds of years old.
3. **Diverse Leaf Types:** The ancient tea leaves of Jingmai Mountain exhibit diverse leaf types, including both large-leaf and medium-to-small-leaf varieties. Claims that Jingmai only has large-leaf or only medium-to-small-leaf varieties are inaccurate.
4. **Strong and Persistent Wild Aroma:** Due to the mixed growth of Jingmai tea with the forest, it possesses a strong and distinct wild aroma, which is the most pronounced among ancient tree teas. It also features a particularly rich and enduring tea fragrance.
Some describe the aroma of Jingmai tea as “honey-like,” which is not entirely accurate. The aroma of Jingmai tea should be described using the highest level of fragrance in the world of Pu'er tea – the floral aroma, specifically the scent of orchids.
5. **Prominent and Lasting Sweetness:** This is another distinctive feature of Jingmai tea that makes it difficult to imitate. Generally, the sweetness of tea comes after bitterness, but the sweetness of Jingmai tea is direct and long-lasting. When tasting Jingmai tea, you can immediately taste the sweetness, which lasts for a long time. Even after drinking Jingmai tea in the morning, if you do not consume anything that significantly affects your taste buds during lunch, you will still feel the sweet sensation on your tongue after a nap.
6. **Weak Bitterness, Strong Astringency:** Jingmai tea is considered an Astringent-based tea, with moderate bitterness and more prominent astringency.
The aroma is the most significant advantage of Jingmai tea, the main reason why people love it, and also the easiest way to distinguish it. The strength of the aroma in Jingmai tea varies with the picking season, being strongest in Spring Tea and weaker in summer and autumn teas. It also depends on the maturity of the leaves, with younger leaves being more fragrant. Given the characteristics of Jingmai tea leaves, early spring raw tea and Black Tea are the most fragrant and sweet.