Pu'er Banzhang: Legendary tea from the Bulan Mountains

Banzhang Natural Village (Chinese: 班章, pinyin: Bān zhāng ) is located in Bulang Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The village includes famous sites such as Lao Banzhang and Xin Banzhang . The word "Banzhang" comes from the Dai word "Ba Zha", meaning "fish", and the Chinese transliteration is "Ban Zhang". A natural village in China refers to one or more residential settlements naturally formed by families, clans, or other reasons.

The Banzhang area is located in Yunnan Province, China, which is known for its unique natural conditions that are ideal for growing Puerh. This region is characterized by:

• Mountainous terrain: Tea plantations are located on mountain slopes, which provides good soil drainage and access to sunlight.
• Altitude: The high altitude location allows the tea bushes to grow slowly, making the tea richer and more aromatic.
• Subtropical climate: Mild winters and warm, humid summer months create optimal conditions for growing tea.
• Mists and clouds: Frequent mists and clouds protect tea bushes from direct sunlight, keeping the leaves fresh and tender.

The main attraction of the Banzhang area is, of course, tea. The famous Pu'er is grown here, which is valued all over the world for its bright taste and aroma. Ancient tea trees grow in the Banzhang area, the age of which can reach several hundred years. The tea obtained from these trees has a special taste and aroma.

Tea plantations often border dense forests, which are home to a variety of animal and plant species. Clear mountain rivers and waterfalls create picturesque landscapes and provide clean water for tea plantations. Unique geological formations such as strangely shaped rocks and caves can be found in the area's surroundings. The villages of Banzhang District are home to the Hani people, who have preserved their traditional customs and crafts since ancient times.

Puer Banzhang is one of the most famous and respected varieties of puer. This tea is famous for its unique taste, aroma and medicinal properties, which makes it a desirable purchase for many connoisseurs of Chinese tea. The history of Puer Banzhang goes back centuries. The ancient tea trees growing in this region are considered the oldest in the world. Due to the unique combination of climate, soil and thousand-year history, the tea leaves collected here acquire unique qualities. Puer Banzhang is often called the "king of puer" for its exceptional taste, aroma and medicinal properties. But what makes Banzhang so special compared to other varieties? Let's find out.

Most of the Banzhang tea trees grow at an altitude of over 1,700 meters above sea level, which has a significant impact on the formation of the taste and aroma of the tea. Many tea trees in the Banzhang region are several hundred years old, and some even reach the age of a thousand years. Their roots penetrate deep into the soil, extracting all the necessary nutrients from it, which makes the tea especially rich and full-bodied.

Mount Bulan (Chinese: 布朗山, pinyin: Bùlǎng shān) "Brown Mountain" is one of the most famous mountains in Yunnan. The village of Lao Ban Zhang , located on Mount Bulan, is one of the most famous places for producing pu-erh tea in Yunnan Province. This region is famous for its unique conditions for growing tea, as well as traditions and technologies passed down from generation to generation. Pu-erh produced in Lao Ban Zhang is considered the best in the world, it is called the "King of Pu-erh". It has a unique taste and aroma that cannot be found anywhere else. In addition, this tea has a very high price, which makes it available only to true connoisseurs.

The maximum altitude of Banzhang is 1900 meters, the average altitude is 1700 meters. It belongs to the subtropical zone of the monsoon climate. There is no severe cold in winter, and no scorching heat in summer. There are only dry and wet rainy seasons in a year. Precipitation is abundant, the soil is fertile, and this is beneficial for the growth and accumulation of nutrients of tea trees.

Banzhang tea trees are thick and ancient, growing together with the forest, with a good ecological environment. There are no residents in the old tea garden in Xin Banzhang. In order to prevent the influence of the influx of tourists and maintain the reputation of Banzhang tea, the villagers of Xin Banzhang have set up vigils at the crossroads, checking people entering and leaving the village.

Banzhang loose tea and puer cakes have a very strong aroma, unique to tea from ancient trees. The aroma is somewhere between orchid and fruit nectar. The aroma of Banzhang tea is very strong and lasts longer than that of ordinary tea from ancient trees of Yunniani.

The bitterness of Banzhang tea quickly disappears and after about a minute the taste becomes sweet. After drinking Banzhang Puer, the whole mouth and throat become sweet. The feeling of sweetness will last for several hours if you do not eat anything after drinking tea. After drinking Banzhang Puer, the hands, feet, head and back sweat profusely. Of course, the feeling of warmth varies from person to person. There may also be differences in the perception of tea. With the usual amount of tea, it can be brewed more than ten times, and it will still be fragrant and have a sweet aftertaste.

Banzhang Puer is a work of art created by nature and man. Its unique taste, aroma and rich history make it one of the most coveted Puer in the world. If you want to try the “King of Puer”, then Banzhang Puer is the one for you.