{"title":"Menghai Area","description":"\u003cp\u003eMenghai is the western sub-prefecture of Xishuangbanna, in the extreme South of Yunnan. A lot of the famous Pu-erh tea mountains are located in this district: Lao Banzhang, Bulang, Nannuo, Mengsong and plenty of other that provide high quality tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"spring-2023-lao-man-e-big-trees","title":"Spring 2023 Lao Man E big trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEarly Spring 2023, big trees of Lao Man E, sweet varietal\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAggressive profile, strong sweetness, medium bitterness and astringency\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlenty of Huigan and Chaqi in a classic Lao Man E fashion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2023 vintage comes out particularly aggressive. the bitterness and astringency is up a notch compared to last year. Powerful upfront sweetness, characteristic of Southern Menghai, supported by a medium level of bitterness and astringency, this is the sweet varietal, hence the bitterness is short-lived. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood tea for a long session, it's a waste if you don't brew it ten times. The Huigan will build up as the session goes, the bitterness is high at the start of the session and decreases steadily, while the brew keeps giving sweetness for a while.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLao Man E, a well deserved prestige\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe first visited this village in 2012, it was already famous at the time, mainly for the high bitterness of its tea. Throughout the years, Lao Man E has always increased in price and renown, despite the competition of many new contenders in the fame arena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe village is located South of Menghai, let me show you a map of the area:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/lao_man_e_map_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591602204\" alt=\"lao man e map\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" width=\"1024x1024\" height=\"1024x1024\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou could think high prices in tea is the result of hype. Yet, ask any tea professional in Menghai, and they will tell you nothing beats Lao Man E in terms of heavy sweetness, supported by moderate to high bitterness. Even large factories invest in Lao Man E material for their high end blend. It's a tea that can sell without mentioning the name, the taste of the tea makes it worth its price. Of course, we do here on Farmerleaf because we chose the path of transparency and exploration of the terroirs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat makes Lao Man E special?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA tea from the lowlands?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts altitude is very low compared to other famous mountains, only 1200m in the village! Jingmai is at 1600m, Lao Banzhang at 1800m and gardens in Lincang or Ailao Mountain can grow up to 2200m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/LaoManEvillagefromafar_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591700071\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe usually associate higher altitude with better quality, and Lao Man E is an interesting counter-example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaybe we should think a minute about what we call quality. In the tea industry at large, it's often related to fragrance. But that's not what you'd think as a Pu-erh tea drinker, right?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe infamous bitterness explained\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E has decent fragrance, it is a very understated kind of fragrance, the opposite of Lincang teas. It won't burst in your nose, but will linger for a long time after drinking, stealthily coming back from your throat. The nature of this Lao Man E fragrance, which could be assimilated to Bulang area as a whole, is leathery, animal and herbaceous; don't expect a festival of flowers here, we're not in Jingmai here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the first cup, you can expect a good bitterness punch from a fine Lao Man E. Good bitterness should not linger for long, it should vanish within seconds, leaving sweetness in its trail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/lao_man_e_3_fb258126-08b5-49af-a1f4-97475beff4a9_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655438343\" alt=\"lao man e gushu tea soup\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are \u003cstrong\u003etwo varietals\u003c\/strong\u003e of old-growth tea trees in Lao Man E:\u003cstrong\u003e bitter\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003esweet\u003c\/strong\u003e. The bitter varietal has both long-lasting and short-lived bitterness, it is an intense experience that few people actually enjoy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is why we selected the sweet varietal, which displays a moderate to high bitterness, but only of a short-lived nature. This varietal is more expensive than the bitter one because it is the most enjoyed and sought-after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother characteristic of Lao Man E is to have a \u003cstrong\u003elow level of astringency\u003c\/strong\u003e in relation to the bitterness. In Chinese, we tend to group the two tastes together in a single word, but Lao Man E is well known for being bitter but not that astringent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA quiet but unstoppable force\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E will definitely give you a buzz if you're sensitive. We recommend you eat a good meal before drinking that kind of tea. While Jingmai tea tends to give out its power straight away, you need to be more patient with Lao Man E (and all Bulang teas in general).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup after cup, \u003cstrong\u003esweetness\u003c\/strong\u003e will accumulate on your gums and creep down your throat, you'll get plenty of that menthol effect that we like to call Hui Gan: a sweet and refreshing feel in the throat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is \u003cstrong\u003every long brewing\u003c\/strong\u003e, you can easily get 20 steeps out of a handle of leaves. This is partly due to the size of the leaves, they are among the largest you can find in Xishuangbanna. To give you an idea, we usually cook the leaves for 20 minutes in Jingmai, but in Lao Man E, they need at least 35 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you're brewing the leaves, the water makes its way through the center of the leaves to dig out that \u003cstrong\u003egood juice\u003c\/strong\u003e, and it can take some time, during which you'll be in heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want even more information about this tea and the recent history of the village, you can watch this interview that we shot with Ai Xiang Nan, the producer of this tea:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DU9CNgGZ8V4\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":44685345587387,"sku":"23年 春 老曼峨古树 357克","price":330.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":44685345620155,"sku":"23年 春 老曼峨古树 20克","price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3327.jpg?v=1689175425"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-hekai","title":"Spring 2024 Hekai","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2024, Man Nong village, Ancient tea gardens, small and big trees picked together.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft Menghai tea, good mix of fragrance and depth\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai is one of the softer mountains of Menghai, it shows low bitterness and astringency. Yet you can clearly find the menghai character in the type of sweetness you'll find here, the soup has a medium body and displays good minerality. Huigan can be felt after a few cups, relaxation and sweating is expected if you are that kind of tea drinker. Interestingly, hekai has something in common with Jingmai tea, even though you can still easily tell them apart, Hekai will display a stronger character overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"hekai tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3333_81ea800e-98a3-41c8-a8d2-7c398b9c8189_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689171796\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai is located in the West of Menghai. If you go there, I recommend you stop in Menghun for some barbecue, they are the best of the region. You'll then cross expansive paddy fields and start climbing the mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"hekai map\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/hekai_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689172269\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"barbecue in xishuangbanna\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9779_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241117\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9820_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689171868\" alt=\"hekai mountain\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9820_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689171868\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai was a very secluded area before the Puerh tea boom in the mid-2000's. The Lahu people who inhabit the place are known to be shy, when you went there back in 2010, they would barely talk to strangers. Since then, their business skill has improved... slightly. You don't go there to practice your small-talk anyway, you're in for the tea leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9828_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241208\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai has the largest ancient tea gardens of Xishuangbanna. The trees are big and grow mostly in forested areas on steep slopes, around the villages. They have been well-preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"close up on hekai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/hekaicloseup_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689172751\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea gardens in hekai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9835_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241241\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, the leaves look very much like Jingmai tea, they are medium-small varietal. Yet, the taste of Hekai tea is very different from Jingmai. There is not much orchid fragrance, it's not a charming tea at a first sip. It's a tea made for long sessions, over which the sweetness will build up in your mouth and which will leave you sweaty and relaxed, sitting at the bottom of your chair, but elevated to a new plane of consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9839_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241318\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai is made of three villages: Man Mai, which has the largest ancient gardens, Man Nong, with fewer gardens but of equal quality, and finally Banpen, which is only three kilometers away for Lao Ban Zhang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"man mai village in hekai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9909_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241376\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite being on the 'road of the great teas', a loop that goes through Hekai, Banzhang and Bulang Shan, the place is not particularly touristy, and the company of the shy villagers makes for great tea sessions. They won't tell you amazing stories about their teas, but they have maintained their gardens for centuries and do a conscientious job. It's one of my favourite place to visit, because you can sit at the farmer's table and enjoy great tea without having to do small talk. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea factory in hekai mountain yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9914_08d0f257-7ce5-4e50-a4e2-4da7504eb68e_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241412\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46202370195643,"sku":"24年 春 贺开 357克","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46202370228411,"sku":"24年 春 贺开 20克","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0351.jpg?v=1717637432"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-ba-ka-noy","title":"Spring 2024 Ba Ka Noy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2024 harvest, ancient tea garden mixed picking\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA taste of Banzhang area, a balanced tea from Menghai\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnergizing tea with good Huigan, medium bitterness and a soft texture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're a fan of the Banzhang taste but don't want to pay a premium for the name, Ba Ka Noy is a great choice. This one offers a balanced Menghai taste, somewhat similar to Pasha, but with a softer texture. Bitterness is present, but well encapsulated in a thick and sweet soup. It lingers in the mouth long enough for you to notice it, and vanishes before becoming overwhelming. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou won't find much in the nose, it's mainly a tea for the mouth and the throat, this is characteristic of most Southern Menghai teas. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheck our live stream for more details about the Banzhang area:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_EDIgZJrSpo?si=McRKndcJD2w-Ac2x\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBa Ka Noy village\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBa Ka Noy is located in the South of Menghai. The area seems to have a soil well-suited for puerh tea cultivation. It is populated with many famous tea mountains, from Hekai in the North, to Lao Man E in the South, and at the core of it, the village of Lao Banzhang. All the teas there are powerful, but they feature noticeable variations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBa Ka Noy is a small Lahu village located in the South-West, in its ancient tea gardens lay a good amount of massive trees, which produce a particularly sweet tea with a cooling aftertaste. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ba ka noy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/BaKaNoy_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173821\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis is a tea that’s often sold labelled as Lao Banzhang, due to the proximity to the famous village, and a certain equivalence in terms of overall power. Yet, the tea from Lao Banzhang tastes different, Ba Ka Noy has an identity of its own, one of the sweetest teas you can get in Menghai area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ba ka noy close up\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/BaKaNoycloseup_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173846\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe locals sell their tea in three qualities: small trees (Xiao Shu), big trees (Da Shu), and ancient trees (Gushu). Just like many villages in Banzhang area, the average size of the tea trees is much larger than in other mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ba ka noy gushu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4718_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173951\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46202404896955,"sku":"24年 春 巴卡囡 357克","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46202404929723,"sku":"24年 春 巴卡囡 20克","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0289.jpg?v=1717642146"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-naka-big-trees","title":"Spring 2025 Naka Big Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAncient tea gardens from Naka village, Mengsong, Menghai\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA unique mix of fragrance and bitterness\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is quite powerful, we recommend you brew it on the lighter side at the start, this is the best way to experience the high pitched fragrance typical of Northern Menghai. You'll also get plenty of bitterness to play with, it is of a unique kind, more on the upper parts of the mouth and closely paired with astringency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- split --\u003eNaka is the most renowned village in Northern Menghai. The Mengsong mountain range produces particularly fragrant tea and offers a unique kind of bitterness. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe visited Naka in Winter 2023 and met a new tea producer. We opted to buy his remaining Spring production of small trees. The high altitude of the area gives a nice high-pitched fragrance to the tea. The particular feature of this terroir is the bitterness, which is unlike any other in the Pu-erh tea world. It strikes on the upper part of the mouth and vanishes quickly, but still leaves light tingles over the session. Naka is the most famous village of this area because it tends to offer a thicker soup than the other places.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is a well-balanced tea, the perfect mix of softness and aggressiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo learn more about this area, you can watch a replay of this livestream:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D8DIhMpE1Kc?si=0oKwr3uJounvuSKk\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46692953686203,"sku":"25年 春 那卡古树 357克","price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46692953718971,"sku":"25年 春 那卡古树 20克","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF6478.jpg?v=1749450194"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-ba-ka-noy-small-trees","title":"Spring 2025 Ba Ka Noy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025 harvest, ancient tea garden mixed picking\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA taste of Banzhang area, a balanced tea from Menghai\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnergizing tea with good Huigan, medium bitterness and a soft texture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're a fan of the Banzhang taste but don't want to pay a premium for the name, Ba Ka Noy is a great choice. This one offers a balanced Menghai taste, somewhat similar to Pasha, but with a softer texture. Bitterness is present, but well encapsulated in a thick and sweet soup. It lingers in the mouth long enough for you to notice it, and vanishes before becoming overwhelming. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou won't find much in the nose, it's mainly a tea for the mouth and the throat, this is characteristic of most Southern Menghai teas. A good intermediate between our Banpen small trees and Lao Man E Gushu offerings. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheck our live stream for more details about the Banzhang area:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_EDIgZJrSpo?si=McRKndcJD2w-Ac2x\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBa Ka Noy village\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBa Ka Noy is located in the South of Menghai. The area seems to have a soil well-suited for puerh tea cultivation. It is populated with many famous tea mountains, from Hekai in the North, to Lao Man E in the South, and at the core of it, the village of Lao Banzhang. All the teas there are powerful, but they feature noticeable variations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBa Ka Noy is a small Lahu village located in the South-West, in its ancient tea gardens lay a good amount of massive trees, which produce a particularly sweet tea with a cooling aftertaste. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ba ka noy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/BaKaNoy_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173821\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis is a tea that’s often sold labelled as Lao Banzhang, due to the proximity to the famous village, and a certain equivalence in terms of overall power. Yet, the tea from Lao Banzhang tastes different, Ba Ka Noy has an identity of its own, one of the sweetest teas you can get in Menghai area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ba ka noy close up\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/BaKaNoycloseup_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173846\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe locals sell their tea in three qualities: small trees (Xiao Shu), big trees (Da Shu), and ancient trees (Gushu). Just like many villages in Banzhang area, the average size of the tea trees is much larger than in other mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ba ka noy gushu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4718_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173951\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46692967186619,"sku":"25年 春 巴卡囡 357克","price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46692967219387,"sku":"25年 春 巴卡囡 20克","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF6482.jpg?v=1749450498"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-banpen","title":"Spring 2025 Banpen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBanpen village, 3km away from Lao Banzhang\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApril 2025 harvest, natural tea gardens\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBanzhang taste, good intensity, balanced profile with a good bite, medium bitterness and good huigan\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea has a moderate thickness, good fragrance and feels quite lively in the mouth, although not as deep as Ba Ka Noy or Lao Man E tea, more aggressive than Hekai. It is a good daily drinker if you like the Banzhang profile on a budget.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBanpen, a satellite village of Lao Ban Zhang:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had always avoided Banpen, to me,  it was only a village to pass through on the way to Lao Man E. I had visited before, back in 2010. At that time, only Lao Banzhang was popular, and it's only 3 km away from Banpen. At that time, during the gold rush era, Lao Banzhang already commanded a much higher price than the surrounding villages, and the forgery was unhindered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWho cared? You always got an influx of new buyers willing to pay a lot for good leaves, and inexperienced in the trade. They would head straight to Lao Banzhang in search of the best tea. As a result, the good tea from the satellite villages was bought by the Lao Banzhang farmers to complement their harvest, it was mislabeled and sold to happy customers who would come again. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is why, despite having one of the best terroirs in Yunnan, I avoided the area, until covid came...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs you know, the economy of China has been struggling these last couple of years, and the Pu-erh tea industry can feel it. The wealthy people save on luxuries, they probably have truckloads of tea at home anyway. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe satellite villages suffer the most from this dynamic. They used to supply the fake-still-good tea. Now that a lot of buyers don't show up, the famous villages such as Lao Banzhang can still sell their own harvest, but they don't need that much extra tea anymore. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe satellite villages to Lao Banzhang: Banpen, Ba Ka Noy and Xin Banzhang, suddenly find themselves short of customers. They are now willing to sell the good stuff in their own village at a reasonable price, based on quality, and not on the Lao Banzhang price. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack in 2010, I had spent the night in Banpen. I went to Lao Banzhang with a friend from Jingmai, we expected to be invited to a farmer's house there, but it turned up we didn't look like serious buyers. With the huge number of visitors there, the traditional Yunnan hospitality was compromised, and I totally understand that. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout a vehicle, and as night was falling, our only option was to walk. Banpen was only 3km away. When we arrived there, we met a friendly man from Anhui. He had just set up a factory in the village, it was brand new and quite fancy for the time. We spent the evening drinking tea and slept in the warm drying house, surrounded by tea drying on flat bamboo baskets. On the next day we left, and somehow, we didn't keep in touch. Such a serendipitous encounters happen a lot during the tea trips, we even get used to it. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack to September 2024, I am on a road trip with Ai Ni Pa, the guide who manages our tea tours. On the way from Hekai to Lao Man E, as we crossed through Banpen, I felt like I would like to stop and meet people there. I hadn't tried a good Banpen in a while. If our visitors on the tours wanted to stop there, we'd at least have a contact. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI drive in the tiny village roads for a couple of minutes, it's gotten much bigger now! I'm happy to see the farmers being so successful. I see a random, decent-looking tea factory, I stop the car and we walk in. The tea boss greets us, with an accent quite foreign to this region. We sit at the tea table and think his way of speaking is familiar, so I ask him where he's from. He said Anhui, while staring at me for longer than usual. After a five second pause, we are both filled with joy. It was the same guy who hosted me fourteen years ago!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring all that time, Peng Xia kept running his tea factory in the village. He sells mainly small tree tea to large factories. We had a great tea session, talking about the evolution of the area and tea business. The tea we had was very well processed, and it is hard to believe it comes from natural tea gardens. Its intensity is a testimony to how good the soil is in that place. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe opted for the spring tea, he only had 30kg left, we bought it all. We're very happy to be offering this tea here, it carries a personal significance to me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe natural tea gardens, planted in the 1990s, grow at 1700-1800m, they are characteristic of the menghai taste, and quite close to Lao Banzhang tea in overall profile. The soup feels medium-thick, the upfront bitterness quickly leaves a sweet coating in the mouth, and the fragrance is muted and leathery, similar to Bulang Shan tea. You'll love this one for its balance, it's just a great Pu-erh tea overall. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/20241128201819.jpg?v=1732796312\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake (12.6oz)","offer_id":46694403932347,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20g sample (0.7oz)","offer_id":46694403965115,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF6462.jpg?v=1749521596"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-ba-ka-noy-single-trees-1","title":"Spring 2025 Ba Ka Noy single trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025 harvest, single trees\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStrong taste, thick texture, medium bitterness, deep Huigan\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust like last year's version, the biggest trees of the farmer's ancient tea garden was harvested to make this small production. The tea is more intense than its mixed picking counterpart, it has the same tasting profile but an even thicker soup and slightly stronger bitterness. I recommend you have a good meal and at least an hour of free time before tackling this tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBa Ka Noy village\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBa Ka Noy is located in the South of Menghai. The area seems to have a soil well-suited for puerh tea cultivation. It is populated with many famous tea mountains, from Hekai in the North, to Lao Man E in the South, and at the core of it, the village of Lao Banzhang. All the teas there are powerful, but they feature noticeable variations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBa Ka Noy is a small Lahu village located in the South-West, in its ancient tea gardens lay a good amount of massive trees, which produce a particularly sweet tea with a cooling aftertaste. Unlike the neighbouring village of Lao Man E, the tea in Ba Ka Noy is not particularly bitter nor astringent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/BaKaNoy_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173821\" alt=\"ba ka noy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis is a tea that’s often sold labelled as Lao Banzhang, due to the proximity to the famous village, and a certain equivalence in terms of overall power. Yet, the tea from Lao Banzhang tastes different, Ba Ka Noy has an identity of its own, one of the sweetest teas you can get in Menghai area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/BaKaNoycloseup_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173846\" alt=\"ba ka noy close up\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe locals sell their tea in three qualities: small trees (Xiao Shu), big trees (Da Shu), and ancient trees (Gushu). Just like many villages in Banzhang area, the average size of the tea trees is much larger than in other mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4718_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689173951\" alt=\"ba ka noy gushu\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46760531001531,"sku":"25年 春 巴卡囡  单株 357克","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46760531034299,"sku":"25年 春 巴卡囡 单株  20克","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7166.jpg?v=1752223377"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-meng-noy-big-trees","title":"Spring 2025 Meng Noy big trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025, big trees from Meng Noy village\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn the softer side of Bulang tea: moderate bitterness, good minerality\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRobust Huigan and energizing Chaqi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This year, we selected the best material of Meng Noy village: the gardens they established around the old village, now abandoned. The trees are not as big as what you could find in Lao Man E or Banzhang area, but they are significantly larger than ones that grow in their natural tea gardens. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eExperience this Menghai classic\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeng Noy is is located on the Eastern part of the Bulang area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"bulang shan map\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_location_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591770119\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eVillages in Bulang Shan have two names\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all of the Bulang area village, this one has two names: Weidong and Meng Noy. The first one is the Han Chinese name that's written on the maps, and the second one is the Dai name that people in the area will use more commonly. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA village connected to Lao Banzhang\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeng Noy was founded 30 years ago by Hani villagers from Lao Banzhang. Lao Banzhang has no access to large amounts of water, which means you can't etablish paddy fields and have to grow rice uphill; this is much harder work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis village is located at the intersection of two streams, making rice cultivation much easier and efficient. At the time, nobody would think that the ancient tea gardens of Lao Banzhang would ever have any value, the villagers packed their stuff and moved, forsaking their land in Lao Banzhang for better horizons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eA scenic haven of peace\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cimg height=\"1024x1024\" width=\"1024x1024\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"meng noy village in bulang shan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_3_of_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591768590\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe village, recently reconstructed, is established on flat land surrounded by hills. The landscape organization is concentric. You have the village at the core, rice paddies on the first ring, and tea gardens hung on steep hills as the second ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no ancient tea gardens in Meng Noy, but some tea gardens were established earlier than others. The villagers moved to the area 30 years ago, and they planted tea around the old village, which was initially built on a hillside (it was moved down the plain because of landslide concerns).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"old bulang hut\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_4_of_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591768720\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bulk of the plantations were built in the early 2000s in the wake of the pu-erh rush. There are differences in garden design and quality between these gardens. The older ones look more messy, they are not organized in rows and are allowed to grow taller than their young counterparts. We chose the best quality available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"old tea trees of meng noy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_5_of_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591768671\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea production is supervised by Yang Hai Mei, it is all handmade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are exploring the world of Pu-erh tea, Bulang Shan is a must-go terroir, it is well known for solid aging and overall strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"bulang tea brewing in two cups\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/IMG_5233_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591850027\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46760561508539,"sku":"25年 春 勐囡 大树 357克","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46760561541307,"sku":"25年 春 勐囡大树 20克","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7173.jpg?v=1752225199"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-meng-noy","title":"Spring 2025 Meng Noy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025, natural tea gardens from Meng Noy village\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClassic Menghai daily drinker \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill deliver caffeine and a basic Huigan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a more basic version of what is made in Bulang Shan. The plantations are about thirty years old, no pesticides are sprayed. The taste is quite basic but does the job for a quick session. It has a balanced Southern Menghai profile with medium bitterness and astringency, fast Huigan and a juicy mouthfeel. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eExperience this Menghai classic\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeng Noy is is located on the Eastern part of the Bulang area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_location_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591770119\" alt=\"bulang shan map\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eVillages in Bulang Shan have two names\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all of the Bulang area village, this one has two names: Weidong and Meng Noy. The first one is the Han Chinese name that's written on the maps, and the second one is the Dai name that people in the area will use more commonly. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA village connected to Lao Banzhang\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeng Noy was founded 30 years ago by Hani villagers from Lao Banzhang. Lao Banzhang has no access to large amounts of water, which means you can't etablish paddy fields and have to grow rice uphill; this is much harder work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis village is located at the intersection of two streams, making rice cultivation much easier and efficient. At the time, nobody would think that the ancient tea gardens of Lao Banzhang would ever have any value, the villagers packed their stuff and moved, forsaking their land in Lao Banzhang for better horizons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eA scenic haven of peace\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_3_of_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591768590\" alt=\"meng noy village in bulang shan\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" width=\"1024x1024\" height=\"1024x1024\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe village, recently reconstructed, is established on flat land surrounded by hills. The landscape organization is concentric. You have the village at the core, rice paddies on the first ring, and tea gardens hung on steep hills as the second ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no ancient tea gardens in Meng Noy, but some tea gardens were established earlier than others. The villagers moved to the area 30 years ago, and they planted tea around the old village, which was initially built on a hillside (it was moved down the plain because of landslide concerns).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_4_of_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591768720\" alt=\"old bulang hut\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bulk of the plantations were built in the early 2000s in the wake of the pu-erh rush. There are differences in garden design and quality between these gardens. The older ones look more messy, they are not organized in rows and are allowed to grow taller than their young counterparts. We chose the best quality available.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/meng_noy_5_of_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591768671\" alt=\"old tea trees of meng noy\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea production is supervised by Yang Hai Mei, it is all handmade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are exploring the world of Pu-erh tea, Bulang Shan is a must-go terroir, it is well known for solid aging and overall strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/IMG_5233_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591850027\" alt=\"bulang tea brewing in two cups\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46760570355899,"sku":"25年 春 勐囡 小树 357克","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46760570388667,"sku":"25年 春 勐囡小树 20克","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7146.jpg?v=1752225449"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-hekai","title":"Spring 2025 Hekai","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025, Man Nong village, Ancient tea gardens, small and big trees picked together.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft Menghai tea, good mix of fragrance and depth\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai is one of the softer mountains of Menghai, it shows low bitterness and astringency. Yet you can clearly find the menghai character in the type of sweetness you'll find here, the soup has a medium body and displays good minerality. Huigan can be felt after a few cups, relaxation and sweating is expected if you are that kind of tea drinker. Interestingly, hekai has something in common with Jingmai tea, even though you can still easily tell them apart, Hekai will display a stronger character overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"hekai tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3333_81ea800e-98a3-41c8-a8d2-7c398b9c8189_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689171796\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai is located in the West of Menghai. If you go there, I recommend you stop in Menghun for some barbecue, they are the best of the region. You'll then cross expansive paddy fields and start climbing the mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"hekai map\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/hekai_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689172269\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"barbecue in xishuangbanna\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9779_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241117\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9820_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689171868\" alt=\"hekai mountain\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai was a very secluded area before the Puerh tea boom in the mid-2000's. The Lahu people who inhabit the place are known to be shy, when you went there back in 2010, they would barely talk to strangers. Since then, their business skill has improved... slightly. You don't go there to practice your small-talk anyway, you're in for the tea leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9828_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241208\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai has the largest ancient tea gardens of Xishuangbanna. The trees are big and grow mostly in forested areas on steep slopes, around the villages. They have been well-preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"close up on hekai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/hekaicloseup_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689172751\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea gardens in hekai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9835_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241241\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, the leaves look very much like Jingmai tea, they are medium-small varietal. Yet, the taste of Hekai tea is very different from Jingmai. There is not much orchid fragrance, it's not a charming tea at a first sip. It's a tea made for long sessions, over which the sweetness will build up in your mouth and which will leave you sweaty and relaxed, sitting at the bottom of your chair, but elevated to a new plane of consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9839_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241318\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHekai is made of three villages: Man Mai, which has the largest ancient gardens, Man Nong, with fewer gardens but of equal quality, and finally Banpen, which is only three kilometers away for Lao Ban Zhang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"man mai village in hekai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9909_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241376\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite being on the 'road of the great teas', a loop that goes through Hekai, Banzhang and Bulang Shan, the place is not particularly touristy, and the company of the shy villagers makes for great tea sessions. They won't tell you amazing stories about their teas, but they have maintained their gardens for centuries and do a conscientious job. It's one of my favourite place to visit, because you can sit at the farmer's table and enjoy great tea without having to do small talk. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea factory in hekai mountain yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9914_08d0f257-7ce5-4e50-a4e2-4da7504eb68e_1024x1024.jpg?v=1661241412\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46878511169723,"sku":"24年 春 贺开 357克","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46878511202491,"sku":"24年 春 贺开 20克","price":11.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7159.jpg?v=1755527948"},{"product_id":"autumn-2025-lao-man-e-shengtai","title":"Autumn 2025 Lao Man E  Shengtai","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNatural tea gardens of Lao Man E village, mostly sweet varietal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect Menghai daily drinker: moderate bitterness, some huigan and minerality, good fragrance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E is one of our favorite villages and we're happy to offer you this autumn 'shengtai' version, less aggressive and cheaper than the 'gushu' cake. This one might even be more pleasant to drink now, it has a moderate bitterness and is not too astringent. It feels quite balanced, which is unusual for tea from this area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI could recommend it to beginners because it has a bit of that Northern Menghai minerality, a good autumnal fragrance and a decent Huigan. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLao Man E, a well deserved prestige\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe first visited this village in 2012, it was already famous at the time, mainly for the high bitterness of its tea. Throughout the years, Lao Man E has always increased in price and renown, despite the competition of many new contenders in the fame arena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe village is located South of Menghai, let me show you a map of the area:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"1024x1024\" width=\"1024x1024\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"lao man e map\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/lao_man_e_map_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591602204\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou could think high prices in tea is the result of hype. Yet, ask any tea professional in Menghai, and they will tell you nothing beats Lao Man E in terms of heavy sweetness, supported by moderate to high bitterness. Even large factories invest in Lao Man E material for their high end blend. It's a tea that can sell without mentioning the name, the taste of the tea makes it worth its price. Of course, we do here on Farmerleaf because we chose the path of transparency and exploration of the terroirs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat makes Lao Man E special?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA tea from the lowlands?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts altitude is very low compared to other famous mountains, only 1200m in the village! Jingmai is at 1600m, Lao Banzhang at 1800m and gardens in Lincang or Ailao Mountain can grow up to 2200m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/LaoManEvillagefromafar_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591700071\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe usually associate higher altitude with better quality, and Lao Man E is an interesting counter-example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaybe we should think a minute about what we call quality. In the tea industry at large, it's often related to fragrance. But that's not what you'd think as a Pu-erh tea drinker, right?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe infamous bitterness explained\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E has decent fragrance, it is a very understated kind of fragrance, the opposite of Lincang teas. It won't burst in your nose, but will linger for a long time after drinking, stealthily coming back from your throat. The nature of this Lao Man E fragrance, which could be assimilated to Bulang area as a whole, is leathery, animal and herbaceous; don't expect a festival of flowers here, we're not in Jingmai here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the first cup, you can expect a good bitterness punch from a fine Lao Man E. Good bitterness should not linger for long, it should vanish within seconds, leaving sweetness in its trail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"lao man e gushu tea soup\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/lao_man_e_3_fb258126-08b5-49af-a1f4-97475beff4a9_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655438343\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are \u003cstrong\u003etwo varietals\u003c\/strong\u003e of old-growth tea trees in Lao Man E:\u003cstrong\u003e bitter\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003esweet\u003c\/strong\u003e. The bitter varietal has both long-lasting and short-lived bitterness, it is an intense experience that few people actually enjoy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is why we selected the sweet varietal, which displays a moderate to high bitterness, but only of a short-lived nature. This varietal is more expensive than the bitter one because it is the most enjoyed and sought-after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother characteristic of Lao Man E is to have a \u003cstrong\u003elow level of astringency\u003c\/strong\u003e in relation to the bitterness. In Chinese, we tend to group the two tastes together in a single word, but Lao Man E is well known for being bitter but not that astringent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA quiet but unstoppable force\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E will definitely give you a buzz if you're sensitive. We recommend you eat a good meal before drinking that kind of tea. While Jingmai tea tends to give out its power straight away, you need to be more patient with Lao Man E (and all Bulang teas in general).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup after cup, \u003cstrong\u003esweetness\u003c\/strong\u003e will accumulate on your gums and creep down your throat, you'll get plenty of that menthol effect that we like to call Hui Gan: a sweet and refreshing feel in the throat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is \u003cstrong\u003every long brewing\u003c\/strong\u003e, you can easily get 20 steeps out of a handle of leaves. This is partly due to the size of the leaves, they are among the largest you can find in Xishuangbanna. To give you an idea, we usually cook the leaves for 20 minutes in Jingmai, but in Lao Man E, they need at least 35 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you're brewing the leaves, the water makes its way through the center of the leaves to dig out that \u003cstrong\u003egood juice\u003c\/strong\u003e, and it can take some time, during which you'll be in heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want even more information about this tea and the recent history of the village, you can watch this interview that we shot with Ai Xiang Nan, the producer of this tea:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" width=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DU9CNgGZ8V4\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47322756120763,"sku":"25年 秋 老曼峨 357克","price":38.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47322756153531,"sku":"25年 秋 老曼峨 20克","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_6673bb01-d886-41d9-b2e4-b5cbdc304260.jpg?v=1766952476"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-lao-man-e-gushu","title":"Spring 2026 Lao Man E Gushu","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, big trees of Lao Man E, sweet varietal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBalanced profile, strong sweetness, medium bitterness, low astringency\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlenty of Huigan and Chaqi in a classic Lao Man E fashion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-end=\"198\" data-start=\"17\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eleathery fragrance, not smoky\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"49\" data-start=\"46\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe bitterness ramps up steadily\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"84\" data-start=\"81\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eacross the first few infusions\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"117\" data-start=\"114\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ea seducing hint of vanilla creeps up\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"156\" data-start=\"153\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe Qi is invigorating and increases focus\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"427\" data-start=\"200\"\u003e\u003cem\u003esurprisingly not aggressive, the\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"235\" data-start=\"232\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ebitterness vanishes within seconds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"272\" data-start=\"269\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHuigan coats the throat\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"298\" data-start=\"295\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eminerality is revealed as the early\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"336\" data-start=\"333\"\u003e\u003cem\u003epower subsides\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"353\" data-start=\"350\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eit feels like this tea can give out\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"391\" data-start=\"388\"\u003e\u003cem\u003enumerous late-session long steepings\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"471\" data-start=\"429\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHuigan and Chaqi build up over the session\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLao Man E, a well deserved prestige\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe first visited this village in 2012, it was already famous at the time, mainly for the high bitterness of its tea. Throughout the years, Lao Man E has always increased in price and renown, despite the competition of many new contenders in the fame arena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe village is located South of Menghai, let me show you a map of the area:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/lao_man_e_map_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591602204\" alt=\"lao man e map\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\" width=\"1024x1024\" height=\"1024x1024\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou could think high prices in tea is the result of hype. Yet, ask any tea professional in Menghai, and they will tell you nothing beats Lao Man E in terms of heavy sweetness, supported by moderate to high bitterness. Even large factories invest in Lao Man E material for their high end blend. It's a tea that can sell without mentioning the name, the taste of the tea makes it worth its price. Of course, we do here on Farmerleaf because we chose the path of transparency and exploration of the terroirs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat makes Lao Man E special?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA tea from the lowlands?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts altitude is very low compared to other famous mountains, only 1200m in the village! Jingmai is at 1600m, Lao Banzhang at 1800m and gardens in Lincang or Ailao Mountain can grow up to 2200m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/LaoManEvillagefromafar_1024x1024.jpg?v=1591700071\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe usually associate higher altitude with better quality, and Lao Man E is an interesting counter-example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaybe we should think a minute about what we call quality. In the tea industry at large, it's often related to fragrance. But that's not what you'd think as a Pu-erh tea drinker, right?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe infamous bitterness explained\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E has decent fragrance, it is a very understated kind of fragrance, the opposite of Lincang teas. It won't burst in your nose, but will linger for a long time after drinking, stealthily coming back from your throat. The nature of this Lao Man E fragrance, which could be assimilated to Bulang area as a whole, is leathery, animal and herbaceous; don't expect a festival of flowers here, we're not in Jingmai here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the first cup, you can expect a good bitterness punch from a fine Lao Man E. Good bitterness should not linger for long, it should vanish within seconds, leaving sweetness in its trail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/lao_man_e_3_fb258126-08b5-49af-a1f4-97475beff4a9_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655438343\" alt=\"lao man e gushu tea soup\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are \u003cstrong\u003etwo varietals\u003c\/strong\u003e of old-growth tea trees in Lao Man E:\u003cstrong\u003e bitter\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003esweet\u003c\/strong\u003e. The bitter varietal has both long-lasting and short-lived bitterness, it is an intense experience that few people actually enjoy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is why we selected the sweet varietal, which displays a moderate to high bitterness, but only of a short-lived nature. This varietal is more expensive than the bitter one because it is the most enjoyed and sought-after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother characteristic of Lao Man E is to have a \u003cstrong\u003elow level of astringency\u003c\/strong\u003e in relation to the bitterness. In Chinese, we tend to group the two tastes together in a single word, but Lao Man E is well known for being bitter but not that astringent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA quiet but unstoppable force\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLao Man E will definitely give you a buzz if you're sensitive. We recommend you eat a good meal before drinking that kind of tea. While Jingmai tea tends to give out its power straight away, you need to be more patient with Lao Man E (and all Bulang teas in general).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup after cup, \u003cstrong\u003esweetness\u003c\/strong\u003e will accumulate on your gums and creep down your throat, you'll get plenty of that menthol effect that we like to call Hui Gan: a sweet and refreshing feel in the throat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is \u003cstrong\u003every long brewing\u003c\/strong\u003e, you can easily get 20 steeps out of a handle of leaves. This is partly due to the size of the leaves, they are among the largest you can find in Xishuangbanna. To give you an idea, we usually cook the leaves for 20 minutes in Jingmai, but in Lao Man E, they need at least 35 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you're brewing the leaves, the water makes its way through the center of the leaves to dig out that \u003cstrong\u003egood juice\u003c\/strong\u003e, and it can take some time, during which you'll be in heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want even more information about this tea and the recent history of the village, you can watch this interview that we shot with Ai Xiang Nan, the producer of this tea:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DU9CNgGZ8V4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969094893755,"sku":"26年 春 老曼峨古树 357克","price":230.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969094926523,"sku":"26年 春 老曼峨古树 20克","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_3ddf1e7f-883a-425e-87b1-bc67a8410900.jpg?v=1781615810"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-hekai-single-trees","title":"Spring 2026 Hekai single trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMan Nong village, the biggest trees for Na Duo's gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntense, more aggressive than typical Hekai\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea delivers straight away: short-lived bitterness, low astringency, intense mouthfeel, fast Huigan. It clearly is a Menghai tea, more aggressive than the standard picking grade from Hekai, which is usually softer. You'll get a good kick from this tea, it's well-balanced, hints of \"gushu smoke\" in the nose and oily texture. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF9862.jpg?v=1784702587\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo learn more about Hekai area, you can check this video: \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pcQd1CK_hPw?si=l0Qb486MXdw_JwXL\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":48118849372347,"sku":"26年 春 贺开单株 357克","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":48118849405115,"sku":"26年 春 贺开单株 20克","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_bc6bd63a-32f0-4e8c-9b82-4ee0b08c8b22.jpg?v=1784634839"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/collections\/menghai.jpg?v=1511503636","url":"https:\/\/farmerleaf.live\/collections\/menghai-area.oembed","provider":"Farmerleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}