{"title":"Raw Pu-erh Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003ePu-erh tea is the most hardcore kind of tea you can get. It has a devoted community because it tastes so different from the other kinds of teas out there. There is a lot of depth in this tea family; terroir matters a lot. Two villages a few kilometers aparts can produce radically different pu-erh teas. Twists in the processing can bring out different aspects of a given raw material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost of the high quality leaves available in Yunnan are processed into Pu-erh tea. This is an unforgiving style because it lets the leaf speak. You can't make a good pu-erh tea with bad fresh leaves. The most sought after pu-erh teas are made of ancient tea garden leaves. Some villages have acquired such a prestige that their leaves sell for thousands of dollars a kilo!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePu-erh tea can be aged, the taste will change as the tea slowly oxidizes. We specialize in fresh Pu-erh tea, grown in a sustainable way with no pesticides. We make sure we understand how the tea gardens are cultivated before offering the tea on our website, we do pesticide controls occasionally on some products.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"spring-2022-jingmai-gulan","title":"Spring 2022 Jingmai Gulan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eJingmai Gulan is our flagship cake. We assemble a blend of several ancient tea gardens from Jingmai Mountain to achieve a balance between fragrance, mouthfeel and aftertaste.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis year, we used tea from five gardens: Ai Ban, Nuo Gu Wan, Weng Bo, He Huan and Guang Jing. They are all located on the Da Ping zhang plateau, above our village, at an elevation of 1500-1600m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe hope you will enjoy the experience provided by this tea, it reflects our tea-making philosophy and represents the terroir of Jingmai at its best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":43045649776827,"sku":"22年 春 景迈古兰 357克","price":212.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":43968080543931,"sku":"22年 春 景迈古兰 20克","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/jingmaigulan1.jpg?v=1655293810"},{"product_id":"spring-2023-jingmai-gulan","title":"Spring 2023 Jingmai Gulan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eJingmai Gulan is our flagship cake. We assemble a blend of several ancient tea gardens from Jingmai Mountain to achieve a balance between fragrance, mouthfeel and aftertaste.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year is exceptional due to the drought, the yield was low, barely half of what we got last year. Fortunately, we managed to source leaves from more farmers and produced 150kg of this tea. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a blend made of six gardens: Nuo Gu Wan, Mai Sao Kan, Ai Ban, Weng Bo, He Huan and Mang Guo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt features a deep Huigan, moderate bitterness and subdued fragrance. It is a tea made for the mouth and throat more than for the nose, you can enjoy it over a long gongfu session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe hope you will like this vintage!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":44634591756475,"sku":"23年 春 景迈古兰 357克","price":198.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":44634591789243,"sku":"23年 春 景迈古兰 20克","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2151.jpg?v=1686210499"},{"product_id":"spring-2023-jingmai-miyun","title":"Spring 2023 Jingmai Miyun","description":"\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe perfect daily drinker that will give you a bit of everything you expect from a good puerh tea.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFor this 2023 release, we used our Liu Dui garden, as well as our cousin's material from a nearby garden. All the tea was processed in the wok, which is unusual for natural garden tea in Jingmai, most people use a sha qing machine nowadays. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tea tastes stronger than last year it displays a medium bitterness and astringency, balanced by good upfront sweetness. The whole experience feels very mineral, like sucking on a rock. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2190_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686578450\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2190_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686578450\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\" alt=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\" alt=\"ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\" alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\" alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\" alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\" alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\" alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\" alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\" alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\" alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\" alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\" alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\" alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\" alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\" alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\" alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":44634595098811,"sku":"23年 春 景迈蜜韵 357克","price":64.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":44634595131579,"sku":"23年 春 景迈蜜韵 20克","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2161.jpg?v=1686210957"},{"product_id":"spring-2023-bangwai-big-trees","title":"Spring 2023 Bangwai big trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2023, old tea gardens of Bangwai\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA unique terroir, reminding of both Jingmai and Yiwu\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood depth, soft texture and salivation\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is mainly about the mouthfeel. The tea soup is active on the gums and leaves a trail of sweetness as it goes down the throat. Pleasant to drink on a hot day, it has a good cooling effect. No bitterness and low astringency. Good endurance. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eBangwai\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eBangwai is located halfway between Jingmai and Mengku, in the North of Lancang County.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/Bangwai_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686563969\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe place is famous for a single huge tea tree, thought to be 1700 years old. This tree attracts many visitors. Tea gardens of different ages are scattered around the mountains at a high altitude. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF5148_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686564143\" alt=\"Bangwai village\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tea has a soft character with a good fragrance. It can remind of Jingmai and Yiwu tea mixed together.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":44640863649979,"sku":"23年 春 邦崴大树 357克","price":134.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":44640863682747,"sku":"23年 春 邦崴大树 20克","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2148.jpg?v=1686566075"},{"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-2023-jinggu-single-trees","title":"Spring 2024 Tang Fang Liang Zi single trees","description":"\u003cp class=\"western\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSpring 2024, Tang Fang Liang Zi, Jinggu\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlend of big trees\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSmooth and powerful, like a good Yiwu tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust like last year, Mr Dong sent us a couple of single tree along with his regular production. The biggest trees of the gardens were picked and processed individually, we then blended them together. Compared to the regular Tang Fang Liang Zi cake, the single trees version offers a more intense and complex experience, you'll get a thick mouthfeel followed by good Huigan. If you enjoy soft and powerful teas, this is one for you!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":44686839316667,"sku":"24年 景谷单株 357克","price":148.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":44686839349435,"sku":"24年 景谷单株 20克","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0923_6a332952-287d-4597-828b-304b0e0578ae.jpg?v=1719923964"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-jingmai-gulan","title":"Spring 2024 Jingmai Gulan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJingmai Gulan is our flagship cake. We assemble a blend of several ancient tea gardens from Jingmai Mountain to achieve a balance between fragrance, mouthfeel and aftertaste.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust like last year, 2024 was very dry. This succession of droughts results in a low yield in the gardens, but thankfully for the tea enthusiast, a more concentrated taste. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year's Gulan is very strong, featuring some bitterness, pretty high astringency, but a thick soup and plenty of sweetness. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a blend made of five gardens: Nuo Gu Wan, Ai Ban, Weng Bo, He Huan and Mang Guo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt features a deep Huigan, moderate bitterness and subdued fragrance. It is a tea made for the mouth and throat more than for the nose, you can enjoy it over a long gongfu session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe hope you will like this vintage!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\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=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46201194676411,"sku":"24年 春 景迈古兰 357克","price":182.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46201194709179,"sku":"24年 春 景迈古兰 20克","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0258.jpg?v=1717570207"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-jingmai-miyun","title":"Spring 2024 Jingmai Miyun","description":"\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe perfect daily drinker that will give you a bit of everything you expect from a good puerh tea.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe 2024 version of the Miyun is slightly improved. Due to the low demand in fresh leaves this year, we managed to get some of the best 'shengtai' tea in this blend. We've mixed the production of our Liu Dui garden with tea made by our cousin, growing close to Da Ping Zhang plateau. We'll see how this supposedly superior material will develop as the tea ages. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the time of release, right out of the pressing factory, the tea tastes lively and vibrant, with a light bitterness, moderate thickness, good sweetness and some Huigan. This is a good tea for beginners and as a daily drinker. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0293.jpg?v=1717579705\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\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 src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\" alt=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\" alt=\"ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\" alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\" alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\" alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\" alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\" alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\" alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\" alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\" alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\" alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\" alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\" alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\" alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\" alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\" alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46201385025723,"sku":"24年 春 景迈蜜韵 357克","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46201385058491,"sku":"24年 春 景迈蜜韵 20克","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0263_f31a6913-bb60-4bb5-86af-7a9b4e066c64.jpg?v=1717579711"},{"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-2024-bangwai-small-trees","title":"Spring 2024 Bangwai small trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2024, natural tea gardens of Bangwai\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA unique terroir, reminding of both Jingmai and Yiwu\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePleasant mouthfeel, soft character and good endurance \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great daily drinker if you like a solid mouthfeel with plenty of upfront sweetness. Despite the young age of the trees, the soup feels decently thick and has a characteristic fruity fragrance. This is the kind of tea you can enjoy for hours, using long steeping times, it fits well both gongfu and grandpa brewing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBangwai\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBangwai is located halfway between Jingmai and Mengku, in the North of Lancang County.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/Bangwai_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686563969\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe place is famous for a single huge tea tree, thought to be 1700 years old. This tree attracts many visitors. Tea gardens of different ages are scattered around the mountains at a high altitude. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF5148_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686564143\" alt=\"Bangwai village\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tea has a soft character with a good fragrance. It can remind of Jingmai and Yiwu tea mixed together.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46202405322939,"sku":"24年 春 邦崴小树 357克","price":46.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46202405355707,"sku":"24年 春 邦崴小树 20克","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0360.jpg?v=1717642241"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-bangwai-big-trees","title":"Spring 2024 Bangwai big trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2024, old tea gardens of Bangwai\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA unique terroir, reminding of both Jingmai and Yiwu\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood depth, soft texture and salivation\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is mainly about the mouthfeel. The tea soup is active on the gums and leaves a trail of sweetness as it goes down the throat. Pleasant to drink on a hot day, it has a good cooling effect. No bitterness and low astringency. Good endurance. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBangwai\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBangwai is located halfway between Jingmai and Mengku, in the North of Lancang County.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/Bangwai_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686563969\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe place is famous for a single huge tea tree, thought to be 1700 years old. This tree attracts many visitors. Tea gardens of different ages are scattered around the mountains at a high altitude. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF5148_1024x1024.jpg?v=1686564143\" alt=\"Bangwai village\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tea has a soft character with a good fragrance. It can remind of Jingmai and Yiwu tea mixed together.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46202581090491,"sku":"24年 春 邦崴大树 357克","price":126.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46202581123259,"sku":"24年 春 邦崴大树 20克","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0372.jpg?v=1717658249"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-bangwai-single-trees","title":"Spring 2024 Bangwai single trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2024, late March\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlend of six big trees from Bangwai. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent sweetness, cha qi and chracteristic 'wu wei'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- split --\u003eIn early Spring 2024 we released a batch harvested from a single big tree. The producer sent us the harvest of six trees processed individually. We sold part of the biggest one's harvest as a single tree loose leaf tea, and blended all the rest to press these cakes. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you got the chance to try the single tree mao cha early on, you can compare its taste with this cake.  You can also compare it with our big tree and small tree productions. The trees used for the single tree production yielded on average 4kg of dry tea, which is quite significant. In Jingmai, it's rare to get more than 2 kg out of a single tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tasting profile feels like an upgrade over the bangwai big trees: more intensity, great body feel, very relaxing. Bangwai is a great value for soft teas, we're happy to be able to offer this terroir at three different price points. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46238461657275,"sku":"24年 春 邦崴 单株 357克","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46238511759547,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0927.jpg?v=1719924170"},{"product_id":"spring-2024-mangzhi","title":"Spring 2024 Mangzhi","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMangzhi main village, Eastern Xishuangbanna\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApril 2024 harvest, 30 year old forested tea garden\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent fresh forest fragrance that calls for another cup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn October 2024, we took a road trip to an area we ashamedly hadn't explored before: the Xiangming area, in which four of the six famous tea mountains are located. Despite its fame, it is a relatively undeveloped area with narrow windy roads in poor shape. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving tasted very nice samples from some villages before, we headed to Mangzhi. We quickly encountered a local farmer, Zhang Jiang Hong, who showed us around. I always thought the place was covered in rubber tree plantations, that was the experience I had from a visit back in 2010, it seems I hadn't been to the right area. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gardens grow around the village in a beautiful forest, the environment looks great!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe big trees sell at a very high price, we tasted a couple of samples and opted to get the more affordable small tree harvest. Generally speaking, the soil matters more than the size of the trees, and this tea offers a nice price for value, it could almost be a daily drinker if you're on a loose budget. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea has an addictive fragrance that evokes a natural tropical forest after the rain. You need to try it to understand what I mean. The tea is not particularly thick or sweet, nor is it weak, it seems all of its power was invested in that inebriating fragrance. The soup has just the right amount of bite to keep you engaged in the session, in a way, this characteristic reminds me of Northern Menghai teas (Naka, Hua Zhu Liang Zi), but with a softer bite. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are happy to offer this tea because it shows a part of Pu-erh tea diversity we haven't explored before. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/mangzhi_general_location.jpg?v=1732791390\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake (12.6oz)","offer_id":46376986575035,"sku":null,"price":138.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample (0.7oz)","offer_id":46376986607803,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF5013.jpg?v=1732790820"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-jingmai-single-trees","title":"Spring 2025 Jingmai Single Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a preview of the final cake, we already blended all the single tree productions we made in Jingmai. We mostly sourced from Aiban garden for these. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe profile is less fancy than the gulan, the single trees blend doesn't have an extravagant aroma. nor a particularly juicy mouthfeel. It makes up for it by offering better Huigan and Chaqi, this is a good tea for a meditative session, you can brew it for many times and it keeps delivering. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"70g pouch","offer_id":46613714305211,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_single_trees_2025.jpg?v=1788941369"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-bangwai-single-trees","title":"Spring 2025 Bangwai Single Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the mao cha version of what we will soon press into 357g cakes. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great tea for the body, it will make you feel warm and relaxed. Some of the biggest trees available in Bangwai were harvested. The tea is very soft and has a thick texture with no bitterness and low astringency. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"70g pouch","offer_id":46613704671419,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/bangwai_single_trees_2025.jpg?v=1788941345"},{"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-jingmai-miyun","title":"Spring 2025 Jingmai Miyun","description":"\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe perfect daily drinker that will give you a bit of everything you expect from a good puerh tea.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is our budget-friendly Jingmai tea. Natural tea garden leaves from our Liu Dui area, not from our own garden because we sold it all as maocha earlier on. The material comes from our cousin Ye Hen. These are higher quality natural tea gardens that grow at high altitude (1650m) on a sandy soil. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Miyun is our basic daily drinker, it offers a decent fragrance, medium-light mouthfeel, low bitterness, a good amount of caffeine, a hint of Huigan. Nothing fancy, but it will carry you through the day, gongfu or grandpa style. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0293.jpg?v=1717579705\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\" alt=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\" alt=\"ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\" alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\" alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\" alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\" alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\" alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\" alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\" alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\" alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\" alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\" alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\" alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\" alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\" alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\" alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46692968595643,"sku":"25年 春 景迈蜜韵 357克","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46692968628411,"sku":"25年 春 景迈蜜韵 20克","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF6458.jpg?v=1749450913"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-jingmai-gulan","title":"Spring 2025 Jingmai Gulan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJingmai Gulan is our flagship cake. We assemble a blend of several ancient tea gardens from Jingmai Mountain to achieve a balance between fragrance, mouthfeel and aftertaste.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe had great weather in Jingmai during the late March\/early April production run. Not much rain, but a moister air than usual. Due to the lower demand in Pu-erh tea in China, fewer tea buyers visited the mountain, for many tea factories, the evenings were quieter, and the phone remained silent. As a result, more of the farmers were willing to sell their fresh leaves instead of making tea themselves. We got access to new gardens on Da Ping Zhang and improved the quality of the blend. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Gulan tastes lively as ever. The fragrance evokes a forest after the rain. Overall, it has a good balance and everything you'd expect from a good Pu-erh tea: enticing aroma, dynamic mouthfeel, fast huigan and good Cha Qi. Happy to present it as our flagshop cake!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\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 src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\" alt=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\" alt=\"ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\" alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\" alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\" alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\" alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\" alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\" alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\" alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\" alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\" alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\" alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\" alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\" alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\" alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\" alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46692968923323,"sku":"25年 春 景迈古兰 357克","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46692968956091,"sku":"25年 春 景迈古兰 20克","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF6454.jpg?v=1749451137"},{"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-bangwai-single-trees-1","title":"Spring 2025 Bangwai single trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025, late March\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlend of eight big trees from Bangwai. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent sweetness, cha qi and chracteristic 'wu wei'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the most intense tea we offer from Bangwai. It is very smooth and has great depth and Cha Qi. You won't find much in terms of fragrance, it is truly a tea for the body in the vein of Eastern Yiwu. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46760535851195,"sku":"25年 春 邦崴 单株 357克","price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46760535883963,"sku":"25年 春 邦崴单株 20克","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0927.jpg?v=1719924170"},{"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-na-lang","title":"Spring 2025 Na Lang","description":"\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025, medium-big trees from forested gardens\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNa Lang village, Nyot Ou District, Laos\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA powerful Yiwu-style tea with great endurance \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c!-- split --\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust like last year, Thongsavanh did a good job with this tea. We work together for a french NGO based in Nyot Ou town. He comes from a village nearby and get this tea from a forest. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a soft and sweet tea with good endurance. You will feel good Huigan and Cha Qi. The forest in which this tea grows is located South-East of Nyot Ou town, actually quite far from Yiwu area. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is interesting to compare it with the tea from Xiao He Bian. Na Lang has a thicker mouthfeel and a more toned down aroma than the Xiao He Bian. It is not Yiwu proper but rather the greater region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a typo on the cake, it was written Na Lan instead of Na Lang. The village has no official chinese name, it's just an approximation of the Lao name. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou district, the hidden face of Yiwu tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"nyot ou town\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5917_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373007\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou belongs to Phongsaly province, in Laos. It borders with Yiwu Mountain, in China.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"china-laos border near yiwu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/China-Laos_border_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655371703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eConsidering the renown of Yiwu tea, and the high prices its tea fetch, it is not surprising that many tea traders cross the border to Laos and source tea from Nyot Ou district. As a result, most of the tea made in Nyot Ou is bought by tea producers from Yiwu.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTea grows in the forests of Nyot Ou district along two valleys. The Southern valley is connected to Gua Feng Zhai village through a small road. The environment in which tea grows is similar in Eastern Yiwu and in the two tea producing valleys of Nyot Ou District. Ancient tea trees grow along more recently established gardens in the forests.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"forest tea in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_6005_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372917\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eLaos tea is infamous for its poor processing. In the last couple of years, some tea farmers have improved their technique and upgraded their tea factories to meet the standards of Yiwu tea. The teas produced are of similar quality and offer a better value than proper Yiwu leaves.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tea in this area is mostly made of large leaves with furry buds. It has a soft taste and features a great body feel. Experienced tea enthusiasts in China, especially in Guangdong Province, are always on the look for such teas, this is what made the reputation of Yiwu. At a first cup, the tea are not always impressive, but over the session, the Cha Qi builds up and makes you feel very relaxed.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a tea leaf\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_2270_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372950\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’ve worked in Nyot Ou area with a French NGO since 2018, our mission is to improve the tea quality made in the district. We’ve conducted training sessions on tea processing, and frequently give advice on tea garden management and factory set up.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"training session in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/IMG_2504_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372979\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe source tea from two farmers we worked with during our missions in Laos.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe mayor of Seo Pen, the village closest to Gua Feng Zhai, is experienced in the tea trade. He put efforts into improving the infrastructure of his village. He has build a good tea factory and studied puerh tea processing extensively. He collects a good part of the fresh leaves harvested in his village and processes them to a good standard.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eHoungkeo works for the french NGO (Comite de cooperation du Laos), and is in charge of conducting training sessions on puerh tea processing. He goes back home every spring season to make tea in his village, Huey Wa, located in the Northern valley.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"houngkeo training farmers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5958_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373769\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’re happy to offer teas from Laos with a good processing, this region has a good potential and will increase in value as the infrastructure develops and renown increases.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46760583921851,"sku":"25年 春 纳郎 357克","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46760583954619,"sku":"25年 春 纳郎 20克","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7131.jpg?v=1752226703"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-huey-wa","title":"Spring 2025 Huey Wa","description":"\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025, small trees from forested gardens\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHuey Wa village, Nyot Ou District, Laos\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft daily drinker with good endurance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c!-- split --\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJust like every year, this Huey Wa tea is a very good soft daily drinker, the kind of tea you can sip all day, gongfu or grandpa style. It will keep you energized without being too intrusive on your taste buds. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis tea was made by Houngkeo, who worked with us during our missions in Laos. It is made of young tea trees planted around 2007 in the forests around the village. Despite being small, the trees grow in a natural environment on a good soil. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eIt is a simple tea that will carry you through the day. A good daily drinker in the Yiwu style. It is sweet and has a pleasant aroma. The processing was on the redder side, you'll notice some level of oxidation. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3407_de4d5dc6-5bbf-4154-85f8-e79e946cf305_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689262070\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou district, the hidden face of Yiwu tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"nyot ou town\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5917_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373007\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou belongs to Phongsaly province, in Laos. It borders with Yiwu Mountain, in China.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"china-laos border near yiwu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/China-Laos_border_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655371703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eConsidering the renown of Yiwu tea, and the high prices its tea fetch, it is not surprising that many tea traders cross the border to Laos and source tea from Nyot Ou district. As a result, most of the tea made in Nyot Ou is bought by tea producers from Yiwu.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTea grows in the forests of Nyot Ou district along two valleys. The Southern valley is connected to Gua Feng Zhai village through a small road. The environment in which tea grows is similar in Eastern Yiwu and in the two tea producing valleys of Nyot Ou District. Ancient tea trees grow along more recently established gardens in the forests.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"forest tea in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_6005_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372917\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eLaos tea is infamous for its poor processing. In the last couple of years, some tea farmers have improved their technique and upgraded their tea factories to meet the standards of Yiwu tea. The teas produced are of similar quality and offer a better value than proper Yiwu leaves.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tea in this area is mostly made of large leaves with furry buds. It has a soft taste and features a great body feel. Experienced tea enthusiasts in China, especially in Guangdong Province, are always on the look for such teas, this is what made the reputation of Yiwu. At a first cup, the tea are not always impressive, but over the session, the Cha Qi builds up and makes you feel very relaxed.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a tea leaf\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_2270_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372950\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’ve worked in Nyot Ou area with a French NGO since 2018, our mission is to improve the tea quality made in the district. We’ve conducted training sessions on tea processing, and frequently give advice on tea garden management and factory set up.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"training session in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/IMG_2504_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372979\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe source tea from two farmers we worked with during our missions in Laos.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe mayor of Seo Pen, the village closest to Gua Feng Zhai, is experienced in the tea trade. He put efforts into improving the infrastructure of his village. He has build a good tea factory and studied puerh tea processing extensively. He collects a good part of the fresh leaves harvested in his village and processes them to a good standard.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eHoungkeo works for the french NGO (Comite de cooperation du Laos), and is in charge of conducting training sessions on puerh tea processing. He goes back home every spring season to make tea in his village, Huey Wa, located in the Northern valley.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"houngkeo training farmers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5958_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373769\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’re happy to offer teas from Laos with a good processing, this region has a good potential and will increase in value as the infrastructure develops and renown increases.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46878509596859,"sku":"25年 春 回洼 357克","price":38.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46878509629627,"sku":"25年 春 回洼 20克","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/5.jpg?v=1755527429"},{"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":"spring-2025-he-huan","title":"Spring 2025 He Huan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025 tea from a single ancient tea garden. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSofter than the Gulan, no bitterness, low astringency, on the redder side. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis garden is located in the middle of Da Ping Zhang, it comprises a small hill on which tea grows on medium slopes. The forest cover is heavy, therefore the tea trees receive a lot of shade and the soil is rich in organic matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is from one of the earliest batches we made in Spring 2025. We chose not to incorporate it to our Jingmai Gulan blend because it was processed a bit redder than the other batches, due to a long withering time. The weather was very dry when we made this one. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a soft tea with a mild fragrance. Not as rich in taste as the gulan because this one comes from a single garden. It's interesting to have in your collection if you particularly like Jingmai tea, this is typical Da Ping Zhang material with plenty of sweetness. \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\/jingmai_garden_map_1024x1024.jpg?v=1617424626\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin: 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx 0pxpx; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46878515495099,"sku":"25年 春 景迈禾欢 357克","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46878521393339,"sku":"25年 春 景迈禾欢 20克","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7111.jpg?v=1755529047"},{"product_id":"spring-2025-jingmai-tian-xiang","title":"Spring 2025  Jingmai Tian Xiang","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlend of natural and ancient tea gardens, suitable as an upgraded Jingmai daily drinker \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we had just started Farmerleaf, we used to release three types of Jingmai teas: Miyun, Gulan and Tian Xiang. The latter would bridge a price gap between ancient garden material and the much cheaper 'Shengtai'. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year, we've decided to reinstate this cake edition. We've used our best natural tea gardens, mostly located in Liu Dui, and a lower amount of ancient garden material. This tea is overall stronger than the Miyun and offers a good amount of Huigan. It offers a medium bitterness and the jingmai typical orchid fragrance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":46878653120699,"sku":"18年 景迈 天香 357克","price":80.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":46878653153467,"sku":"18年 景迈 天香 20克","price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF7237.jpg?v=1755533285"},{"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-2025-ding-jia-zhai","title":"Spring 2025 Ding Jia Zhai","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDing Jia Zhai village, Yiwu Mountain\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAncient tea garden, mixed picking\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTypical Eastern Yiwu characteristics: thick soup, deep Huigan, heavy Chaqi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from an ancient tea garden, located North-East of Ding Jia Zhai, close the Tian Men Shan mountain range. Eastern Yiwu is a remarkable terroir thanks to its preserved nature, high altitude, steep slopes and deep forests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"float: none;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/eastern_yiwu_hills_1024x1024.jpg?v=1772825856\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea that grows in this area has a distinguishable taste. Most of the gardens growing there arte shared between Ding Jia Zhai and Gua Feng Zhai, but a lot of tea makers from Yiwu and surrounding villages source fresh leaves there for their premium cakes. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"float: none;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/eastern_Yiwu_1024x1024.jpg?v=1772826046\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea lives up to the terroir's reputation. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fragrance is an understated fruitiness with a hint of smoke. That smoke-like aroma is not always an indicator of primitive processing facilities, it is often present in forest tea, it could come from the varietal genetics, especially if it has mixed with local wild tea trees. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut the fragrance is not the point of this tea; it is clearly a tea for the body and the mind, this is revealed from the first infusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe soup holds well in the mouth, it feels like syrup, you can feel its activity on the gums and flows down the throat easily. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is followed by a deeply relaxing body feel, your muscles unwind and your spirit ascends. This tea will make you feel slightly euphoric, and a little more talkative. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome light bitterness and astringency appears after a couple of brews, you will have to tame it with adjusting the brewing parameters. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the session, the understated mix of fruit and smoke will linger in your mouth, you can always get a puff by practicing retro-olfaction. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI highly recommend this tea if you're into Huigan and Chaqi; avoid it if you're just after fancy fragrance and explosive taste, this is a powerful tea with a subdued strength. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/7J9A0102_1024x1024.jpg?v=1772827054\" alt=\"\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47505147887803,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47505147920571,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/7J9A9978.jpg?v=1772814180"},{"product_id":"spring-2021-da-zhong-shan","title":"Spring 2021 Da Zhong Shan Single Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDa Zhong Shan village, Western Mengku\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSingle big trees mixed together\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePowerful heavy sweetness supported by refined fragrance and a hint of aging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack in Spring 2025, a tea producer from Mengku visited us in our tea shop in Pu'er. He supplied us with the Mang Nuo single trees, another area which turned out to be one of our favorite from this season. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are now happy to feature more of his teas, because they are really delightful, and we love to feature more Mengku teas. It is truly a unique terroir, relatively small and with a strong identity. Bingdao is the most famous village of this area, after the old village come the five satellite villages, this is the North of the Mengku region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bulk of the production in Mengku comes from two mountain ranges that mark the boundaries of this terroir: the western slope and the eastern slope (Xi Ban Shan and Dong Ban Shan). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/da_zhong_shan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1772829549\" alt=\"\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the western slope stands the tallest mountain of the area: Da Xue Shan; and at its foot lies the village of Da Zhong Shan. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA handful of very big trees grow in that village, they produce exquisite tea that we have the pleasure of offering here. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea was made in Spring 2021 and pressed in 2023, then aged in the mountain at high altitude. It was a dry storage, it lead to some oxidation and a change in fragrance, but I would still consider this one a young tea: it has a vibrant mouthfeel. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the first sip, it seduces with its heavy 'candy-like' sweetness, a caracteristic of good tea from Mengku. The fragrance is dispensed through that sweetness, it feels like drinking freshly pressed juice. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBehind that layer of sugar coating, an aggressive side will be expressed during the session, especially if you push the brewing time. Bitterness can come up but astringency will remain low, usually a sign the material comes from big trees. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe soup shows a medium thickness. If you put the tea through an oil refinery, it would come out as diesel, the premium kind. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is a well-balanced tea that showcases the Mengku terroir under its best light. It can be interesting to compare with our Dong Guo tea, whose village is very close to Da Zhong Shan. Same spirit, different quality. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47510752723131,"sku":"25年 春 懂过 357克","price":232.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47510752755899,"sku":"25年 春 懂过 20克","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/7J9A9974.jpg?v=1772885682"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-lao-man-e-single-trees","title":"Spring 2026 Lao Man E Single Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, Big trees handpicked by Ai Xiang Nan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmong the best sweet tea Lao Man E can offer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEight trees mixed together, excellent power and balance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the first time Ai Xiang Nan is offering us a single trees picking, the best from his ancient tea gardens. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile I thought the Lao Man E gushu cake was always the best tea in our collection, that was until we received this higher \"grade\", made only from the biggest sweet varietal trees growing around Lao Man E.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea has a moderate and quickly vanishing bitterness. It will give you a deep Huigan from the first brew. The fragrance is refined, carrying that typical animal leathery tone characteristic of the Bulang Shan area. This tea behaves well in the mouth, powerful but not aggressive, with low astringency and good activity on the gums. You can spend a whole afternoon sipping on this tea and reaching new planes of existence. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"70g pouch","offer_id":47781786812603,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/2_43e78ff7-2a01-456d-b974-f25906996206.jpg?v=1777985646"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-nan-nuo-single-trees","title":"Spring 2026 Nan Nuo Single Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eBalanced Menghai profile with lots of depth. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea was harvested in Da Fa's garden on a steep slope close to Ban Po Lao Zhai. We occasionally source the mixed picking from his gardens, it offers a complex mouthfeel with understated fragrance. This single trees version is even better. The trees are not huge but you can definitely feel the difference with the mixed picking. Great tea if you want a taste of premium Menghai.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"70g pouch","offer_id":47781849759931,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/2_b5911ef4-f2ac-4ddd-9521-ff7da1b70239.jpg?v=1777986153"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-jingmai-gulan","title":"Spring 2026 Jingmai Gulan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJingmai Gulan is our flagship cake. We assemble a blend of several ancient tea gardens from Jingmai Mountain to achieve a balance between fragrance, mouthfeel and aftertaste.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"15\" data-end=\"112\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eElegant and refined taste\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"40\" data-end=\"43\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA single sip carries you to the\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"77\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eancient tea forest of Da Ping Zhang\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"114\" data-end=\"208\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe moderate bitterness lasts for two seconds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"159\" data-end=\"162\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eand turns immediately into a delicious Huigan.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"210\" data-end=\"282\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe taste of the forest is enticing, natural,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"255\" data-end=\"258\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eit has hints of orchids.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"284\" data-end=\"315\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eYou can expect ten strong brews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"317\" data-end=\"379\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis year the tea feels very lively,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"356\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ea vivid tea experience.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis year's harvest started right on time, we started processing ancient garden leaves on March 28th. The material used for Gulan began coming in around April 1st.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe young leaves from Aiban were particularly narrow and delicate, making them challenging to process, but they produced a tea with remarkable density and energy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the opposite end of the spectrum was the material from Maisaokan, one of Jingmai's most famous tea gardens. The leaves were unusually large and mature this year. This was partly due to the microclimate and partly because the harvest was delayed. As a result, we got quite coarse material and has to sort out a lot of yellow flakes.  The finished tea retained what makes Maisaokan so distinctive: depth, understated strength and a calming Cha Qi.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe orchid fragrance is not obvious in this year's gulan, it has an understated fragrance. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe final blend was made of five ancient tea gardens, all located on Dapingzhang: Aiban, Nuoguwan, the Dapingzhang crossroads, Maisaokan and a small amount from Ganlong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe young tea offers fresh green aromas reminiscent of young rice shoots. The liquor is full-bodied, layered and rich, with excellent endurance through many infusions. We hope you enjoy it!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYubai's addendum: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eGulan is our signature tea. It represents what we believe Jingmai ancient tree tea should taste like.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn spring, the ancient tea gardens of Jingmai are dotted with wild orchids growing on the tea trees. Older generations remember a time when they were much more common, when their fragrance accompanied the tea harvest. Today they have become much rarer, just like the parasitic plant known as \"Crab's Claw\". Perhaps the name Gulan (\"Ancient Orchid\") can help evoke that image.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis year's release also marks ten years since we first made Gulan. During that time the tea has changed considerably. We have refined the gardens we select, improved our processing, and learned how to better preserve the tea after production.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn the early years, sourcing was our biggest limitation. Large companies secured the best gardens long before harvest by paying substantial deposits to tea farmers, while many farmers preferred selling to factories that guaranteed purchases throughout the season. As a small producer, our options were limited. We mostly relied on our own family gardens and those of a few relatives, resulting in a more uniform profile.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eOver the past few years we have gradually established relationships with farmers from some of the gardens we admire most. As a result, Gulan now draws from a broader range of terroirs while remaining unmistakably Jingmai.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOur processing has evolved as well. At first we learned largely by responding to wholesale customers, each with their own preferences. Some wanted greener teas, others preferred a more oxidized style. After years of experimenting and tasting, we gradually developed a processing style that reflects our own vision instead.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\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=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\" lang=\"en-US\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969018609851,"sku":"26年 春 景迈古兰 357克","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969018642619,"sku":"26年 春 景迈古兰 20克","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_071e3a8f-c17f-4ec4-aabb-6d85f1b31229.jpg?v=1781615379"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-jingmai-miyun","title":"Spring 2026 Jingmai Miyun","description":"\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe perfect daily drinker that will give you a bit of everything you expect from a good puerh tea.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-end=\"130\" data-start=\"15\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ecitrusy opening fragrance\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"43\" data-start=\"40\"\u003e\u003cem\u003emild taste\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"56\" data-start=\"53\"\u003e\u003cem\u003emedium sweetness and thickness\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"89\" data-start=\"86\"\u003e\u003cem\u003echaracteristic Jingmai shengtai fragrance\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"195\" data-start=\"132\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eit feels like a baseline Puerh,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"166\" data-start=\"163\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ewith every knob set on medium\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"245\" data-start=\"197\"\u003e\u003cem\u003efeels well-balanced with a nice\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"231\" data-start=\"228\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eleisurely vibe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"421\" data-start=\"247\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt is not a fancy tea, nor especially\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"287\" data-start=\"284\"\u003e\u003cem\u003epowerful, but it handles like the\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"323\" data-start=\"320\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eperfect daily drinker, it is a good\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"361\" data-start=\"358\"\u003e\u003cem\u003edirect companion that will hold your\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"400\" data-start=\"397\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehand through the day.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Miyun is our basic daily drinker, it offers a decent fragrance, medium-light mouthfeel, low bitterness, a good amount of caffeine, a hint of Huigan. Nothing fancy, but it will carry you through the day, gongfu or grandpa style. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF0293.jpg?v=1717579705\" alt=\"\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJingmai Mountain\u003c\/h1\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=\"Jingmai Localization in yunnan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_localization_in_yunnan_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655100260\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eJingmai is located in the South West of Yunnan, not far from the border with Myanmar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTea has been cultivated by several ethnic minorities (mainly Dai and Bulang) for at least 1200 years. It is going to become a UNESCO world heritage site for its unique natural environment, tea landscapes and cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eFive ethnic groups currently live on the mountain, they all live from making Puerh tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"jingmai main village\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2980_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655293168\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThere are two types of tea gardens on the mountain:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe Ancient tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Gushu’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4560_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291315\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eAncient tea gardens have been grown for longer than anyone can recall. They were established by cutting the middle stage of the natural forest, leaving the large trees intact to provide shade. The tea trees are tall, you have to climb on some of them in order to harvest their leaves. Some tea trees are hundreds of years old, they have grown a thick trunk which is covered in moss and lichen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"moss and lichen on an ancient tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4554_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291360\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDue to their old age, large size and shaded environment, they grow leaves of superior quality, highly sought-after by the Puerh tea enthusiasts, the so-called ‘Gushu’ tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe gardens are harvested four times a year (twice in Spring, twice in Autumn) and are not intensively managed. The weeds are cut twice a year, the soil can be tilled up to once a year and the trees are occasionally trimmed once every couple of years. No pesticide or fertilization is applied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"ancient tea tree on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4670_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291505\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens a.k.a. ‘Shengtai’\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"natural tea garden on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2989_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291571\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003eThe natural tea gardens, also known as ‘Shengtai’, are modern plantations established for the most part in the 1990’s. They have an interesting history. Back in the 1950’s, China needed to modernize its agriculture. The tea experts in Yunnan decided to establish modern tea gardens in the style of the Indian tea estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003eInstead of growing in the forest, the tea plants were planted in rows at high density. Pesticide and fertilizer would be used to maximize the yield of these plantations. They would be pruned every year to form a picking table at waist-height, making tea picking faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;\"\u003eThe model remained mostly experimental until the 1990’s, when rural development programs turned this modern plantation model into the new standard. Ancient tea gardens were not picked anymore and these plantations were used to make a cheap and standardized tea.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"taidi plantation in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2729_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291657\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eOver the 2000’s, the renaissance of the puerh tea culture in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then China, restored the value of the ancient tea gardens. The tea enthusiasts didn’t want the cheap plantation tea anymore because of a weak taste and heavy pesticide use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eIn 2010, another rural development program aimed at converting the intensive plantations into ecological ‘natural tea gardens’. Four our of five tea trees were cut in order to leave room for the remaining trees to take more space and grow. Pesticide and fertilizer use was banned. The trees would not be so heavily pruned, they were left to grow at 2m high. Shade trees were planted in the gardens. The aim was to bring these plantations closer in design to the ancient tea gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our natural tea garden in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3014_1024x1024.jpg?v=1651505347\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis approach was successful because the demand for this tea increased, while not being as expensive as the ancient garden material, this tea is way better than what was grown in the 90’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea picker harvesting in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3007_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655291811\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang plateau\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"entrance of da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4575_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292406\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is a relatively flat area located on top of Jingmai village. Its landcape is unique among the tea gardens in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eCovered by a forest where ancient tea gardens were established over a thousand years ago, it is a very peaceful environment with a high biodiversity. The gardens are shaded by massive trees and the soil is covered with a litter of dead leaves, slowly decaying into a healthy layer of organic matter. The soil is naturally sandy and infertile, but the high amount of organic matter helps retain the moisture and nutrients required to sustain tea cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tea forest in da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4654_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292326\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is noticeably colder than the other areas in Jingmai, you’ll feel it as you enter the gardens. This is due to its geographical features and the large forest which provides shade and generates a high humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tall tree cover helps protect the gardens from extreme weather events such as hailstorms and frost. This allows the tea trees to grow for hundreds of years under the protection of the forest. As a result, you will find large ancient tea trees along with smaller, more recently planted bushes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"road surrounded by tea trees on da ping zhang\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4667_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292453\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Ping Zhang is divided up into a dozen smaller areas with Dai names such as Ai Ban, He Huan or Guang Jing. We separate the gardens according to their Dai name because each of them features a unique taste. Some of them are blended into our Jingmai Gulan, while other batches are pressed into cakes and named after their original garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"satellite image of da ping zhang ancient tea forest\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/jingmai_da_ping_zhang_dcda6213-2ea9-480b-82a0-545130174070_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292205\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eOur tea factory\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"our tea factory on jingmai mountain\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3217_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292541\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe started making puerh tea in 2011, she established her tea factory on the first floor of the family home. It was a challenge because her family only sold the fresh leaves to other producers before that. We had to learn the skill of processing tea and improve it over the years. It took about six years to arrive to a consistent result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eOur family has three natural tea gardens and two ancient tea gardens. We use those to make our cakes and also source ancient garden leaves from other relatives to complete the production. We produce about 800kg of dry tea every year, usually 500kg in early Spring and 300kg in Autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai cooking tea leaves in a large wok\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3548_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292582\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe improved the factory over the years but keep the tea making traditional. Most of our tea is cooked by hand in two large woks, it gives a better control over the process. Machines have taken over in Jingmai and only ancient garden leaves are processed by hand, yet, we are among a handful of producers on the mountain to keep cooking the cheaper natural garden leaves in the wok, it is more work but the increase in quality is worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a bamboo basket filled with tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3687_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292643\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eOn top of Puerh tea, we also like to make white teas in late Spring and Summer, as well as experimental batches of black tea and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eAll the tea is processed by the two of us (Yubai and William). This is a lot of work during the harvest season!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"puerh tea leaves drying on a flat bamboo basket\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF3610_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655292703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969040728251,"sku":"26年 春 景迈蜜韵 357克","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969040761019,"sku":"26年 春 景迈蜜韵 20克","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/2_521a029f-7d94-4e5e-ba9f-154c607d6bee.jpg?v=1781615400"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-jingmai-single-trees","title":"Spring 2026 Jingmai Single Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026 harvest, mid-April\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBig trees from Ai Ban and Mai Sao Kan gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood mouthfeel and Chaqi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent quality this year, we managed to get top-notch material during the dry season. Mai Sao Kan brings the heavy Cha Qi, while Ai Ban adds the smoothness and fragrance. Expect a good ride!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat is single trees tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Jingmai has the largest ancient tea gardens in the world, however, many of those gardens are mostly populated by relatively recently planted trees. Most tea trees will die within a century, succumbing under the pressure of pest attacks and harsh climate. Due to favorable genetic and environmental factors, some individual make it through the years. We don't know how old these trees are, we can see they are tall and strong to the point you have to climb on the trunk and branches to harvest them. This is how we define 'single tree tea' or ‘Danzhu' as we call them in Jingmai. \u003cbr\u003e\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=\"big tea tree in jingmai\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/IMG_0779_1024x1024.jpg?v=1623140863\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe could sell the harvest of each tree individually, this would result in 500g-2kg batches, but there are two problems to this. Firstly, such small batches would be very hard to process, we like to have at least 7kg of fresh leaves in the wok in order to get enough steam coming out, by processing individual trees, we would have to be very careful, but it's still possible. Secondly, single tree batches tend to have a singular taste, there would be large variations depending on the tree's genetics and growing conditions. This is why we prefer to harvest a couple dozen kgs of fresh leaves from selected trees and process them together, we get more consistency and more complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/20210608161831_1024x1024.jpg?v=1623140643\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou could say this tea is an upgraded version of the Jingmai Gulan, but that wouldn't be exact. The flavor profile in this cake is different, some might prefer the fragrance of the Gulan. The sure thing is this tea is more powerful, it delivers more Huigan and Chaqi. We don't recommend you try this tea on an empty stomach or if you're in a hurry. It would be too bad to have to quit after ten brews because you can't handle it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopifycdn.net\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/products\/MG_0757_1024x1024.jpg?v=1623140816\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere is a video we made on a harvesting day:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1T6Xq0nYdWM\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969058554043,"sku":"26年 春 景迈单株 357克","price":230.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969058586811,"sku":"26年 春 景迈单株 20克","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_03407604-8ac9-428a-8d97-c5454c61d3af.jpg?v=1781615667"},{"product_id":"2025-jingmai-yellow-flakes","title":"2025 Jingmai Yellow Flakes","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2025 Ancient garden yellow flakes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft, sweet, low caffeine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery suitable grandpa style, you can't overbrew it!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are the yellow flakes we pressed in 2026, they are leaves which were too mature when picked and lost all their moisture in the wok. At the end of each season, we sort them out with a fancy big machine. This cake is made of the Spring 2025 ancient garden material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese leaves are sorted out because they taste sweet and not as punchy as the normal leaves. They give a very soft brew and are especially well suited for casual sipping from a big glass. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969077821627,"sku":"26年 景迈黄片 357克","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969077854395,"sku":"26年 景迈黄片 20克","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_4361c016-3ba0-4096-bd5f-5d3da74ef0a3.jpg?v=1781615728"},{"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-mang-nuo","title":"Spring 2026 Mang Nuo Gushu","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, ancient tea gardens, big trees only\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMang Nuo village, Mengku area\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood overall balance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"16\" data-end=\"103\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ealpine fragrance\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"32\" data-end=\"35\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eopens into a warmer complex aroma\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"68\" data-end=\"71\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ebuttery, reminds of Mengsong tea\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"105\" data-end=\"351\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003esome bitterness, medium astringency\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"140\" data-end=\"143\"\u003e\u003cem\u003epleasant returning fragrance\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"171\" data-end=\"174\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003emedium thickness, gentle minerality\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"209\" data-end=\"212\"\u003e\u003cem\u003enot soft nor aggressive, right in the middle\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"256\" data-end=\"259\"\u003e\u003cem\u003esomewhat similar to Jingmai, yet with\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"296\" data-end=\"299\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ea different aromatic profile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"327\" data-end=\"330\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eunexpectedly enduring\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe met the farmer in our tea shop  in 2025 and we've established a good relationship since then. This is the standard 'Gushu' grade that our friend produces. Many big trees were picked, we acquired a small batch of 55 cakes.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMang Nuo is a small town located East of Shuangjiang and close to Mengku, in Lincang County. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/mang_nuo.jpg?v=1781630293\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969185530043,"sku":null,"price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969185562811,"sku":null,"price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_097a0886-0c95-4135-87f8-2328ae5660e3.jpg?v=1781616369"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-tang-fang-liang-zi","title":"Spring 2026 Tang Fang Liang Zi","description":"\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForest tea from Western Jinggu. Fragrant and sweet, relaxing body feel. A good daily drinker for office brewing.  It will keep you calm and focused. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ecomplex flowery, pitcher fragrance\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"57\" data-start=\"54\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eoily soup, soft texture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"83\" data-start=\"80\"\u003e\u003cem\u003edelicious mouthfeel\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"105\" data-start=\"102\"\u003e\u003cem\u003enot much Huigan, this tea is focused\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"144\" data-start=\"141\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eon the mouth\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003eThis tea has a typical forest fragrance, something you'll find in tea that grows in heavily shaded environment. It's not as deep as the best Yiwu teas, but it feel extremely refreshing. It is a combination of fragrance and sweetness that will keep you going back to this tea. It is well-suited for grandpa style brewing. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eTang Fang Liang Zi: the South West of Jinggu\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003eThis tea was made by Mr Dong. His tea gardens grow in the forests of Tang Fang Liang Zi Mountain, in the South-West of Little Jinggu. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"tang fang liang zi localization\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/tang_fang_liang_zi_a14b4a03-b69b-43ee-9db5-162ca64f6e9d_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655360260\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" class=\"western\"\u003e We visited the gardens in early Spring 2022, they are quite far from the main road, overlooking, Little Jinggu.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2579_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655362055\" alt=\"Mr Dong's forested tea gardens\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" class=\"western\"\u003eThe tea offers a consistent brew across the session. It is understated and soft. You'll notice the good body feel. A calming Cha Qi creeps upon you as the session progresses. It's a suitable daily drinker to sip during work. The good body feel allows you to focus better. It's an introverted tea, it doesn't want to be the center of attention at the tea table, but it will support you as you carry out your tasks. It can withstand grandpa-style brewing well.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/tang_fang_liang_zi_3_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655439263\" alt=\"tang fang liang zi puerh tea\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eOur trip to Jinggu Mountain\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" width=\"560\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2KmChRUzh0s\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"western\"\u003eJinggu, the forgotten tea mountain\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"view on little jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2366_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655354788\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eJinggu is often overlooked by the tea enthusiasts, and yet, you might have had great teas from there without knowing it. Indeed, a lof of Yiwu cakes contain Jinggu material, because they have comparable tasting profiles in some way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eLocated between Lincang and the massive Wuliang Mountain range, Jinggu county is made of hills as far as the eye can see. You won’t find imposing peaks there, nor any specific landmark. It’s a region that doesn’t attract tourists and it might partly explain why Jinggu tea has always grown in the shade of other terroirs. In the county, the town named ‘little Jinggu’, located north of the county capital, has the most to offer to the avid tea enthusiast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/ba_da_ye_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655356062\" alt=\"localization of jinggu\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eYou’ll find three types of tea gardens there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"western\"\u003eThree types of gardens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eDa Bai Cha \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"da bai cha varietal in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2713_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655354865\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eJinggu county is famous for its Da Bai Cha varietal, which produces large furry buds. It sells well in the mass market thanks to its good look, but it’s a whole different industry, and the avid tea enthusiast would be disappointed by its weak taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTeng Tiao\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"teng tiao varietal in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2379_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655355003\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eBesides the Da Bai Cha, the farmers of Jinggu also grow the ‘old varietal’, a more orthodox large-leaf, seed-propagated tea tree, which is picked and maintained with the Teng Tiao technique. In most of the tea gardens, the farmers want to promote lateral growth. It allows for more shoots growing in a shorter package, you have your picking table made of short branches and a lot of shoots. In Jinggu, the farmers have taken the opposite approach, they want few long branches. The tea grows on the sides of the branch without growing more woody parts. To achieve this, they pick the axillary buds that would produce new branches on the side of the main stem. This results in a specific look of the tea trees that you’ll only find in Jinggu and in some parts of Lincang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eForest tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"forested tea gardens in jinggu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2569_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655355081\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe last type of tea garden is the most interesting one. If you visit Jinggu, you won’t notice it. It is hidden in the forests on the higher slopes. In a similar fashion as Eastern Yiwu or Northern Laos, these gardens are only accessible through small roads and can take a couple of hours to reach. This forest tea is of the same varietal as the commonly found Teng Tiao, but the ecosystem of the forest and the shade give the brew a special character. The tea has a soft and yet powerful tasting profile, with plenty of sweetness and a calming body feel. It’s a great tea to relax and meditate. This is what we like to source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai and lucas walking through the tea forest\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2598_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655355521\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eA long history of tea making\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eJust like Yiwu, Jinggu has a long history of tea making, and the producers never lost the skill of puerh tea making through recent history. We work with two of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eLuo Kai Yin has set up a small factory in his native village called Xin Cun. He sources fresh leaves from forested tea gardens and processes them himself. Tea trade is quite fluid in Jinggu, the local producers can go to places far from their home base to get good leaves. To purchase material that suits his high standard, Luo Kai Yin likes to go to Wen Shan Ding in the East, and far in the North, to Ba Da Ye.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Luo Kai Yin at his tea table\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2777_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655355460\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe also work with Mr Dong, who lives in a village, South-West of Little Jinggu. He grows forested tea gardens on Tang Fang Liang Zi Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Mr Dong brewing tea at his home\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF2687_ce55e67c-e73b-43d3-a47d-ff8bbf77561e_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655355387\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969312145595,"sku":"26年 春 塘坊梁子 357克","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969312178363,"sku":"26年 春 塘坊梁子 20克","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_eef3ee6e-144e-4f70-8359-cbf34f8a0133.jpg?v=1781617141"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-tang-fang-liang-zi-single-trees","title":"Spring 2026 Tang Fang Liang Zi single trees","description":"\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, Tang Fang Liang Zi, Jinggu\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlend of big trees\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmooth and powerful, like a good Yiwu tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTasting notes: \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-end=\"99\" data-start=\"33\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eopening with understated fruity and\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"71\" data-start=\"68\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eslightly leathery fragrance.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"208\" data-start=\"101\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eheavy sweetness, medium thickness\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"137\" data-start=\"134\"\u003e\u003cem\u003efragrant soup, no bitterness\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"168\" data-start=\"165\"\u003e\u003cem\u003elow astringency, hints of “gu shu smoke”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"308\" data-start=\"210\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe material is older than usual,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"246\" data-start=\"243\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ewhich likely explain the heavy sweetness\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"289\" data-start=\"286\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eand light mouthfeel\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"347\" data-start=\"310\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ecalming light Cha qi but weak Hui gan\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"347\" data-start=\"310\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is one of my favorites this year. It has a good balance and is interesting to compare with the bangwai single trees or the teas from Laos. It is on the softer side with animal fragrance, no bitterness and astringency. It's hard to describe in words how different these teas are, I will write they are soft and Yiwu-like, but you will surely be able to taste their intricacies. This one is maybe a tad more aggressive than bangwai. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt will give you a good energy boost and can keep you entertained for an hour. The soup feels very lively in the mouth. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":47969330823355,"sku":"26年 景谷单株 357克","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":47969330856123,"sku":"26年 景谷单株 20克","price":11.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_eb37c079-8d3a-4569-a530-5330f72955db.jpg?v=1781617267"},{"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"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-cang-yuan","title":"Spring 2026 Cang Yuan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOld tea garden material, Pa Pai village, Cangyuan county, Lincang\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJuicy texture with low bitterness and an enduring understated fragrance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year's release of Cang Yuan is even better than the 2024 one. You get a thick and oily texture straight away, the inside of your mouth gets coated with soft Yunnan chicken soup. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou'll find light bitterness and medium astringency on this soft and ascending ride to the tea heavens. You'll be carried along your journey by a long-lasting discreet fragrance, and will be left with a satisfying aftertaste in your throat. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe haven't visited the area yet, it is located is a remote county at the border with Myanmar, in the far west of Lincang county.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/papai_1024x1024.jpg?v=1700750436\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/papaizoom_1024x1024.jpg?v=1700750473\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":48119190847675,"sku":"26年 春 沧源 357克","price":86.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":48119190880443,"sku":"26年 春 沧源 20克","price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_9462b4dc-39de-4f87-847b-2d14015820c4.jpg?v=1784645500"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-donghe","title":"Spring 2026 Donghe","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, Ancient tea gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDonghe town, Lancang county, Pu'er\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood fragrance and mouthfeel, halfway between Jingmai and Mengku\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a new area we're offering this year. This tea starts with pleasant bitterness, balanced by a good amount of sweetness. Fresh foresty fragrance and lively soup ensue. Some astringency creeps up later in the session. It reminds of Jingmai, Mang Nuo and Dong Guo in some aspects. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall it's a unique experience, a pleasant bite and interesting personality, much more aggressive than Bangwai, located not far from that mountain. The Huigan and Chaqi are mild, it's mostly an experience for the nose and the mouth. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/7_8366a1b9-959c-40a3-908b-31fd33177644.jpg?v=1784708960\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/dong_he.jpg?v=1784708659\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":48119336992955,"sku":null,"price":96.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":48119337025723,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/1_81a03e2a-28b8-4c40-8cf8-97b4fa5cc751.jpg?v=1784646274"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-na-lang","title":"Spring 2026 Na Lang","description":"\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, medium-big trees from forested gardens\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNa Lang village, Nyot Ou District, Laos\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood Huigan and calming Chaqi, soft Yiwu profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c!-- split --\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea was made by Thongsavahn in his home village. We've featured it for years on our website because it consistently delivers a dose of Yiwu goodness. It is soft, powerful, without bitterness, calming Chaqi. It's is a very suitable comfort tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNalang is a bit outside the Yiwu area, not far from Nyot Ou town. We haven't visited the area, the tea trees are quite big and grow in a forest. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is nothing really special to mention about this tea, but it's one that often makes its way to our tea table, it has something very thirst-quenching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou district, the hidden face of Yiwu tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"nyot ou town\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5917_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373007\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou belongs to Phongsaly province, in Laos. It borders with Yiwu Mountain, in China.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"china-laos border near yiwu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/China-Laos_border_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655371703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eConsidering the renown of Yiwu tea, and the high prices its tea fetch, it is not surprising that many tea traders cross the border to Laos and source tea from Nyot Ou district. As a result, most of the tea made in Nyot Ou is bought by tea producers from Yiwu.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTea grows in the forests of Nyot Ou district along two valleys. The Southern valley is connected to Gua Feng Zhai village through a small road. The environment in which tea grows is similar in Eastern Yiwu and in the two tea producing valleys of Nyot Ou District. Ancient tea trees grow along more recently established gardens in the forests.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"forest tea in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_6005_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372917\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eLaos tea is infamous for its poor processing. In the last couple of years, some tea farmers have improved their technique and upgraded their tea factories to meet the standards of Yiwu tea. The teas produced are of similar quality and offer a better value than proper Yiwu leaves.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tea in this area is mostly made of large leaves with furry buds. It has a soft taste and features a great body feel. Experienced tea enthusiasts in China, especially in Guangdong Province, are always on the look for such teas, this is what made the reputation of Yiwu. At a first cup, the tea are not always impressive, but over the session, the Cha Qi builds up and makes you feel very relaxed.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a tea leaf\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_2270_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372950\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’ve worked in Nyot Ou area with a French NGO since 2018, our mission is to improve the tea quality made in the district. We’ve conducted training sessions on tea processing, and frequently give advice on tea garden management and factory set up.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"training session in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/IMG_2504_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372979\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe source tea from two farmers we worked with during our missions in Laos.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe mayor of Seo Pen, the village closest to Gua Feng Zhai, is experienced in the tea trade. He put efforts into improving the infrastructure of his village. He has build a good tea factory and studied puerh tea processing extensively. He collects a good part of the fresh leaves harvested in his village and processes them to a good standard.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eHoungkeo works for the french NGO (Comite de cooperation du Laos), and is in charge of conducting training sessions on puerh tea processing. He goes back home every spring season to make tea in his village, Huey Wa, located in the Northern valley.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"houngkeo training farmers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5958_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373769\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’re happy to offer teas from Laos with a good processing, this region has a good potential and will increase in value as the infrastructure develops and renown increases.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":48338261311675,"sku":"26年 春 纳郎 357克","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":48338261344443,"sku":"26年 春 纳郎 20克","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4458_438ad438-203b-4ecd-b19c-83f26cc98f4d.jpg?v=1788857811"},{"product_id":"spring-2026-huey-wa","title":"Spring 2026 Huey Wa","description":"\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring 2026, small trees from forested gardens\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHuey Wa village, Nyot Ou District, Laos\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft daily drinker with good endurance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c!-- split --\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis has become a classic tea on Farmerleaf. It delivers a lot for the price. It starts with a pleasant understated fragrance followed by a claming energy that propagates through the body. It is not as strong overall as the Na Lang, a notch more aggressive (you can get some bitterness and astringency out of it when brewing strong). It has more minerality, which pushes you to reach for another cup, and a decent endurance. This makes it an excellent tea to sip on throughout the day, it could even fit well grandpa-style. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThis tea was made by Houngkeo, who worked with us during our missions in Laos. It is made of young tea trees planted around 2007 in the forests around the village. Despite being small, the trees grow in a natural environment on a good soil. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4502_ec38ed3e-c16d-4b4b-ba2c-23c2c172653d.jpg?v=1788920947\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou district, the hidden face of Yiwu tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"nyot ou town\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5917_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373007\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eNyot Ou belongs to Phongsaly province, in Laos. It borders with Yiwu Mountain, in China.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"china-laos border near yiwu\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/China-Laos_border_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655371703\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eConsidering the renown of Yiwu tea, and the high prices its tea fetch, it is not surprising that many tea traders cross the border to Laos and source tea from Nyot Ou district. As a result, most of the tea made in Nyot Ou is bought by tea producers from Yiwu.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eTea grows in the forests of Nyot Ou district along two valleys. The Southern valley is connected to Gua Feng Zhai village through a small road. The environment in which tea grows is similar in Eastern Yiwu and in the two tea producing valleys of Nyot Ou District. Ancient tea trees grow along more recently established gardens in the forests.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"forest tea in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_6005_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372917\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eLaos tea is infamous for its poor processing. In the last couple of years, some tea farmers have improved their technique and upgraded their tea factories to meet the standards of Yiwu tea. The teas produced are of similar quality and offer a better value than proper Yiwu leaves.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe tea in this area is mostly made of large leaves with furry buds. It has a soft taste and features a great body feel. Experienced tea enthusiasts in China, especially in Guangdong Province, are always on the look for such teas, this is what made the reputation of Yiwu. At a first cup, the tea are not always impressive, but over the session, the Cha Qi builds up and makes you feel very relaxed.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"yubai holding a tea leaf\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_2270_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372950\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’ve worked in Nyot Ou area with a French NGO since 2018, our mission is to improve the tea quality made in the district. We’ve conducted training sessions on tea processing, and frequently give advice on tea garden management and factory set up.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"training session in laos\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/IMG_2504_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655372979\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe source tea from two farmers we worked with during our missions in Laos.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eThe mayor of Seo Pen, the village closest to Gua Feng Zhai, is experienced in the tea trade. He put efforts into improving the infrastructure of his village. He has build a good tea factory and studied puerh tea processing extensively. He collects a good part of the fresh leaves harvested in his village and processes them to a good standard.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eHoungkeo works for the french NGO (Comite de cooperation du Laos), and is in charge of conducting training sessions on puerh tea processing. He goes back home every spring season to make tea in his village, Huey Wa, located in the Northern valley.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"houngkeo training farmers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/MG_5958_1024x1024.jpg?v=1655373769\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"en-US\" style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003eWe’re happy to offer teas from Laos with a good processing, this region has a good potential and will increase in value as the infrastructure develops and renown increases.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":48338372067515,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":48338372100283,"sku":null,"price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4496.jpg?v=1788859794"},{"product_id":"spring-2018-jingmai-tian-xiang-aged-sample","title":"Spring 2018 Jingmai Tian Xiang aged sample","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJingmai high altitude natural tea gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProcessed in our factory, stored in Pu'er City under dry conditions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft, good aromatic complexity, balanced. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIs Pu-erh tea worth aging? After eight years, we can get a first glimpse at the results of our storage environment. We chose to try the Tian Xiang from 2018 because it is the year we finally established our current processing technique. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur processing technique involves a short high temperature phase, followed by a lower temperature long phase during which the leaves are kepts in a ball so as to promote steaming. This long steaming phase at low temperature allows the leaf cells to degrade more and promote sweetness (same process as what happens when stir-frying vegetables). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome tea drinkers express concerns that such a tea will not age well, because the long cooking time and steaming would destroy all the enzymes, preventing further oxidation. They instead advocate for a short kill-green at high temperature, without steaming, this preserve more of the enzymes and as a result lead to a faster oxidation over the years. This is usually at the expense of having a strong 'fresh vegetable' taste and less sweetness in the early years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoes our processing method prevent aging? You can try for yourself with this limited release. Only 60 samples available. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Farmerleaf","offers":[{"title":"20g sample","offer_id":48392454275259,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/files\/DSCF4567.jpg?v=1789894837"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1318\/5761\/collections\/jingmai_gulan_4.jpg?v=1643011705","url":"https:\/\/farmerleaf.live\/collections\/yunnan-pu-erh-tea.oembed","provider":"Farmerleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}