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When it comes to “Bulang” Mountain, many tea enthusiasts who are not well-versed in “Pu’er” tea might be puzzled. Where exactly is “Bulang” Mountain? It must be quite obscure. However, in the “Pu’er” tea world, whether you are a novice or a seasoned tea drinker, the name “Laobanzhang” is renowned. Today, we will talk about “Bulang” Mountain, which is, in fact, the famous location of “Laobanzhang” village.
“Bulang” Mountain is located in “Menghai” County within “Xishuangbanna”, near the China-Myanmar border. It is a prominent “Pu’er” tea production area and one of the regions with the most preserved ancient tea gardens. “Bulang” Mountain covers an area of more than 1,000 square kilometers, primarily inhabited by the “Bulang” ethnic group. The ancestors of the “Bulang” people are the famous "Pu" people, who offered tea to “King Wu of Zhou” during his campaign against “King Zhou of Shang”. This indicates the early origins of tea in “Yunnan”.
Geographically, “Bulang” Mountain is situated in the southeastern part of “Menghai” County, with mountainous terrain and numerous valleys. It experiences a South Asian tropical monsoon climate, characterized by ample sunlight and abundant rainfall, with an average annual precipitation of 1,374 mm and an annual average temperature ranging from 18°C to 21°C. The area is virtually frost-free or has a very short frost period. The year is divided into dry and wet seasons, with the highest evaporation occurring from March to April and the lowest from November to December, with annual evaporation exceeding rainfall. Winters and springs are foggy, while summers and autumns are rainy, with an annual sunshine duration of 1,782 to 2,323 hours. The average altitude is 1,216 meters, making it extremely suitable for tea tree growth.
“Bulang” Mountain is rich in ancient tea tree resources, with cultivated ancient tea gardens covering 9,505 acres. Among them, the most famous is the “Laobanzhang” cluster, which includes “Laobanzhang”, “Xinbanzhang”, “Laoman'e”, “Bakanuo”, “Bakalong”, as well as “Hekai”, “Banpen”, “Guangbialaozhai”, “Mannuo”, and “Manxinlong”.
Overall, “Bulang” Mountain tea leaves the strongest impression due to its bitterness and astringency. However, these bitter and astringent flavors are transient, quickly giving way to a strong sweet aftertaste and salivation. This characteristic is what gives “Laobanzhang” “Pu’er” tea its renowned bold and powerful flavor.
In terms of appearance, “Bulang” Mountain tea has thick, robust dry leaves rich in internal substances, with a fragrant profile that includes plum, honey, and orchid notes. The taste is intense and full-bodied, with a strong tea energy, pronounced bitterness and astringency, but a smooth and stimulating tea soup.
Tea enthusiasts who enjoy aging their tea understand that teas rich in internal substances have ample potential for transformation, maintaining a full-bodied flavor over the long term. Therefore, “Bulang” Mountain tea has become highly sought after. Given its rich internal content, “Bulang” Mountain “Pu’er” tea holds significant potential for aging.
Apart from the higher prices of ancient tea trees from famous mountains like “Laobanzhang” and “Laoman'e”, “Bulang” Mountain “Pu’er” tea is generally considered to have a high cost-performance ratio. For tea lovers looking for a daily tea or some aged tea to store, “Bulang” Mountain is an excellent choice.
