Yiwu Tea is often referred to as the “hometown of Pu'er tea,” the “queen of Pu'er tea,” the “book of tea history,” the “foremost of the ancient six tea mountains,” the “source of the tea horse trail and home of tribute teas,” and the “final destination for tea enthusiasts.” These are all labels that tea lovers attach to Yiwu tea.

For many tea enthusiasts, Yiwu is the starting point for new tea drinkers and the final destination for seasoned ones. However, many new tea enthusiasts are still confused about what makes Yiwu tea so special. Today, let's explore this together.

Yiwu is a Dai language name meaning “the land of the beautiful snake.” It is located in the northeastern part of Mengla County, only 12 kilometers from Jinghong. Yiwu is an immigrant city situated on a mountain ridge and is one of the ancient tea horse towns with the most preserved ancient architecture and rich Tea culture heritage in Yunnan.

During the Tang Dynasty, Yiwu was under the jurisdiction of the Nanzhao Yingsheng Prefectural Governor, within the range of “the mountains around Yingsheng City” known for tea production. Li Shi's “Continuation of the Museum Records” also mentions: “Tea comes from the mountains around Yingsheng, and the Western Barbarians' use of Pu'er tea dates back to the Tang Dynasty.”

The history of growing and producing tea in Yiwu is long-standing. It is renowned as “China's First Tribute Tea Town” and is a core production area for world-class Pu'er tea. It once served as a center for Pu'er tea production, distribution, and exchange. People established tea shops and brands, creating dozens of old-established ancient tea houses such as Tongxing, Fuyuanchang, Cheshun, and others. Despite changes over time, the cultivation and production of tea in Yiwu has never ceased. Through inheritance and active exploration, it has formed the most distinctive and flavorful “Seven Villages and Eight Hamlets.”

The famous “Seven Villages and Eight Hamlets” tea areas of Yiwu:

Seven Villages: Mahēi Village, Gaoshan Village, Luoshuidong Village, Manxiu Village, Sanheshe Village, Yibi Village, Zhangjiawan Village;

Eight Hamlets: Guafengzhai, Dingjiazhai (Yao ethnic group), Dingjiazhai (Han ethnic group), Jiemiaozhai, Luodezhai, Dazhai, Manshaizhai, Xinzhai.

The Value of Aging

Yiwu tea differs from other types of tea in that it is soft and somewhat thin when young but becomes stronger after aging. Yiwu tea has a high density on its surface, making it relatively mild during the early stages. However, with sufficient aging (partly due to oxidation), its inherent strength gradually emerges, leading to a more robust flavor profile as the transformed substances become more water-soluble. Therefore, people often say that Yiwu Pu'er tea improves with age; its flavor, aroma, and strength become more pronounced over time.

In the natural transformation process, older Yiwu teas have more vigor and depth, which many insiders describe as “gentle amidst dominance.” Some use phrases like “rich, delicate, steady, and substantial” or “intensely honey-like and long-lasting” to describe the quality and fullness of the tea liquor.

The historical existence of Grade Mark and Seal Mark teas confirms that Yiwu tea improves with age. Many century-old Yiwu teas are highly regarded in the collectors' market, further enhancing Yiwu tea's status among consumers.

Renowned for “Aroma and Softness”

“Each mountain has its own flavor” – different climates and ecological environments across regions and mountains produce unique flavors in their respective teas. This results in Yiwu tea being known for its fragrant aroma and soft mouthfeel, low stimulation, sweet taste, and clear aftertaste and salivation-inducing qualities.

Compared to Laobanzhang's “dominant and powerful” character, Yiwu tea's “aroma and softness” is undoubtedly more widely accepted. Both newcomers to tea and experienced connoisseurs do not reject the high-aromatic and sweet and soft characteristics of Yiwu tea.

Yiwu tea, which is highly acceptable even in its young state, when stored well and aged, develops a richer aroma profile and a mellow yet robust essence, perfectly embodying the core value of Pu'er tea becoming better with age.