The origin of Yiwu Tea is in Yiwu Township, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Yiwu actually encompasses a large tea-producing area, with its main tea production distributed across “seven villages and eight hamlets.” The seven villages are Mahēi Village, Gaoshan Village, Luoshuidong Village, Manxiu Village, Sanhe She Village, Yibi Village, and Mansa Village. The eight hamlets are Guafengzhai, Dingjiazhai (Yao ethnic group), Dingjiazhai (Han ethnic group), Jiumiao Hamlet, Luode Hamlet, Dazhai, Zhangjiawan Hamlet, and Xinzhai.
Where is the Yiwu Tea Origin?
Yiwu is a major tea town with a long history of tea cultivation. It is often said that while Banzhang is the king, Yiwu is the queen of Pu'er teas. Yiwu tea is known for its gentleness, especially in the Mahēi area, which embodies fragrant aroma and soft water. Genuine ancient tree Pu'er tea from the Yiwu region has a clear, bright yellow color and is transparent. When tasting it, there is very little bitterness and a high level of sweetness. The tea has a fine texture, with a light and gentle mouthfeel, as well as floral and honey aromas. In terms of appearance, Yiwu tea leaves are large with small buds, and the stems are relatively thick and long. New-style teas display a dark green and light yellow color. Most Yiwu tea trees have been artificially dwarfed; they are large but not too tall, with a small canopy. They are typically scattered among forests and wild areas, which contributes to the high quality of Yiwu tea due to their good ecological environment.
Famous Mountain Tops in the Yiwu Pu'er Tea Region
(1) Old Street of Yiwu
The old street of Yiwu is located near the new street of today's Yiwu Town on a hillside. Its history can be traced back to the Qianlong period, when Han Chinese people from Honghe Prefecture's Shilin migrated here, bringing Han culture with them. During the Guangxu to the Republican era, the old street of Yiwu was lined with tea shops and became the center of the Six Great Tea Mountains.
(2) Dingjiazhai
Dingjiazhai is a Yao village divided into upper and lower sections. The tea farmers manage and harvest tea from the Wan Gong and Bai tea gardens.
(3) Bendagang (Bendagang Village)
Its prosperity predates even the old street of Mansa. The two villages are very close to each other. Today, at the site of Bendagang Village, there are still remnants of stone-paved streets, broken bricks, and tiles embedded in the soil.
(4) Old Street of Mansa
Mansa is an old name for the Yiwu tea region, reflecting the historical center of the tea area, which was the old street of Mansa.
(5) Mahēi
The residents of Mahēi Village are mostly descendants of the Shilin people. Since moving to Yiwu, generations have lived off tea. Shimenkan is the best place within the Mahēi tea mountain range in terms of ecology and tea quality.
(6) Cha Wang Tree
The Cha Wang Tree is one of the most dangerous locations to reach among all the tea origins in Yiwu. Legend has it that there were once unimaginably large tea trees in this area, hence the name “Cha Wang Tree” (Tea King Tree).
(7) Guafengzhai
Guafengzhai is a Yao village located on the eastern edge of the Yiwu region bordering Laos. Initially, there were no tea trees around the village, and the residents did not rely on tea. This situation has since changed.
(8) Bohe Tang
This is currently the most expensive micro-region in Yiwu, discovered and managed by a family surnamed Zhou. It is divided into upper and lower tea plots. Good ecology inevitably produces good tea, but maintaining such tea plots can be challenging, as is the case with Bohe Tang.
(9) Chaping
The tea trees in Chaping were discovered and cultivated by the Yao brothers from Guafengzhai around 2003 and have since been managed by Guafengzhai.
(10) Gaoshanzhai
Many of the tea trees in Gaoshanzhai were spared during the widespread tea tree dwarfing movement in Yiwu, so there are many trees in Gaoshanzhai that have not been dwarfed.
(11) Zhangjiawan
In the past, any tea transported to Hong Kong that passed through Lai Zhou in Vietnam would have gone through Zhangjiawan. Several old-established brands, represented by Chen Yun Hao, had operated in Zhangjiawan.
(12) White Tea Garden
The White Tea Garden was discovered and managed by the Yao people of Dingjiazhai. It is the most expensive plot of tea land managed by Dingjiazhai. Although it originally belonged to the Wan Gong area, it was separately designated due to its outstanding and distinctive tea quality.
(13) Basha River
Basha River is one of the tea plots managed by Guafengzhai and is the cheapest in price, though this year it is still priced at 2,000 yuan per kilogram. The tea from Basha River is generally recognized by tea enthusiasts as being lighter in taste.
Characteristics of Yiwu Tea
1. Soup color: Bright and clear yellow.
2. Taste: Fragrant, sweet, and soft water.
3. Aroma: Sufficient fragrance, with a sweet, floral, and fruity scent.
4. Sweetness: Sweet taste without bitterness or with a slight bitterness in new teas.
5. Soft Water: Smooth and soft tea soup with full flavor, smooth and slippery.
6. Cup Lingering: Long-lasting cup lingering with a pleasant aroma that spreads in the mouth, refreshing the mind.
7. Tea Essence: After aging, if the raw material is good, the taste does not become bland. Especially for teas made entirely from pure Yiwu ingredients, the resulting tea essence is excellent.
The character of Yiwu tea is soft yet firm, different from the domineering nature of Banzhang. It is more like strength, akin to a bone, rather than the outwardly assertive nature of Banzhang.