We often talk about nostalgia, for the people of Malipo, the thriving hearth, the rich aroma of Tea, dewdrops hanging from tea tips, and fingertips stained green by tea sap are all reminders of home; as is calling out “Uncle, come have some tea” at dusk… these are the things that evoke a sense of home.

In recent years, Malipo County has focused on brand building and quality improvement for Malipo tea, positioning the tea industry, promoting traditional culture, and empowering rural revitalization through brand development, which has propelled the growth of the Malipo tea industry.

Starting today, the Malipo County Media Center will launch a series of reports on the Tea Charm of Malipo, covering various aspects of Malipo tea's history, industry, and heritage.

Episode One

Malipo Tea: Standing Proud Through Quality and Trust

Malipo County has a long history, with human habitation dating back over 4,000 years to the Neolithic era. The county's agricultural activities can be traced back thousands of years. Tea cultivation is an integral part of Malipo's agrarian history. In the annals of Malipo's history, tea is passed down as a cultural symbol.

Located between 23 and 24 degrees north latitude, Malipo County features a terrain sloping from west to southeast, with mountains interspersed in a northwest-southeast orientation. The region boasts intersecting mountains and valleys, with distinct microclimates. Its geographical location contributes to a unique subtropical climate, providing ideal conditions for tea cultivation with ample temperature and humidity.

Historical records show that southwestern China, including Yunnan Province, is the center of origin and dissemination of tea. On modern tea industry maps, Yunnan is recognized as a core area for high-quality tea production. Within Yunnan's map of premium tea regions, Malipo County is prominently positioned.

The current Malipo tea is divided into two categories: recently planted tea and ancient semi-wild trees. Recently planted tea can be found throughout the four towns and seven townships of Malipo County. Ancient tea tree resources primarily reside in the townships of Xijin Factory, Mengsong Yao, Tianbao, Babu, Daping, Malipo Town, and Donggan, covering an area of approximately 30,000 mu with around 400,000 trees, ranging in age from a hundred to a thousand years, with most being 200 to 500 years old, and nearly a thousand trees estimated to be nearly a thousand years old. These areas include major clusters such as the Bazi Ancient Tea Tree Cluster, Xin Nanping Mountain Ancient Tea Tree Cluster, Longzhu Ancient Tea Tree Cluster, and Yangjipeng Ancient Tea Tree Cluster.

The largest and most contiguous ancient tea garden in Malipo County, the Chaping Mountain Ancient Tea Garden, is located within the jurisdiction of the Damzi Village Committee in Mengsong Yao Township. It comprises four village groups: Datang, Shangkuatu, Xiakutu, and Lao Nanping, covering an area of more than 2,000 mu with over 6,000 ancient trees over a century old. The ravines and robust trunks within the garden hint at the age of the tea trees.

The largest ancient tea garden is in Mengsong, while the “King of Ancient Trees” in Malipo is found in the Cao Guo Slope of the Tianbao Village Committee, Tianbao Town, towering at an altitude of over 1,200 meters. This giant tree, with a circumference of 2.13 meters and height of 15.7 meters, stands proudly amidst the mountains. To the local residents, it is more than just a tree—it embodies a spiritual presence beyond words.

Based on its warm and humid climate, abundant sunlight, and pollution-free environment, both the recently planted tea and the ancient semi-wild tea trees in Malipo produce tea with a clear hue, a smooth and sweet aftertaste, retaining a touch of wildness, and are rich in organic elements, making them top-quality teas.

“Laoshan” is known for its fine tea, yet the world remains unaware. Due to factors such as the self-defense counterattack war in the 1970s and 1980s, Malipo County's economic development started relatively late, compounded by underdeveloped transportation and limited information flow, Malipo tea remained largely unknown outside the region. However, the county has been catching up. Over the past two decades, through promotion and marketing efforts, Malipo tea is now gaining national recognition and widespread praise due to its excellent quality. On April 22-23, 2025, the first “Laoshan International Spring Tea Festival,” co-hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association, the Malipo County Party Committee, and the Malipo County Government, was held in Malipo County. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying delivered opening remarks via video, stating that “Malipo ancient tree tea has entered the ‘National Gift List' and has been gifted to representatives of UN Security Council member states, receiving widespread acclaim.”

As its reputation grows, sales of Malipo tea have also increased year by year, with the industry's benefits becoming increasingly evident. Tens of thousands of people are directly involved in tea planting, processing, and sales, with the industry's output directly impacting the “agricultural GDP.”

Laoshan is Malipo's geographic calling card, while tea is its botanical one. Malipo tea, which has already reached a national audience, will undoubtedly stand proud like the “King of Tea Trees,” distinguished by its quality and trusted by many within the vast expanse of the tea world.