Bulang Mountain is located within Manghai County, Xishuangbanna, covering a total area of 1016 square kilometers. It borders Damaolong Town in Jinghong City to the east, Daluo Town to the west, and the ancient Tea mountain of He Kai in Menghun Town to the north, with its southern boundary touching Myanmar.

The Pu'er tea produced here is of particularly high quality, making it one of the primary regions for premium Pu'er tea and one of the areas with the most well-preserved ancient tea gardens today.

In the world of Pu'er tea, there is a saying: “One cannot truly understand Pu'er tea without understanding Bulang Mountain.” Many newcomers to the world of tea may wonder: Why does one need to understand Bulang Mountain to understand Pu'er tea? Let's delve into the reasons behind this statement.

01

The Birthplace of “Tea King” Lao Banzhang

If the name Bulang Mountain alone seems unfamiliar to some tea enthusiasts, mention of Lao Banzhang—the renowned name in the Pu'er tea world known by all—will certainly ring a bell. The origin of Lao Banzhang is indeed Bulang Mountain.

Lao Banzhang Pu'er tea is celebrated as the king of teas due to its powerful wild character, rapid return of sweetness, and robust tea energy. It is often referred to as “The Dominant King of Teas, Lao Banzhang Reigns Supreme.”

The reason Lao Banzhang Pu'er tea has earned such high praise is closely tied to the local ecosystem. It is the rich environment of Bulang Mountain that has shaped the dominance of Lao Banzhang.

More Than Just Lao Banzhang

Although Lao Banzhang is the most famous tea-producing region in Bulang Mountain, it is not the only peak of excellence here.

In addition to Lao Banzhang, Bulang Mountain also includes areas like Lao Man'e, Manxinlong, Man Nuò, and Zhangjia Third Team. The Pu'er tea from these villages under Bulang Mountain's jurisdiction is also of high quality and holds a significant place in the world of Pu'er tea.

When it comes to “bitterness,” the bitter tea from Lao Man'e is undoubtedly the most intense. However, after the bitterness fades, the return of sweetness and salivation is remarkably swift and powerful, ranking among the top in all tea categories. As for the Pu'er tea from Manxinlong, its aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel are quite similar to those of Lao Banzhang, albeit slightly weaker in throat resonance and fullness. Some unscrupulous merchants in the market often pass off Manxinlong tea as Lao Banzhang at a higher price.

The Most Distinctive, Robust, and Diverse Characteristics

If we were to divide the taste and mouthfeel of Pu'er tea into two schools based on gentleness and strength, one would be the Yi Wu school, characterized by fragrant and smooth water, while the other would be the Bulang school, known for its powerful and dominant characteristics.

If Yi Wu tea is compared to a gentle and refined woman, then Bulang tea is like a strong and dominant man.

Therefore, it is said that if you have not tasted Yi Wu school Pu'er tea, you do not understand the grace and elegance of Pu'er tea; and if you have not tasted Bulang school Pu'er tea, you do not understand its power and dominance. Knowing only half of anything does not constitute true understanding.

Moreover, although they all belong to Bulang Mountain, the Pu'er tea from different peaks or villages like Lao Man'e, Manxinlong, Man Nuò, and Zhangjia Third Team each have their own distinctive flavors and a diverse range of tastes, rather than being uniform.

One of the Origins of Pu'er Tea culture

The Bai Pu tribe was the first to cultivate, produce, and consume tea, making them the source of tea culture in the world.

The present-day Bulang people are descendants of the Bai Pu tribe, so the Bulang people, inheriting from the Bai Pu, are considered one of the longest-documented tribes in history for cultivating, producing, and consuming tea.

In ancient times, Bulang Mountain was called “Pu Man Mountain,” named so because about 2000 years ago, the Bai Pu people first settled here. Today, Bulang Mountain still has a Village—Lao Man'e—that is 1400 years old.

One of the Origins of Pu'er Tea Culture

The Bai Pu tribe was the first to cultivate, produce, and consume tea, making them the source of tea culture in the world.

The present-day Bulang people are descendants of the Bai Pu tribe, so the Bulang people, inheriting from the Bai Pu, are considered one of the longest-documented tribes in history for cultivating, producing, and consuming tea.

In ancient times, Bulang Mountain was called “Pu Man Mountain,” named so because about 2000 years ago, the Bai Pu people first settled here. Today, Bulang Mountain still has a village—Lao Man'e—that is 1400 years old.

This has led to the distinctively strong and dominant characteristics of Pu'er tea from various peaks and villages in Bulang Mountain, with a diverse array of rich flavors. On the other hand, Bulang Mountain is one of the areas with the most preserved ancient tea gardens today. As descendants of the Bai Pu tribe, the Bulang people have a long history of tea cultivation, production, and consumption, making them one of the sources of Pu'er tea culture.

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