Ban Pen 2019 shu Dashu Bing Cha 357g

Bulang Mountain — Banpen Village is located in the Menghun area of Xishuangbanna Prefecture, at an elevation of approximately 1,760 meters, overlooking the ancient Hekai tea forest. Banpen shares many similarities with Lao Banzhang in terms of altitude, climate, soil composition, ecological environment, and the age of its tea trees, with the only notable difference being that its average elevation is about 100 meters lower. Banpen is a natural village under the administration of the Hekai Village Committee and lies 19 kilometers from the committee’s administrative center. It borders Banzhang to the west. The village is home to 624 residents in 123 households, predominantly of the Lahu ethnic group. Tea cultivation is the primary economic activity. Banpen has over 133 hectares of old tea trees, along with several decades-old ecological tea gardens. The village sits at elevations ranging from 1,600 to 1,750 meters, with frequent mist and abundant rainfall, creating ideal conditions for the natural growth of ancient tea trees. Old Banpen (also known as Bangpen Lao Zhai—both phonetic renderings) lies at the border of the Menghun and Bulang regions. Although administratively part of the Hekai Village Committee, it is separated from the Hekai ancient tea forest by a mountain ridge and lies only about 2 kilometers from the Lao Banzhang tea area, which is why it is considered part of the Bulang tea region. The Banpen Gushu (ancient tree) tea gardens are distributed along mountain slopes at elevations around 1,760 meters and cover just over 66 hectares. The soil is yellow-brown, the ecological environment is pristine, forest shade is well balanced, and no fertilizers or pesticides are used, making this tea entirely organic. According to local residents, ancestors of the Lahu people had already settled here and cultivated tea long before the establishment of the Lao Banzhang village. The tea trees of Banpen have thick trunks and are covered with epiphytic plants, clear indicators of their great age. Thanks to their maturity, high altitude, and long daily sun exposure, Banpen teas display a lively, penetrating character, with a pronounced high-mountain resonance that goes straight to the throat. When drinking this tea, one experiences a refined and refreshing mouthfeel that feels both engaging and elegant. Banpen tea shares many characteristics with Lao Banzhang tea. While its core structure is slightly less forceful, the overall quality remains excellent and well balanced. The liquor is thick and full-bodied, with a clean, intense aroma. The taste begins with a gentle bitterness that transforms into sweetness within two seconds. It leaves the throat refreshed, without dryness, and produces a long-lasting sweet aftertaste on the tongue, accompanied by strong salivation that can persist for up to two hours after drinking. There are no smoky or off aromas. Overall, this tea offers a sweet, delicate flavor profile, a fresh fragrance, large glossy leaves, and powerful qi (energy). After several years of aging, the liquor color gradually shifts to orange-yellow and eventually orange-red, while the aroma becomes deeper and more pronounced.

How to Brew

First rinse the leaves with hot water, then proceed with brewing.
temperature	ratio	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
100 °C	1 g / 25 ml	45–60 s	20 s	30 s	45 s	80 s	130 s	190 s	270 s	400 s	600 s