Bingdao Old Village Dragon Pearls: Who Are They For?
Bingdao (冰島) is one of the most closely watched names in the pu'er world, famous for its sweetness, gentleness, and long-lasting huigan. Guyuntang's Bingdao Old Village Dragon Pearls turn Bingdao tea into small individual balls: no prying, no weighing, just open and brew. Start with the basic information to see whether it's right for you.
Product Basics
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Bingdao Old Village Dragon Pearls |
| Tea type | Raw pu'er |
| Shape | Dragon pearl (compressed tea rolled into a ball) |
| Size | 8 g × 10 pearls per bag |
| Reference price | NT$ 6,800 (to be confirmed) |
| Features | Dragon pearls, whole-leaf brewing, advanced tasting |
At the reference price, that's about NT$ 680 per pearl. For the actual price, stock, origin batch, and testing information, please go by what our staff confirms; the product page is Bingdao Old Village Dragon Pearls.
What Kind of Tea Is It?
It's raw pu'er, meaning pu'er that hasn't gone through wodui pile fermentation: shaiqing maocha pressed directly into shape. Young raw pu'er has a yellow-green to golden liquor, with mainly floral and honey aromas and more direct bitterness and astringency than ripe pu'er, and it slowly transforms in storage. The differences between raw and ripe are in Raw Pu'er and Ripe Pu'er.
"Bingdao Old Village" is the name of the origin: Bingdao Village in Mengku Town, Shuangjiang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, made up of five natural villages, Bingdao Laozhai (Old Village), Dijie, Nuowu, Bawai, and Nanpo. Of these, the Old Village has the greatest concentration of ancient tea trees and the greatest fame. Bingdao Old Village lies at about 1,400–2,000 meters (4,600–6,600 feet) above sea level, and its tea trees are mainly the Mengku large-leaf variety. Bingdao tea is most often described as sweet: clear sweetness on entry, low bitterness and astringency that dissolve quickly, and long-lasting huigan, with an aroma often likened to rock sugar and honey. The story of the region is in Bingdao Old Village: The Sweetness of Mengku.
"Dragon pearl" is the name of the shape: the leaves are steamed soft, then rolled by hand or with a mold into small balls and dried to set, with one ball usually being one brewing's worth. See Dragon Pearls: The One-Brew Mini Tuo.
How Many per Bag, How Many Grams Each?
10 pearls per bag, 8 g each, for 80 g per bag. 8 g is just right for a 110–150 ml gaiwan; one pearl makes one complete brewing session of about 8–12 infusions.
How Does It Differ from Ordinary Bingdao Cake Tea?
Both are raw pu'er from Bingdao; the difference between a dragon pearl and a cake lies mainly in how the shape affects use:
| Dragon pearl | 357 g cake | |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning | One pearl per brewing, no prying or weighing | Pried with a tea knife and weighed yourself |
| Fine bits | Very few | Prying inevitably creates fine bits |
| First infusions | Tightly rolled; the first 3 infusions are spent waiting for it to open | Pried chunks release flavor faster |
| Quantity | Small portions, good for trying and sharing | One 357 g cake, good for long-term drinking or storage |
| Storage | Best finished within a certain period | Whole cakes suit long-term storage and observing transformation |
When the raw material and origin are the same, the essential flavor is similar; but because dragon pearls are tightly rolled, the rhythm of the first infusions differs from cake tea, and brewing should be adjusted accordingly.
Who Is It For?
- People who want to get to know Bingdao tea: No need to buy a whole cake at once; drink it one pearl at a time and experience Bingdao's sweetness.
- Tea lovers who prefer whole-leaf brewing: Brew it infusion by infusion in a gaiwan and follow the changes in aroma and flavor.
- People who don't want to pry tea: Open and brew, with a fixed portion for consistent strength every time.
- Anyone wanting to give a refined tea gift: The one-pearl-per-brewing format is easy to explain and easy for the recipient to start with.
If you're drinking pu'er for the first time, prefer a rich taste without bitterness, or want the most effortless option, you might first look at the Pu'er Pyramid Tea Bag Gift Box. The two are compared in Dragon Pearls or Tea Bags?
How to Brew
| Item | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Vessel | 110–150 ml gaiwan or small teapot |
| Water temperature | 95–100°C (203–212°F) |
| Rinse | Once, 5–10 seconds |
| Infusion 1 | 20–30 seconds |
| Infusion 2 | About 20 seconds |
| Infusion 3 | 15–20 seconds; the pearl has mostly opened |
| Infusions 4–6 | 10–15 seconds |
| Infusion 7 onward | Add 5–10 seconds per infusion |
The full method is in How to Brew Dragon Pearls. Without a gaiwan, you can use one pearl with 300–500 ml of hot water and pour it out after 1–2 minutes.
What You Can Confirm Before Buying
Product photos, origin batch, and testing information are still to be added. If you'd like these details, or to confirm price and stock, you can contact customer service to have our staff reply; please go by what our staff confirms.
FAQ
What kind of tea are Bingdao Old Village Dragon Pearls? Raw pu'er, named after Bingdao Old Village in Mengku Town, Shuangjiang, Lincang, Yunnan, made into one-brewing dragon pearls.
Is it raw or ripe pu'er? Raw pu'er.
How many per bag, how many grams each? 10 per bag, 8 g each, 80 g in total.
How much does it cost? The reference price is NT$ 6,800 (to be confirmed), about NT$ 680 per pearl; for the actual price and stock, please go by what our staff confirms.
Who is it for? People who want to get to know Bingdao tea, prefer whole-leaf brewing, don't want to pry tea, or want to give a refined tea gift.