The Five Villages of Bulang Mountain: Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang, Lao Man'e, and Their Neighbors
When people mention Bulang Mountain, many think only of Lao Banzhang. In fact, in Bulang Township, Menghai County, "Banzhang" is the name of an administrative village (village committee) with 5 villages under it: Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang, Lao Man'e, Bakanan, and Bakalong. They sit right next to each other, yet each has its own altitude, ethnic group, and tea character, making them one of the best case studies for understanding "mountain" origins.
Where Is Bulang Mountain
Bulang Township is in the southeast of Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, bordering Myanmar to the south. It is a township named after the Blang people, covering about 1,016 square kilometers, with mountain altitudes ranging roughly from 1,000 to 2,200 meters. Winters and springs are foggy, the temperature swings widely between morning and night, and summer and fall rains are plentiful. Ancient tea gardens are scattered across the slopes and woods around the villages.
Banzhang Village lies in the mountains of the township's northeast, covering about 166.74 square kilometers, with an average annual temperature of about 18–21°C and annual rainfall of about 1,374 mm. The village committee is based in Xin Banzhang.
Which Peoples Live on Bulang Mountain
The township takes its name from the Blang people, who are considered one of the earliest peoples in Yunnan to grow and use tea; Lao Man'e, Manxinlong, and other villages are Blang villages. In Banzhang Village, however, the largest group is actually the Hani, locally calling themselves or known as the "Aini." Lao Banzhang and Xin Banzhang are both Hani villages. The township also has Lahu villages.
According to Hani oral accounts of their migrations, the Aini ancestors moved many times before settling beside mountain forest ceded by the Blang, later branching off into new villages. For Blang tea customs, read Blang Tea Customs.
The Five Banzhang Villages at a Glance
| Village | Main ethnic group | Altitude (common accounts) | Tea character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lao Banzhang | Hani | About 1,600–1,900 m | Strong cha qi, bitterness turns sweet quickly, intense huigan |
| Xin Banzhang | Hani | About 1,600 m | Style close to Lao Banzhang, more noticeable sweetness, a bit softer overall |
| Lao Man'e | Blang | One account says about 1,300 m | Known for bitterness, with a heavy bitter base and quick huigan; also has sweet tea |
| Bakanan | One account says Hani; others record it as Lahu | Figures vary by source | Along Lao Banzhang lines, with lighter strength |
| Bakalong | One account says Hani; others record it as Lahu | Figures vary by source | Cleaner flavor, moderate bitterness and astringency |
These are all common accounts, and figures vary between sources, so take them only as a general guide.
Lao Banzhang: The Most Sought-After Village
Lao Banzhang is the most famous of the five. Its villagers are mainly Hani, it sits at about 1,600–1,900 meters, and its ancient tea garden area is given in various sources as anywhere from over 4,000 mu to over 5,000 mu. Lao Banzhang tea is most often described as "domineering": heavy on entry, with obvious bitterness that fades quickly, and after swallowing, sweetness wells up from the throat and lingers. Media reports said that in 2017 the whole village of Lao Banzhang had only a little over 100 households, yet the market was full of tea bearing the "Banzhang" name. The full introduction is in Menghai and Lao Banzhang.
Xin Banzhang: The Neighbor Over the Mountain
Xin Banzhang is about 7 km in a straight line from Lao Banzhang, with a mountain in between. There are two accounts of when it was founded. A common one says it was established around 1950 by some villagers who moved out of Lao Banzhang; another, based on Aini oral migration accounts, holds that the site of Xin Banzhang was already settled in 1852, perhaps even earlier than Lao Banzhang. Xin Banzhang tea has more noticeable sweetness and slightly lighter bitterness and astringency; its cha qi and throat feel (houyun) are generally considered not as deep as Lao Banzhang's. See Xin Banzhang: Lao Banzhang's Neighbor.
Lao Man'e: An Ancient Blang Village
Lao Man'e is one of the oldest and largest Blang villages on Bulang Mountain. The village's founding date, recorded on a stone stele at its Buddhist temple, has been calculated to the start of the Dai calendar era, that is, the 7th century CE, more than 1,300 years ago. Lao Man'e tea is famous for its "bitterness," which comes on directly and fades quickly; the village also has a less bitter "sweet tea," so one village shows two faces. See Lao Man'e: Bitter Tea and Sweet Tea from an Ancient Blang Village.
Where Are Bakanan and Bakalong
Bakanan and Bakalong both belong to the Banzhang village committee, in the same mountain area as Lao Banzhang and Xin Banzhang, and are the two lesser-known villages of the five. Sources disagree on their ethnic makeup: one account says they are mainly Hani, while some tea books record them as Lahu villages.
The general impression among tea lovers is that Bakanan tea follows the Lao Banzhang path, with slightly lighter concentration and strength, while Bakalong is cleaner and a little softer. Raw material prices are relatively friendly, but this also makes them easy to pass off as Lao Banzhang, so ask clearly when buying.
Other Villages on Bulang Mountain
Beyond Banzhang Village, Bulang Township has many other tea-producing villages, such as the Blang village of Manxinlong, Banpen, and several villages in the south of the township near the border, each with its own altitude and style. Further reading: Villages of Southern Bulang Mountain.
Nannuo Mountain, often mentioned in the same breath, is a separate tea mountain of its own.
Bitterness Turning Sweet: The Heart of Bulang Mountain Tea
Bulang Mountain tea is often described as "bitter," but what tea lovers really care about is what comes after the bitterness:
- Bitterness comes on directly: You feel it as soon as you sip, concentrated on the surface of the tongue.
- It fades quickly: With good Bulang Mountain tea, the bitterness recedes within seconds rather than lingering in the mouth.
- The sweetness returns strongly: After swallowing, sweetness wells up from the throat and the cheeks start to water.
Further reading: Bitterness and Astringency and Huigan and Salivation.
How to Brew Bulang Mountain Tea
- Use 6–7 g in a 110 ml gaiwan, a bit less than usual;
- Use boiling water, and pour the first 3 infusions quickly at 5–10 seconds;
- If the bitterness and astringency feel too concentrated, drop the water to around 90°C, or pour along the edge of the bowl.
Drinking it side by side with Bingdao Old Village Dragon Pearls from Bingdao in Lincang is the best way to feel the distance between pu'er's forceful and gentle extremes.
FAQ
Q: Which five villages make up Banzhang Village?
A: Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang, Lao Man'e, Bakanan, and Bakalong, all under the Banzhang village committee of Bulang Township, Menghai County. Tea lovers call them the "five Banzhang villages."
Q: Is Bulang Mountain home to the Blang people?
A: Bulang Township is named after the Blang people, and Lao Man'e and others are Blang villages; but Lao Banzhang and Xin Banzhang are Hani (Aini) villages, and there are also Lahu people in the township.
Q: How do Lao Banzhang and Xin Banzhang differ?
A: The two villages are neighbors, both Hani, and close in style; Lao Banzhang is generally considered to have stronger cha qi and a deeper throat feel, while Xin Banzhang has more noticeable sweetness and is a bit softer overall.