Southern Bulang Mountain: Manxinlong, Zhangjia Sandui, Mannuo, and Jiliang

Mention Bulang Mountain and most people think of Lao Banzhang first, but Banzhang is just one village committee in Bulang Mountain Township. In the forests to the northwest and south, near the Myanmar border, are many other Blang, Hani, and Lahu villages where ancient tea trees grow just as well; they're simply not as famous as Banzhang. Names that often appear on tea menus include Manxinlong, Zhangjia Sandui, Jiliang, and Mannan, plus Mannuo, which often gets mentioned alongside them.

Bulang Mountain Is More Than Banzhang

Bulang Mountain Blang Ethnic Township is in southern Menghai County, covering about 1,016 square kilometers. It's the only Blang ethnic township in China, with the Blang making up about 64% of its population. The township has seven village committees: Meng'ang, Banzhang, Zhangjia, Mannan, Manguo, Xinlong, and Jieliang.

A figure often cited in the tea world is that Bulang Mountain has about 9,500 mu (1 mu is about 667 square meters) of cultivated ancient tea gardens, concentrated in three places: the Banzhang village committee in the east, the Meng'ang area in the south near the township government, and the Jieliang village committee in the northwest near Daluo. The stories of the five Banzhang villages are told in detail in The Five Villages of Bulang Mountain and Menghai and Lao Banzhang.

Manxinlong: An Old Blang Village in the Northwest

Manxinlong (曼新竜, also written 曼新龍 or 曼興龍 in the tea world) belongs to the Xinlong village committee of Bulang Mountain Township, in the township's northwest, about 25 kilometers from the township government. In Dai place names, "long" means "big."

Manxinlong is a Blang village, and its ancient gardens are mostly on the slopes around the village. The altitude range tea merchants often give is 1,500–1,900 meters, but the same village committee also includes hamlets at much lower altitudes, so tea sold as "Manxinlong" doesn't necessarily come from the same slope.

Tea drinkers broadly describe Manxinlong tea as:

• Noticeably bitter, quick to clear: It has the bitter base common to Bulang Mountain, and sweetness comes through quickly after.
• Honeyed, wild-mountain aroma: Not a floral note floating on the cup, but a sweet fragrance sunk into the liquor.
• Thick and long-lasting: The leaves are plump and sturdy, with flavor remaining into the later infusions.

In a word, it's "Bulang Mountain without quite as much swagger."

Zhangjia Sandui: A "Little Banzhang" Near the Border

Zhangjia Sandui (章家三隊) is a natural village belonging to the Zhangjia village committee of Bulang Mountain Township, in the south of the township, about 3 kilometers from the Zhangjia village committee and about 18 kilometers from the township government, with Myanmar just to the south. Place-name records give its altitude as about 1,100 meters, with an average annual temperature of 18–21°C.

Zhangjia Sandui branched off from Zhangjia Old Village and has been home to Blang people for generations. "Zhangjia" was originally called "Zhangzhan," and the pronunciation shifted over time to give today's name.

The tea world has nicknamed Zhangjia Sandui "Little Banzhang," meaning its tea has the same Bulang Mountain power: a full liquor, noticeable bitterness, and a quick huigan. Its altitude is quite a bit lower than Lao Banzhang's, and tea drinkers often say its liquor is thicker and its aroma a bit riper, without Banzhang's lofty lift.

Jiliang and Mannan

Jiliang (吉良) is how the tea world writes it; the administrative name is the "Jieliang" (結良) village committee, in the northwest of Bulang Mountain Township near Daluo. Jieliang Township was established in 1984, became a village office in 1987, and has been called the Jieliang village committee since 2000; in a 2003 adjustment, Manlong Village, previously under the Mannan village committee, was also brought in. Jiliang is one of Bulang Mountain's three main ancient garden areas, and tea drinkers often say Jiliang tea has lighter bitterness and astringency and a softer aroma.

Mannan (曼囡) is a Dai place name: "man" means village and "nan" means small. The Mannan village committee borders Zhangjia, Xinlong, and Jieliang, and both Mannan Old Village and Mannan New Village produce tea, with a style somewhere between Manxinlong and Jiliang.

Mannuo: Actually at the Far North of Menghai

Mannuo (曼糯) is often discussed together with the Bulang Mountain villages because its people are also Blang and it has a similarly long history of growing tea. But administratively, Mannuo belongs to the Mengwang village committee of Mengwang Township, at the far northern end of Menghai County, more than 100 kilometers from the county seat, with most of Menghai lying between it and Bulang Mountain.

Mannuo sits at about 1,200–1,300 meters, with more than 1,000 mu of ancient gardens and several dozen tea trees 300–500 years old. What's most often mentioned about Mannuo tea is its honey fragrance, golden liquor, and sweet, smooth mouthfeel; the tea world calls it "the top fragrance of Menghai." Its bitterness and astringency are lighter than in the Bulang Mountain villages, and people who love aroma fall for it easily.

Are These Villages' Teas Good Value?

Compared with Banzhang, these villages' teas are noticeably more affordable, for simple reasons:

• Fame: The Banzhang name itself carries a premium; the other villages don't have that halo.
• Output: Bulang Mountain has several thousand mu of ancient gardens, and the villages other than Banzhang together produce a fair amount, so supply is more ample.
• Similar style: Manxinlong and Zhangjia Sandui both have the Bulang Mountain backbone; if you want to experience the Menghai style of "bitter base, quick huigan, thick liquor," they're a very affordable way in.

Bear in mind that less fame also means looser labeling: "Bulang Mountain ancient tree" could come from any village in the township, or be mixed with terrace tea. When choosing, buy a small sample first and see whether the bitterness clears quickly and whether the infused leaves are thick and springy. For ways to judge, see How to Verify a Mountain Origin and What Determines the Price of Pu'er.

How to Taste the Differences

Bulang Mountain teas have strong personalities, so use a little less leaf: 6–7 grams in a 110 ml gaiwan, pouring off the first few infusions after 5–10 seconds. If you have teas from two or three villages, brew them side by side with the same amount of leaf and water temperature: Manxinlong's sweetness, Zhangjia Sandui's thickness, Jiliang's softness, and Mannuo's honey fragrance are easiest to tell apart side by side. The method is in Comparative Tasting.

FAQ

Q: Which villages does Bulang Mountain have besides Banzhang?
A: Bulang Mountain Township has seven village committees: Meng'ang, Banzhang, Zhangjia, Mannan, Manguo, Xinlong, and Jieliang. Beyond Banzhang, villages often heard of in the tea world include Manxinlong, Zhangjia Sandui, Jiliang (administratively Jieliang), and Mannan.

Q: What's distinctive about Manxinlong tea?
A: Manxinlong is a Blang village in the northwest of Bulang Mountain. Its tea has the Bulang Mountain bitter base but clears quickly, with a honeyed aroma and a thick, long-lasting liquor, gentler than Lao Man'e.

Q: Where is Zhangjia Sandui?
A: In the Zhangjia village committee in the south of Bulang Mountain Township, about 18 kilometers from the township government and close to the Myanmar border, at about 1,100 meters. It's a Blang village that the tea world calls "Little Banzhang."

Q: Is Mannuo part of Bulang Mountain?
A: Mannuo's people are Blang, but administratively it belongs to Mengwang Township at the far northern end of Menghai County, at about 1,200–1,300 meters, and it's known for its honey fragrance.

Q: Are these villages' teas good value?
A: They're much more affordable than Banzhang and still have Bulang Mountain's power, making them great for getting to know Menghai tea. Labeling is looser, though, so it's best to buy a small sample to try first.