Pasha: A Hani Tea Mountain
Among Menghai's famous mountains, Pasha is often described as "the low-key powerhouse." It's Nannuo Mountain's neighbor and likewise a Hani tea mountain, but it tastes stronger than Nannuo; it has Bulang Mountain's bitterness without being quite so domineering. Many tea drinkers only discover how good Pasha is after working their way through the famous mountains.
Where Is Pasha?
Pasha (帕沙) belongs to the Pasha village committee of Gelanghe Hani Ethnic Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan, about 8 kilometers southwest of the township government and about 30 kilometers from Menghai county town. Gelanghe Township has five village committees: Suhu, Pagong, Nannuoshan, Pazhen, and Pasha, so Pasha and Nannuo Mountain are in the same township and closely connected geographically.
"Pasha" is a Dai place name, originally "Bashang," which over time shifted in pronunciation to today's Pasha. The mountain ranges from 1,200 to 2,000 meters, with most ancient gardens around 1,700 meters. Mist hangs over the mountain year-round, rainfall is plentiful, and the soil is loose and fertile, so tea trees bud early and the picking season is long.
In 2020, Pasha Village was recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as one of the 10th batch of national "One Village, One Product" demonstration villages and towns, with tea as its leading industry, which shows how much tea matters here.
What Villages Does Pasha Have?
The villager groups under the Pasha village committee are Pasha Middle Village (teams 1 and 2), Pasha Old Village (teams 1 and 2), Pasha New Village, Laoduan, and Nangan. The tea world usually calls them together the "five villages of Pasha":
- Pasha Old Village: The village with the longest history and the greatest concentration of ancient trees.
- Pasha Middle Village: Between the Old and New villages, with a large garden area.
- Pasha New Village: A village that branched off from the Old Village.
- Laoduan: One of Pasha's five villages, with its own ancient gardens; tea merchants often label it separately.
- Nangan: One of Pasha's five villages, likewise centered on the ancient trees around the village.
All five are Hani villages. The Hani have lived in Pasha for many generations, and the tea world often says Pasha's ancient trees go back a very long way, but there's no reliable documentation of the exact age, so take it with a grain of salt.
Pasha's Ancient Gardens
Pasha has about 2,900–3,000 mu of ancient gardens, mostly on the slopes around the villages, with many old trees growing right in front of and behind villagers' houses. Pasha's ancient trees have one distinctive feature: they grow very densely, with few other species among them, and their interlaced branches form natural shade. Official descriptions mention ancient trees in Pasha over 800 years old and about 4 meters tall, and call it one of the places in Xishuangbanna with the densest distribution of ancient tea trees.
For the difference between ancient trees, large trees, and terrace tea, see Ancient Trees, Large Trees, and Terrace Tea.
The Style of Pasha Tea
The trait most often mentioned about Pasha tea is that it's bitter but not astringent:
- Bitterness: Noticeable, but it dissolves quickly and turns sweet.
- Astringency: Light, not gripping the throat, and the mouth doesn't dry out.
- Texture: The liquor is mellow, smooth, and full, with real substance.
- Aroma: Rich, with wild-mountain and honey notes.
- Liquor color: Young tea is green with golden tones, clear and bright.
- Cha qi: Long and not aggressive; tea drinkers call it "gentle strength."
Because its astringency is light and its liquor thick, young Pasha raw tea is already easy to drink, and it tends to turn mellow and rich with storage.
Pasha Compared with Lao Banzhang and Nannuo Mountain
All three mountains are in Menghai and often compared:
| Pasha | Lao Banzhang | Nannuo Mountain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Township | Gelanghe Township | Bulang Mountain Township | Gelanghe Township |
| Main ethnic group | Hani | Hani | Hani (Aini) |
| Altitude | 1,200–2,000 m | 1,600–1,900 m | Average about 1,400 m |
| Bitterness and astringency | Bitter, light astringency | Pronounced bitter base, clears fast | Moderate |
| Texture | Mellow, smooth, full | Heavy, strong cha qi | Balanced, sweet |
| Aroma | Rich, wild-mountain | Sunk into the liquor | Honey, floral |
Put simply, Pasha's strength lies between Nannuo Mountain and Lao Banzhang: a layer more bitterness and thickness than Nannuo, a bit less swagger than Lao Banzhang, and a far more affordable price than Lao Banzhang. If you want to experience Menghai's richness without being scared off by bitterness all at once, Pasha is a great halfway point. For more on these mountains, see Menghai and Lao Banzhang and Nannuo Mountain.
How to Brew Pasha
Pasha is noticeably bitter, so use a little less leaf than usual: 6–7 grams in a 110 ml gaiwan, boiling water, and quick pours of 5–10 seconds for the first 3 infusions. From the 4th infusion, the bitterness has dissolved, and you can gradually lengthen the time to bring out the sweetness and thickness. If it tastes too bitter, lowering the water to about 90°C also helps. For more on brewing young raw tea, see How to Brew Young Raw Pu'er.
FAQ
Q: Where is Pasha?
A: In the Pasha village committee of Gelanghe Hani Ethnic Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan, about 8 kilometers from the township government and about 30 kilometers from Menghai county town, in the same township as Nannuo Mountain.
Q: What villages does Pasha have?
A: Pasha Old Village, Pasha Middle Village, Pasha New Village, Laoduan, and Nangan, together called the "five villages of Pasha" in the tea world; all are Hani villages.
Q: What does Pasha tea taste like?
A: Bitter but not astringent: noticeable bitterness that clears quickly, light astringency, a mellow, smooth, full liquor, and a rich aroma with wild-mountain notes.
Q: Which is more bitter, Pasha or Lao Banzhang?
A: Lao Banzhang has the stronger bitter base and cha qi; Pasha is bitter too, but with light astringency and a quick clear, gentler overall than Lao Banzhang and stronger than Nannuo Mountain.
Q: How high is Pasha?
A: The mountain ranges from about 1,200 to 2,000 meters, with most ancient gardens around 1,700 meters.