Xin Banzhang: Lao Banzhang's Neighbor
On Bulang Mountain, Lao Banzhang shines so brightly that people often overlook Xin Banzhang next door. The two villages belong to the same Banzhang village committee, are both Hani villages, and are only about 7 kilometers apart in a straight line, separated by a mountain. Many people drinking Xin Banzhang for the first time are surprised by how much it resembles Lao Banzhang, while having a sweetness of its own.
Where Is Xin Banzhang?
Xin Banzhang (新班章) is in the northeast of Bulang Mountain Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture. It belongs to Banzhang Village, and the Banzhang village committee is actually based here. The altitude of the village and its gardens is generally given as about 1,600 meters, a little lower than Lao Banzhang's 1,600–1,900 meters.
Banzhang Village has five hamlets in all: Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang, Lao Man'e, Bakanan, and Bakalong, neighbors with similar environments (The Five Villages of Bulang Mountain). One often-cited local source records Xin Banzhang as having about 78 households and over 380 people, with about 1,380 mu (about 92 hectares) of ancient gardens; figures for Lao Banzhang's ancient gardens range from over 4,000 mu to over 5,000 mu depending on the source, roughly 3–4 times Xin Banzhang's.
When Was Xin Banzhang Founded?
There are two accounts, nearly 100 years apart:
- The common account: Xin Banzhang, also called "Shang Banzhang" (Upper Banzhang), was founded around 1950 by some villagers who moved out of Lao Banzhang, hence "Xin" (new) Banzhang. Many tea books and merchants' materials follow this account.
- The other account: According to the oral migration history of the Aini people, a branch of the Hani, the Aini ancestors moved many times and in the mid-19th century first settled around "Banzhang Laozhai" (Banzhang Old Village), land ceded by the Blang people. Around 1852, some moved to where Xin Banzhang is today; in 1943, others moved from the old village to where Lao Banzhang is today. By this account, the Xin Banzhang settlement is actually older than Lao Banzhang.
What both accounts share is that Lao Banzhang and Xin Banzhang are both settlements that branched off in turn from an earlier "Banzhang Old Village," and the "lao" (old) and "xin" (new) in their names don't necessarily reflect which was founded first. The tea world still generally understands it as "Lao Banzhang is the old village, Xin Banzhang is the new one"; when you come across different dates, it's enough to know there are these two versions.
How Xin Banzhang Differs from Lao Banzhang
| Item | Lao Banzhang | Xin Banzhang |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Hani (Aini) | Hani (Aini) |
| Altitude (common figures) | About 1,600–1,900 m | About 1,600 m |
| Ancient garden area | Over 4,000 to over 5,000 mu, by source | About 1,380 mu |
| Tree age impression | Older | Generally a bit younger than Lao Banzhang |
| Character of the tea | Strong cha qi, bitterness turning sweet quickly, deep throat feel | More pronounced sweetness, lighter bitterness and astringency, slightly shallower throat feel |
| Fame and price | Highest | Noticeably lower |
The Style of Xin Banzhang Tea
Xin Banzhang tea has the backbone of the Banzhang family but is gentler overall than Lao Banzhang:
- Aroma: Tea drinkers often describe floral and orchid notes, a bit brighter on the nose than Lao Banzhang.
- Taste: There's bitterness on entry, but it's light and fades quickly, and sweetness comes earlier and lasts longer than in Lao Banzhang.
- Texture: Full and substantial, not thin, but not as heavy and mouth-filling as Lao Banzhang.
- Throat feel and cha qi: Generally considered shallower than Lao Banzhang, with a gentler huigan that doesn't surge up the way Lao Banzhang's does.
That's why some say: if you want to get to know the Banzhang style but are afraid of being "hit" by Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang is a great way in. The workings of bitterness and huigan are covered in Bitterness and Astringency.
Why It Costs Less Than Lao Banzhang
Xin Banzhang tea is noticeably cheaper than Lao Banzhang, for more than one reason:
- Order of fame: Lao Banzhang was promoted as "king" by the market and big factories earlier, and demand concentrated on that name.
- Ancient-tree resources: Lao Banzhang has larger ancient gardens and more old trees, so a higher share of top-grade material.
- Difference in style: Lao Banzhang's stronger cha qi and throat feel are exactly the qualities collectors value most.
- Scarcity: The Lao Banzhang name is so valuable that genuine material from within the village seems all the scarcer, pushing prices even higher.
The price gap reflects quality in part, and also fame and scarcity. For people who just want to drink good tea, Xin Banzhang is actually a good-value choice. What goes into the price is covered in What Determines the Price of Pu'er.
What to Watch for When Buying Xin Banzhang
- Check whether it's the hamlet or the village committee: "Banzhang" can mean the whole Banzhang Village, so "Banzhang tea" doesn't necessarily mean Lao Banzhang or Xin Banzhang.
- Ask about tree age and season: Xin Banzhang also has terrace gardens and young trees, and ancient-tree spring tea differs greatly from ordinary tea.
- Beware of name mixing: Xin Banzhang material is sometimes sold as Lao Banzhang; if the price is far below "Lao Banzhang" prices, ask about the source.
Methods for verifying origin are in How to Verify a Mountain Origin.
How to Brew Xin Banzhang
Xin Banzhang is gentler than Lao Banzhang, but it's still a strong Menghai tea:
- 6–7 grams in a 110 ml gaiwan;
- Brew with boiling water, pouring off the first 3 infusions after 8–10 seconds;
- From the 4th infusion on, add about 5 seconds each time;
- After pouring, smell the lid first, then drink while hot, noticing when the sweetness rises.
FAQ
Q: Are Xin Banzhang and Lao Banzhang the same village?
A: They belong to the same Banzhang village committee in Bulang Mountain Township, but they're two different hamlets, about 7 kilometers apart in a straight line, separated by a mountain.
Q: When was Xin Banzhang founded?
A: The common account is that it was founded around 1950 by some villagers who moved out of Lao Banzhang; another account, based on Aini oral migration history, holds that people had already settled there around 1852.
Q: Is Xin Banzhang tea good?
A: Xin Banzhang has the backbone of the Banzhang family, with more pronounced sweetness and lighter bitterness and astringency. It suits people who want to get to know the Banzhang style but worry it'll be too strong.
Q: Why is Xin Banzhang cheaper than Lao Banzhang?
A: It falls short of Lao Banzhang in fame, ancient-tree resources, strength of cha qi, and scarcity, and with market demand concentrated on Lao Banzhang, prices have pulled apart.