Bingdao Puer Tea Plantation in Shuangjiang County, Lincang
Chinese Name:临沧市双江县冰岛古茶园
English Name:Bingdao Puer Tea Plantation in Shuangjiang County, Lincang
Bingdao tea area(冰岛茶区)
Bingdao is located in the northernmost part of Mengku Town, 33 kilometers away from Mengku Town, bordering Nanmei Township(南美乡) of Lincang City. Before 1950, Bingdao Old Village was enclosed by Tea Garden(茶园围村). In order to improve its output, Shuangjiang County has carried out the transformation and optimization of Iceland’s old tea garden. After decades of transformation and breeding, the tea garden before 1949 still has more than 100 acres, and there are still two or three mother trees in Ming Dynasty. These ancient tea trees grow near the village. Since 1985, Iceland has planted 6700 mu of new tea plantations. Compared with Gongnong and Dahusai villages, the tea plantations in the old Icelandic village are not too many, but because there are not many people in the old Icelandic village, the tea plantations owned by each family are still considerable.
Sixty years ago, people said that Bingdao tea refers to the tea of Bingdao old village. Today Iceland is an administrative village, namely the Bingdao Village Committee(冰岛村委会). Bingdao Villagers’ Committee has five natural villages, including Iceland, Nanxu, Bawa, Nuowu and Territory. Looking down from the old village of Bingdao, the Nanmeng River is a Nanmei town（南美乡） originating from Lincang. It enters the boundary of Shuangjiang River fromBingdao. The Nanmeng River divides the Mengku River into two parts. The Mengku people call the mountains on both sides of the river the Eastern Peninsula and the Western Peninsula. Bawa and Nuowu old villages belong to the eastern peninsula, while Bingdao old villages, Nanpo and Dijie villages belong to the western peninsula.
If Bingdao Tea is called Bingdao Tea in the five natural villages under the jurisdiction of Bingdao Village Committee(冰岛村委会), Bingdao Tea has both eastern and Western mountains(东半山和西半山), so when buying Bingdao Tea, it must be clear whether to buy Bingdao Tea under the jurisdiction of Bingdao Village Committee.
Geographical Location of Bingdao
Bingdao is the earliest place in Lincang City where tea trees were planted. The Mengku large-leaf tea variety was spread from here. In the Lincang tea region, the Mengku tea area is central, with the Yongde tea area to the west and the Bangdong tea area to the east. The Mengku tea area is further divided by the Mengku River into the East and West Mengku tea mountains. Bingdao Village is located along the Mengku River, producing tea that combines the characteristics of both the East and West Mengku mountains. As a result, Bingdao tea integrates the excellent qualities of the Mengku tea area and has become the highest-quality tea in the Lincang Mengku tea region.
Name of Bingdao
Bingdao Village is also known locally as “Bingdao,” which means “pond with green moss.” The Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden is the original garden for Mengku large-leaf tea. According to historical records, in the 21st year of the Ming Dynasty Chenghua period (1485), the Mengmeng chieftain of Shuangjiang sent over 200 tea seeds from the Yiwuzhong tea area to Bingdao, where more than 150 plants were successfully cultivated. Today, about 20 of these ancient trees still exist, approximately 500 years old. However, historical evidence suggests that tea planting in Bingdao and its vicinity predates the 21st year of the Chenghua period, which calls for a revision of this assertion.
The seeds from the Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden were propagated in Mengku, forming the Mengku large-leaf tea variety. In the 26th year of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (1761), the daughter of the 11th-generation chieftain of the Dai ethnic group in Shuangjiang married the chieftain of Shunning (Fengqing County), bringing with her several hundred pounds of tea seeds. These seeds, when propagated and mutated in Shunning, formed the Fengqing long-leaf tea variety, a high-quality raw material for making “Dianhong” tea. The Mengku large-leaf variety was introduced to Mianing (around Lincang City) and eventually evolved into the Bangdong black large-leaf tea variety (Xigui tea). Due to its longer leaf shape compared to other Mengku large-leaf varieties, it was named Bingdao long-leaf tea.
Historical Origin
The Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden, located in Bingdao Village, Mengku Town, Shuangjiang County, Yunnan, was first recorded in the 21st year of the Ming Dynasty Chenghua period (1485). A survey in March 2002 found over 1,000 ancient tea trees with root diameters ranging from 0.30 to 0.60 meters. The seeds from the Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden were propagated in Mengku, forming the Mengku large-leaf tea variety. In the 26th year of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (1761), the daughter of the 11th-generation chieftain of the Dai ethnic group in Shuangjiang married the chieftain of Shunning, bringing hundreds of pounds of tea seeds, which were then propagated and mutated in Shunning to form the Fengqing long-leaf tea variety. Over the past 500 years, especially since the founding of New China, descendants of the Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden have spread to tea regions inside and outside the city, province, and country, with over 600,000 mu (approximately 100,000 acres) now cultivated in Lincang City alone.
The Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden is one of the origins of Yunnan large-leaf tea. It has been introduced and cultivated for over 500 years, forming the Mengku large-leaf tea variety in Mengku, the Fengqing large-leaf variety in Shunning, and the Bangdong black large-leaf tea variety in Lincang. It is reputed as the “authentic Yunnan large-leaf tea.” The Mengku tea mountains are divided into East and West Mengku by Bingdao, with distinct tea styles. Bingdao ancient tea combines the aromatic, rich, full-bodied sweetness of East Mengku tea with the strong, robust characteristics of West Mengku tea, resulting in a tea with powerful and enduring flavor.
Bingdao Tea
Bingdao tea, produced in Bingdao Village, Mengku Town, Shuangjiang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, is a type of Pu’er tea and a rising star in the Pu’er tea world, often compared to “Moutai” in Yunnan tea. Bingdao tea is known for its high fragrance, rich taste, smooth texture, and delicate mouthfeel with minimal bitterness. It is considered a top-quality Pu’er tea and is often referred to as the “queen of tea.”
1. Appearance
Bingdao tea has a robust and tightly rolled appearance with a dark brown, oily luster. It has a sharp, enduring aroma, a rich, sweet taste with a golden-yellow, clear liquor. The leaves are thick, soft, and bright yellow-brown. Bingdao tea also features characteristics such as rapid sweetness and a lingering throat sensation.
2. Liquor Color
The liquor color of Bingdao tea is clearer compared to other teas of the same grade, with a smooth transition from deep to light. This is due to Bingdao tea’s excellent quality and unique processing techniques.
After brewing, Bingdao tea has a golden-yellow liquor that is clear and bright, with a persistent and high fragrance, rich taste, and thick, soft leaves.
Bingdao tea stands out among many Pu’er teas because of its rapid sweetness and lingering throat sensation. After brewing, it provides a noticeable sweet and rapid sweetness in the mouth, and its tea liquor turns golden-yellow due to special processing techniques that ensure thorough fermentation, making the tea clearer and more transparent.
3. Taste
When first tasted, Bingdao tea has very low bitterness, making it smooth and pleasant. After drinking, it leaves a sweet sensation in the mouth and a quick return of sweetness. Drinking Bingdao tea results in a cooling sensation in the throat and a sweet taste in the mouth.
The taste of Bingdao tea is relatively strong after brewing, with some bitterness that is valuable. This bitterness stimulates the brain to produce endorphins, which helps relax the mind and combat fatigue. Drinking Bingdao tea provides a very comfortable and refreshing feeling.
Bingdao tea also has high collectible and tasting value.
4. Leaf Bottom
The leaf bottom of Bingdao tea is thick, soft, and bright yellow-brown with an oily texture and rich downy hairs.
The tea liquor is delicate and full-bodied, with rapid and lasting sweetness and a smooth mouthfeel. The aftertaste is enduring and sweet, with very low bitterness. The aroma is sharp and persistent, with sweet notes in the liquor and enduring fragrance in the cup and leaf bottom.
Bingdao tea has strong and lasting tea essence, with a powerful presence from the first to the sixth brew. Drinking it leaves a feeling of physical and mental relaxation.
The tea liquor of Bingdao tea is smooth, fragrant, and refreshing. The mouthfeel is delicate, with noticeable sweetness and salivation. The sweetness is enduring and mellow, providing a warm sensation after drinking that makes the whole body feel very comfortable.
5. Brewing Method
- Choosing Tea: Select Bingdao tea with robust, tightly rolled, dark green, oily leaves with a sharp, persistent aroma and rich, sweet taste. If not using a purple clay pot, use a gaiwan (lidded bowl) and brew with water at around 95°C.
- Tea Quantity: Place 7-8 grams of Bingdao tea into the teapot.
- Brewing: First, rinse the tea with water at 85°C for about 3 seconds to wash it, then brew with water at around 95°C.
- Tasting: Do not finish the tea from the first brew; 2-3 brews are recommended. Save the leaves for subsequent infusions.
Bingdao Village’s Five Villages
When discussing Pu’er tea, enthusiasts are certainly familiar with Bingdao. Known as “Ban Zhang as the king, Bingdao as the queen,” Bingdao’s “rock candy sweetness” has deeply impressed tea lovers. Let us take a detailed look at the taste characteristics of Bingdao’s five-village ancient tree tea.
Introduction to the Five Villages of Bingdao
Bingdao Village consists of five distinct sub-villages: Baway, Nanpo, Nuowu, Dijie, and Lao Zhai. Among these, Nanpo, Dijie, and Lao Zhai are located adjacent to each other, while Baway and Nuowu are situated across the mountain slopes facing these three villages. Although the five villages are close to each other and share similar tea characteristics, only the tea from Lao Zhai can truly be called Bingdao tea.
1. Lao Zhai
Lao Zhai in Bingdao is renowned for its ancient tea trees, some of which are over a thousand years old. These trees are considered the authentic source of Lao Zhai ancient tea. They grow in limited quantities around and within the village, making them unique and irreplaceable.
The tea from Lao Zhai is known for its clear, sweet, pure, and smooth taste. Its aroma is rich and long-lasting, with a distinct rock candy-like sweetness and a persistent aftertaste. This tea is highly regarded in the tea world for its exceptional balance and is considered one of the most precious Pu’er teas from Yunnan.
2. Baway
Baway, a natural village located to the north of Mengku Town, is adjacent to Bingdao’s tea mountains. The ancient tea gardens in Baway are much fewer compared to Bingdao. Since 1980, no new tea trees have been planted in Baway, making its old tea completely pure Mengku large-leaf variety. Although the quality of Baway tea is comparable to Bingdao, it is priced lower due to Bingdao’s higher reputation.
Baway tea has a robust and strong flavor, with thick and broad leaves. Its unique aroma is potent and powerful, not inferior to the smoothness of tea from the six major tea-producing regions. The taste has a slightly stronger stimulation compared to Lao Zhai tea from Bingdao.
3. Dijie
Among the five villages of Bingdao, Dijie is the closest to Lao Zhai, with only a 20-minute walk between their ancient tea gardens. Dijie’s ancient tea forest is located at an average altitude of 1,700 meters, with an annual temperature of 20°C and 1,800 millimeters of rainfall. The older tea trees in the village are mostly over 300 years old and grow in the original forest filled with dead wood and humus.
The dry tea from Dijie is robust and uniform, with white buds and black strips. It has a lasting floral and fruity aroma. The tea soup is golden and clear, with a rich and smooth texture. The taste is refreshing with notable sweetness and a long-lasting aftertaste. The leaves are thick, fresh, and oval-shaped, making it a top-tier tea with a harmonious blend of fragrance, sweetness, richness, and thickness.
4. Nanpo
Nanpo is located about 5 kilometers from Lao Zhai and is situated on the opposite side of the mountain. The area is isolated with no major roads, requiring over an hour of mountain paths to reach. Nanpo’s old village is at an altitude of 1,700 meters with an annual temperature of 20°C and 1,800 millimeters of rainfall. Nanpo has over a hundred acres of ancient tea gardens, with many old tea trees spread widely. Forests near the old village feature large, contiguous ancient tea gardens.
Nanpo tea has a good aroma with a wild and strong character. It has a very low astringency and a cool sensation in the throat that gradually turns into a sweet, juicy aftertaste on the tongue. Compared to Lao Zhai and Dijie teas, Nanpo tea has a slightly heavier bitter base and stronger tea aroma. If you prefer a more robust tea flavor, Nanpo is an excellent choice.
5. Nuowu
Nuowu is located to the north of Mengku Town, about 25 kilometers from Bingdao Village and Mengku Town. In 2003, the old village had 35 households, but in 2004, the government relocated the entire village to the roadside below and built a new village with government funding. Despite the relocation, the Lahu people still return to the old village during the tea-picking season. The old village has about 50-60 acres of ancient tea gardens, similar in size to those in Baway, likely from the same planting era.
Nuowu tea has a robust and uniform appearance with prominent white hairs. Its soup is golden, bright, and clear, with a unique sweet and pleasant aroma. The taste is delicate, sweet, and smooth, with a lighter bitterness and a long-lasting aftertaste. The leaves are flexible and fresh.
How to Distinguish the Characteristics of Bingdao’s Five Villages
- Nanpo: The aftertaste of Nanpo tea is similar to Bingdao’s, with a quick sweetness but lacks the fresh taste of Bingdao. The lingering fragrance is not as persistent as Bingdao’s.
- Dijie: The lingering aroma of Dijie tea is more like Bingdao’s, but the aftertaste is not as quick. The rock candy sweetness is less pronounced.
- Baway: The tea aroma from Baway is similar to Bingdao, but Baway tea has two distinct flavor profiles. The tea from below the old village has a good aroma with slightly more astringency, while the tea from the left side of the old village tends to be sweeter with a milder tea aroma, often having a water-like sweetness due to excess moisture.
- Nuowu: Nuowu tea has a more moderate tea aroma compared to Bingdao. Although its flavor is excellent, it differs from Bingdao in aroma.
Bingdao tea embodies the essence of “fragrance, sweetness, richness, juiciness, and tea aroma,” perfectly illustrating the charm of Pu’er tea and earning its reputation as the “Queen of Tea.”
