Dongguo Village and Tea Mountain in Shuangjiang County, Lincang

Chinese Name: 懂过古茶山
English Name: Dongguo Tea Mountain in Shuangjiang County, Lincang
Dongguo tea area(懂过茶区)
Dongguo village（懂过大寨） is the place where the village committee is located. It is the largest village in Mengku western half mountains(西半山). There are more than 400 families now. Dongguo village(懂过大寨) is composed of two natural villages, and knowing the village committee has a total of four natural villages. The villages are mainly planting tea. New and old tea fields account for half of the four villages. The total area of new and old tea fields has reached more than 5700 acres, which is the largest village committee in Mengku western half mountain tea garden.
Dongguo is an ancient village, before returning to the mainland(改土归流) is a Lahu village, where more than 150 years of tea plants are planted by the Lahu people, these large tea trees have been known not to lose to Bingdao(冰岛), 60 to 100 years of tea garden accounts for half in Dongguo mountain(懂过山), tea gardens planted in 1904 to 1940 are not less than 2,000 acres, these tea gardens are now retained, has now developed to 5000 acres.

Understanding Dongguo Ancient Tea

Located in the western foothills of Mengku Tea Mountain at an altitude of 1,750 meters, Dongguo boasts exceptional natural conditions with a high forest coverage index. This region, with its lush greenery, is known for its ancient tea trees. While the leaves of Dongguo tea are slightly smaller, there is ongoing research to determine whether they originated from wild tea variants of the Mengku Great Snow Mountain. Dongguo tea is characterized by its intense fragrance and rich flavor, with a stronger bitterness that gives way to a quick and lasting sweetness. While its sweetness is harmonious, it may not reach the levels of sweetness found in teas from Bingdao or Ban’uo, yet its overall quality is superior.

The Challenges of Discovering Dongguo

Many tea enthusiasts may be unfamiliar with Dongguo due to its remote location. Situated on a small extension of the Bangma Great Snow Mountain and facing it directly, Dongguo is surrounded by several peaks and bordered by two rivers, creating an extremely isolated geographical environment. This seclusion, coupled with underdeveloped transportation, results in a lack of promotion and recognition for this tea-producing area.

Dongguo is the largest village in the western foothills of Mengku, encompassing four smaller villages under its administration. The main Dongguo Village alone houses over 400 families. The total area of tea gardens in Dongguo spans approximately 5,700 acres, evenly divided between new tea fields and ancient tea gardens. The lush and expansive tea gardens yield over a hundred tons of raw tea annually. Many ancient tea trees in Dongguo are several hundred years old, with trunk circumferences exceeding 100 centimeters. The favorable growth conditions for these ancient trees, combined with a long history of cultivation and production, as well as an original ecological environment, are key factors contributing to the high quality and excellent taste of Dongguo tea.

The Unique Appeal of Dongguo Tea

Dongguo’s ancient tea possesses a distinctive charm. Its aroma is exceptionally prominent, featuring a deep and stable honey-like fragrance that flows gracefully like a pastoral song from the grasslands, exuding a vibrant energy. The flavor of Dongguo tea is strong and well-rounded, presenting a refreshing bitterness that dissipates quickly. The aftertaste is characterized by a rapid and robust sweetness, almost immediate in its intensity.

Additionally, Dongguo tea is known for its strong “tea energy,” creating a pronounced body sensation. While it may not reach the same level of sweetness and smoothness as Bingdao or Xigui teas, Dongguo excels in its vigorous tea energy.

Despite the remarkable quality of Dongguo tea, its overall flavor profile rivals that of first-line renowned tea mountains. However, due to its remote location and the difficulty of accessing it, many tea enthusiasts are reluctant to travel to Dongguo for tea collection. Consequently, acquiring Dongguo’s ancient tea in the market is not easy, yet it often maintains a relatively high cost-performance ratio, making it a hidden gem for those who appreciate its unique characteristics.