Tea Primogenitor Festival of Kunlu Tea Mountain in Ninger County, Puer

Introduction

  • Chinese Name:宁洱县困鹿山哈尼茶祖节
  • English Name: Tea Primogenitor Festival of Kunlu Tea Mountain in Ninger County, Puer

The Hani people in Kunluo Mountain make a living by growing and guarding tea. Both local Hani communities involved in tea cultivation and protection have rituals related to tea ceremonies. Even people from distant places like the Yao and Dai ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna Prefecture consider ancient tea trees as sacred trees, venerating their ancestor – Kongming, as the Tea Ancestor. Therefore, every year on the second day of the second lunar month and June 24th during the “Bitter Wrath Festival,” Hani villagers use pigs, cows, chickens, and sheep as offerings in prayers to the Tea King tree. They set up offerings of alcohol, light incense, and invite “Ah Bu Mu Pei” for prayers. “Ah Bu Mu Pei” holds a large red rooster, burns incense, and prays under the tree, placing stones for the ritual.

Queen of Fine Leaves and the Royal Ancient Tea Garden of Kunlu Mountain are renowned in the Pu’er tea world. In 2020, the auction price for the picking rights of the Queen of Fine Leaves reached 170,000 RMB.

Kunlu Mountain Royal Fine Leaves Harvest Festival

Every spring, the Kunlu Mountain Royal Fine Leaves Harvest Festival is held at the Royal Ancient Tea Garden of Kunlu Mountain in Ning’er County, Yunnan. The 2024 event took place in April, attracting numerous tea enthusiasts and guests. This year, new activities such as tent camping experiences and the “Shenshi Fine Leaves Tasting” were added, allowing visitors to enjoy tea mountain tours and Pu’er tea tasting at the campsite.

  • Elevation: Kunlu Mountain is one of the higher peaks in Pu’er City, with an elevation between 1400 and 2300 meters.
  • History: In the seventh year of the Yongzheng era (1729), the Kunlu Mountain tea garden was designated as a royal tea garden by the Qing government. The name “Kunlu Mountain” comes from the Dai language, where “Kun” means depression and “Lu” means bird, signifying “a mountain with many birds.”
  • Area and Features: The ancient tea tree cluster on Kunlu Mountain covers an area of 10,122 acres. The diversity and richness of ancient tea trees here are impressive, earning it the title of “Tea Museum.” The thousand-year-old “Queen of Fine Leaves” is especially prized for its unique taste and rarity.

Fine Leaves Harvest and Tasting

  • Harvest Time: Every April at 8 AM, the Queen of Fine Leaves is harvested.
  • Event Schedule:
    • 8 AM: The Queen of Fine Leaves is harvested, and the tea company Zishe leads tea enthusiasts in paying homage to the Tea Ancestor.
    • 12 PM: The opening ceremony of the Kunlu Mountain Initial Processing Camp takes place, where Zishe sorts and prepares the fresh leaves.
    • 3 PM: The “Shenshi Fine Leaves Tasting” event begins, showcasing the true flavor of Kunlu Mountain fine leaves.
    • 7 PM: The highlight of the festival, the “New Product Launch,” is held online, with Zishe’s new tea products like “Purple Silver Charm” making their debut and receiving wide acclaim.

Zishe Tea Company’s Innovations and Craftsmanship

  • Zishe Tea Company: Zishe has deep expertise in Kunlu Mountain’s ancient tea trees, continuously improving their techniques and processes for picking, preserving, transporting, withering, and roasting tea leaves. They have developed a unique tea-making method.
  • On the Harvest Day: To capture the best flavor of the fine leaves, Zishe selected special stoves. Tea master Li Jun adjusted the temperature, time, and speed during roasting according to the type of fine leaves, differing from the usual high-temperature, fast-roasting methods.

Su Lan and Zishe Tea

  • Su Lan: The founder of Zishe, has a profound connection to Kunlu Mountain. He views Kunlu Mountain as a brilliant gem and is committed to exploring and studying its genetic resources to enhance the tea quality.
  • Charity Activities: In 2021, Zishe organized a charity auction, donating the proceeds from a premium Kunlu Mountain ancient tea package to Pu’er Middle School. They also established the “Zishe Tea Art Society” at the school to promote traditional culture.

Kunlu Mountain Royal Ancient Tea Garden’s Tea Tree Characteristics

  • Tree Age: The ancient tea trees on Kunlu Mountain grow in forests at elevations above 2271 meters, with most trees over a thousand years old.
  • Tea Characteristics: The Pu’er tea produced from the Queen of Fine Leaves is known for its clear aroma, mellow taste, and lasting fragrance. The tea has a sweet aftertaste and is a rare, valuable variety suitable for collection or drinking.

Market Value

  • Queen of Fine Leaves: Each year, the tea trees produce 10-15 kg of fresh leaves, which, at the historical price of 12,000 RMB/kg, yields an annual income of up to 180,000 RMB. Due to its scarcity and high price, it is challenging for many tea enthusiasts to obtain.
  • Other Ancient Teas: The prices of other ancient teas from Kunlu Mountain are also rising, but they continue to attract many tea enthusiasts.