Top Ten Pu’er Tea Experts from Menghai Tea Factory Who Founded the Top Ten Pu’er Tea Brands

Menghai Tea Factory, located in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, is one of China’s oldest specialized tea production enterprises. Established in 1938, it was founded by Mr. Fan Hejun and Mr. Zhang Shicheng, who led over 90 tea technology workers in the construction of the factory. It officially began production in 1940 under the original name of Fohai Tea Factory. Menghai Tea Factory has not only witnessed the development of Pu’er tea in China but also offers a diverse range of products including Pu’er tea, black tea, green tea, and more, totaling hundreds of varieties. It is a significant player in China’s Pu’er tea industry.

1. Zou Bingliang and Lu Guoling邹炳良，卢国龄 Anning Haigang Tea Industry安宁海湾茶业
   In October 1999, Pu’er tea experts Zou Bingliang and Lu Guoling established Anning Haigang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. Both gentlemen had served as factory directors at Menghai Tea Factory and had been working to advance Yunnan’s tea industry since the 1950s.Zou Bingliang and Lu GuolingAfter retiring from Menghai Tea Factory in 1997, they were hired as the chief consultants for Pu’er tea production by the Yunnan Tea Import and Export Company. In 1999, the two gentlemen, along with four investors, founded Anning Haigang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. The company operates on 13 acres of land and began operations in October of the same year.
2. Ruan Dianrong阮殿蓉 – Yunnan Six Great Tea Mountains Tea Industry 云南六大茶山茶业
   Yunnan Six Great Tea Mountains Tea Industry Co., Ltd. was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Kunming, Yunnan. The company primarily produces and sells high-quality, natural Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea. They have three high-standard, modern production bases located in Fengqing, Menghai, and Yiliang.Ruan DianrongRuan Dianrong became the director of Menghai Tea Factory, known as the “top Pu’er tea brand,” in 1998. She is now the Chairwoman and General Manager of Menghai Tea Industry Co., Ltd. and also the Chairwoman of Yunnan Great Tea Mountains Tea Industry Co., Ltd.
3. Yu Zhengcai余正才 – Menghai Dachanghao Pu’er Tea Industry 勐海大昌号普洱茶业
   Xishuangbanna Menghai Dachanghao Pu’er Tea Industry Co., Ltd. was registered in 2006 and is located in Menghai County, just 25 kilometers from Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna, with convenient transportation. It is built according to the national Q certification standards.Yu ZhengcaiYu Zhengcai, the original designer of the “Yi” brand trademark at Menghai Tea Factory and former deputy factory director responsible for production technology, now serves as the tea-making director at Menghai Dachanghao.
4. Wang Xia王霞 – Simao Wang Xia Pu’er Tea Company 思茅王霞普洱茶公司
   Yunnan Simao Wang Xia Pu’er Tea Co., Ltd. was founded by Wang Xia in 2004. Wang Xia is both the Chairwoman and General Manager of the company.Wang XiaWang Xia began working at Menghai Tea Factory at the age of 18, starting as an ordinary worker and gradually becoming a technical expert responsible for Pu’er tea production. Between 1999 and 2004, she served as General Manager of Simao Ancient Pu’er Tea Co., Ltd. before resigning in 2004.
5. Dong Guoyan董国艳 – Mengyang Guoyan Tea Factory 勐养国艳茶厂
   Yunnan Xishuangbanna Mengyang Guoyan Tea Factory was established in 2004 at a farm in Mengyang Town, Jinghong City.Dong GuoyanMs. Dong Guoyan is the factory director, with key brands including “Elephant Tree Brand” and “Guoyan Brand.”
6. Zhang Jianli张建丽 – Xinghai Tea Factory 兴海茶厂
   Yunnan Xishuangbanna Menghai County Xinghai Tea Factory officially began production on June 1, 2002. The factory has over 800,000 in fixed assets, 12 simple buildings, over 80 employees, and can produce 800 tons of tea per year. Zhang Jianli, the factory director, was assigned to Menghai Tea Factory’s Menghun Tea Group on October 3, 1980, working as an accountant and group leader.Zhang JianliIn May 1994, she was transferred to the management department of Menghai Tea Factory in Kunming, becoming a deputy manager. In May 1999, she moved to the management department of Menghai Tea Factory in Dalian, Liaoning Province, as a manager. After retiring from Menghai Tea Factory in 2000, she helped sell tea from a military subsidiary production base. On March 22, 2002, she founded Menghai Xinghai Tea Factory.
7. Bai Faxiong白发雄- Shuangyi Tea Factory 双溢茶厂
   Shuangyi Tea Factory in Menghai, Xishuangbanna, was founded by Bai Faxiong, the former fermentation workshop director at Menghai Tea Factory. Bai Faxiong worked at Menghai Tea Factory for 22 years, leaving in 2000 to guide fermentation work at Fuhai Tea Factory, Xinghai Tea Factory, and a tea factory in Lincang.Shuangyi Tea Factory TuochaIn 2002, he and his friends established Tiandi Ren Tea Factory. Locally, he is known as the “foremost figure in Pu’er tea fermentation,” and he later founded Shuangyi Tea Industry Co., Ltd.
8. Yang Jianlin 杨坚林- Yangji Tianyuan Tea Factory 杨记天缘茶厂
   Yang Jianlin founded Yangji Tianyuan Tea Factory in Menghai, Xishuangbanna, in March 2002. After transitioning from the military, he inherited his father’s business. His father, Zhou Shangzhong, and mother, Yang Baozhen, were early employees at Menghai Tea Factory, working in the compressed tea workshop for over 30 years.Yangji Tianyuan Tea Factory Tea CakesIn December 1983, they began working in the compression workshop of Menghai Tea Factory, holding positions such as team leader, recorder, and deputy workshop director. In 2000, Yang Jianlin was appointed as the factory director of Fuhai Tea Factory in Menghai County.
9. Mao Yunsheng毛云生 – Yunhai Tea Factory 云海茶厂
   Yunnan Xishuangbanna Menghai County Yunhai Tea Factory is located on the outskirts of Menghai County. The owner, Mao Yunsheng, is also a director of the Xishuangbanna Tea Industry Association.Mao YunshengMao Yunsheng worked at Menghai Tea Factory for many years, serving as a technical worker in the Pu’er tea workshop and holding important positions in the Kunming sales department and tea factory supply and marketing division. In 2002, he co-founded a refined tea factory with other colleagues who had left Menghai Tea Factory due to state-owned enterprise reforms; in the spring of 2003, he independently founded Menghai Yunhai Tea Factory.
10. Du Qiongzhi 杜琼芝- Pengcheng Tea Factory 鹏程茶厂
    Yunnan Xishuangbanna Menghai County Pengcheng Tea Factory opened in 2005 and offers a variety of high-quality tea products. The factory director, Du Qiongzhi, was formerly the head of the technical department at Menghai Tea Factory and has extensive experience in tea production and processing.

Du Qiongzhi

When Du Qiongzhi faced layoffs at Menghai Tea Factory, she did not abandon her career but chose to continue her entrepreneurial efforts, contributing to the local tea industry.

She has always adhered to a principle of diligence and responsibility, focusing on tea quality while actively assisting other tea practitioners by sharing her knowledge and experience. She also engages in various charitable activities, contributing to society.

After years of effort, Du Qiongzhi successfully established Pengcheng Tea Factory, revitalizing the local tea industry. Her factory produces high-quality tea that is well-loved by consumers. Under her leadership, Pengcheng Tea Factory has continuously expanded production, actively explored domestic and international markets, and made significant contributions to the local economy.