Ban Zhang Raw Pu-erh Cake Tea 2023

There is a saying in the Yunnan puerh tea circle that "Banzhang is the tea king and Yiwu is the tea queen," which demonstrates the significance of Lao Banzhang tea in people's hearts. This tea is a highly distinctive Banzhang raw tea that TeaVivre discovered for you. Although it is a new tea this year, its strength and wild flavor are unlike anything else in raw tea.

The dry tea has a strong scent of ancient tree tea, which is similar to the aroma of orchid and nectar, and can be detected whether in the tea liuqid, wet leaves, or the bottom of the fair cup. And the aroma at the bottom of the cup is stronger and lasts longer than with other ancient tree teas. From the initial brewing, its taste is quite thick and rich, and its intensity, slightly bitter and irritating taste can be felt the minute you sip it, but it rapidly evolves into a sweet aftertaste and lasting scent.

We created it into 100g little cakes to make it more affordable so that more puerh lovers could sample and collect it, and we feel it will age even better with time. Besides, there aren't many decorations on the tea's packaging. The Chinese character "班章" is written by a calligraphy teacher one by one. It's simple yet gorgeous, and each one is one-of-a-kind, making this tea cake even more precious for collecting.

	Cup Method		Chinese Gongfu Method
	Teacup: 12oz / 355ml		Gaiwan: 3.8oz / 110ml
	203℉ / 95℃		203℉ / 95℃
	5g Tea		8g Tea
	Brewing time: 3 - 5 mins		12 steeps: rinse, 15s, 15s, 15s, 20s, 25s, 35s, 50s, 60s, 80s, 100s, 120s, 150s
			Rinse time is 5 seconds

Banzhang Tea Mountain is located in Banzhang Village, Menghai County, and has an elevation of 1700 to 1900 meters, an average annual temperature of 18.7°C, 2,088 hours of sunlight per year, and an annual rainfall of 1341 to 1540 mm. The diversity and culture of the original ecological flora are well preserved here, the soil is rich in organic matter, the sunlight is adequate, the clouds are dense, and the humidity is high, making it ideal for the growth of ancient tea trees. The residents of Lao Banzhang have used traditional ancient techniques to artificially preserve antique tea plants and select new leaves by hand since ancient times, as well as the sun drying process. Currently, Laobanzhang Puerh Tea is one of the few areas in Yunnan Province where inorganic compounds like as chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not used. It is a completely natural, pollution-free, and unique ecological tea manufacturing area.

Banzhang tea is grown in Bulang Township, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. "Banzhang" refers to the five natural communities managed by the Banzhang Village Committee, which are located at an elevation of 1,700 to 1,900 meters. The soil is rich in organic matter, has plenty of sunshine, dense clouds and fog, and high humidity, making it ideal for growing tea trees. There are almost 4,400 mu of ancient tea gardens here, all of which are standard large-leaf tea species.

Fengqing large-leaf varietal belongs to the Yunnan large-leaf species. This particular plant can grow to over six meters tall. In 1984 it was certified by the Chinese government as national-grade, and contains an abundant amount of tea polyphenol and catechin: 30.2% and 13.4%, respectively.

Pu-erh tea is one of the oldest types of tea in China, with a history stretching back over 1,700 years to the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the tea was called Jing Cha. Pu-erh is named after the town of Pu’er in Yunnan province, which was the original trading center of this tea. In its early history, this tea was actually used as bartering currency in southwest China, where the famed Cha Ma Gu Dao, “Tea Horse Road”, was built for the sole purpose of transporting it through the Himalayas to other countries and areas in Tibet.