Seed-propagated large-leaf tea population associated with Mengku in Shuangjiang, Yunnan; a landrace rather than one uniform clone.
Bingdao is prominent in local accounts of Mengku tea history, but the precise introduction date, seed source and later dispersal require stronger historical documentation. Neither a Ming-dynasty origin story nor the Mengku large-leaf name authenticates a retail tea as Bingdao-grown.
Yunnan’s agriculture department distinguishes Mengku, Menghai and Fengqing large-leaf seed populations from clonal cultivars such as Yunkang 10. The population name therefore should not be read as a guarantee that every plant is genetically identical.
Mengku large-leaf tea is also a protected product name. Lincang’s market regulator reported its 2025 geographical-indication recognition and a production area covering Shuangjiang’s six townships/towns and two farm areas. That product scope is different from the identity of the plant material; the cultivar name alone does not establish the garden where a tea grew.
