春茶
Mar 1 – Apr 30
Picking in March–April reported for Lao Banzhang; vendors report April picks for Lao Man'e.
布朗山
Bulang Mountain
China's main Bulang township (about 1,000 km², 535–2,082 m) on the Myanmar border; 126,400 mu of tea incl. 24,000 mu old trees, with Lao Banzhang and Lao Man'e.
- Level
- Mountaintownship (布朗山布朗族乡, Bulangshan Bulang ethnic township)
- Within
- Yunnan › Xishuangbanna › Menghai
At a glance#
- Output
- Township total tea output, 2016 (government).
Where it lies#
Tea places nearby, plotted by their coordinates. Only physical positions are shown, no boundaries.
108 places shown Across the view · 104 km
44 places shown Across the view · 32 km
Altitude#
Garden elevations here and in neighbouring places, as sourced.
Picking calendar#
雨水茶
Rainy-season leaf; summer and autumn are the wet season here.
谷花茶
Autumn leaf traded separately (Lao Banzhang autumn prices reported).
Terroir#
- Soil
- Deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soils (pH reported as 4.4–6.5 by a vendor guide).
- Slope and light
- South-subtropical monsoon climate; mean annual temperature 18–21 °C, sunshine 1,782–2,323 h; foggy winters and springs, rainy summers and autumns, little or no frost (township report).
Cultivation#
- Cultivars grown
- Yunnan large-leaf
- Landraces
- Local large-leaf seedling populations; the township separates out 30,000 mu of 'bitter tea' (苦茶) as a category.
- Plant age
- Ancient-tree tea 24,000 of 126,400 mu (about 19%, inference). Village claims: Lao Banzhang trees average about 300 years, Xin Banzhang about 100 years (community source).
- Practice
- 2016 yields: all tea 35 kg/mu, ancient trees 23 kg/mu. Township programmes: 3,000 mu new eco-gardens, 30,000 shade trees replanted, insect lamps and sticky boards; problems with thrips, leafhoppers and trunk borers.
Local words#
古树 old-tree大树 large-tree台地茶 plantation tea生态茶 eco tea春茶 spring harvest雨水茶 rainy-season tea谷花茶 autumn harvest苦 bitter回甘 huigan山头茶 mountain tea寨 village
| Local words | Dialect | |
|---|---|---|
| miam English-language transcription | Bulang language | Bulang pickled/sour tea (Chinese 酸茶 suancha), fermented in bamboo tubes and eaten; cognate in use with Thai miang |
People#
- Bulang (Blang) 布朗族
- Main group of the township (about 64%, zh Wikipedia); Austroasiatic (Palaungic) language. The township calls them descendants of the ancient Pu (濮) peoples and among the earliest tea growers.
- Hani (Aini) 哈尼族
- Lao Banzhang is a Hani village.
- Lahu 拉祜族
- Present with Hani in Jieliang (vendor guide).
Market#
- Output
- Township total tea output, 2016 (government).
- Prices of teas claiming this origin
- 2016 township averages (government): all tea 120 yuan/kg, ancient-tree tea 350 yuan/kg, bitter tea 200 yuan/kg. Named villages fetch far more: see lao-banzhang, xin-banzhang, lao-mane.
Misnaming to watch for: 'Bulang' on a factory wrapper usually means a regional blend; TeaDB notes many Dayi 'Bulang' cakes give no explicit provenance.
Other names and written forms 5#
Chinese variants
- 布朗山布朗族乡Bulangshan — Blang ethnic township
Romanisations
- Bulangshan
Translations and trade names
- Bulang
- Blang
- Bulangshan Bulang Ethnic Township
Notes#
Township facts (2017 government overview): 1,016 km², altitude 535 m to 2,082 m, 21,537 people in 4,852 households, 7 village committees and 52 natural villages; zh Wikipedia lists the committees as Meng'ang, Banzhang, Zhangjia, Mannan, Manguo, Xinlong and Jieliang and puts the Bulang share at about 64%. In 2016 the township had 126,400 mu of tea (90,000 mu harvested), including 24,000 mu of ancient-tree tea and 30,000 mu of 'bitter tea' (苦茶), and produced 3,150 t of tea. The Banzhang village committee holds Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang and Lao Man'e; the trade's 'Banzhang five villages' adds Bakanan and Bakalong.
Bulang/Banzhang sheng is known for strong bitterness that turns quickly to sweetness. The township's own report flags over-picking of old trees, cutting of shade trees and counterfeiting as problems. Coordinates are the township seat (OSM centre 21.5856, 100.4173 agrees). Garden elevation range spans the named villages in the Eastern Leaves guide (Lao Man'e 1,300–1,650 m, Lao Banzhang 1,600–1,900 m, Jiliang 1,300–1,350 m); lower gardens exist in the township.
Prices of teas claiming this origin#
China market quote Brand suggested price International retail
China reference prices centre on about $219.27 per 100 g. 11 international listing(s) cost less than half of that, so their origin claims deserve a closer look.
Show as table
| Product | Vendor | Channel | per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banzhang Mountain Soul Sheng Pu'er | Moychay.nl | International retail | $21.69 |
| TE LaoMan'E Kucha | Tea Encounter | International retail | $22.69 |
| I've got the Power 2026 Laomane Raw Pu'er | Bitterleaf Teas | International retail | $31.00 |
| Xinbanzhang Raw Pu'er Spring | Bitterleaf Teas | International retail | $37.50 |
| CNNP Farmer Ban Zhang Raw Pu'er Tea Cake | Yunnan Sourcing | International retail | $38.66 |
| Pu'er Tee - Shou BU Lang Zheng Shan Cake Pest.Free | Yoshi en | International retail | $47.09 |
| Pu'er Tee - Sheng BUlANG SHE Cake Pest.Free | Yoshi en | International retail | $49.32 |
| Green Peacock Lao Man'e | Teas We Like | International retail | $54.62 |
| Spring Lao Man E Gushu | Farmerleaf | International retail | $64.43 |
| Lao Banzhang Sheng Pu'er | Yoshi en | International retail | $67.82 |
| Lao Ban Zhang Old Tree Sheng Dragon Balls | Crimson Lotus Tea | International retail | $99.80 |
| 陈升号 老班章青饼 357克 参考价 | ZZCTea | China market quote | $127.33 |
| Pu'er Tee - Sheng Bulang Cake Pest.Free | Yoshi en | International retail | $154.21 |
| Lao Ban Zhang Raw Pu'er Tea Cake | Yunnan Sourcing | International retail | $217.80 |
| 雨林档案·老班章（传统系列） | Yulin Gucha Fang suggested price | Brand suggested price | $219.27 |
| Gu Ming Xiang Lao Ban Zhang Gu Shu Raw Pu'er Tea Cake | Yunnan Sourcing | International retail | $220.81 |
| Lao Ban Zhang Spring | Tea Urchin | International retail | $240.00 |
| Lao Banzhang autumn | pu-erh.sk | International retail | $262.21 |
| Lao Banzhang Gushu | pu-erh.sk | International retail | $432.10 |
| Lao Banzhang Imperial Sheng Pu'er | Yoshi en | International retail | $439.77 |
| Lao Banzhang '06 | pu-erh.sk | International retail | $657.54 |
| Lao Banzhang '05 | pu-erh.sk | International retail | $768.34 |
| Lao Banzhang '03 | pu-erh.sk | International retail | $883.29 |
| Lao Ban Zhang 800+ Years Old Tree 1st Pick Green Pu'er | Tea Habitat | International retail | $899.47 |
| Lao Ban Zhang 800+ Years Old Tree 1st Pick Green Pu'er | Tea Habitat | International retail | $899.47 |
| Lao Ban Zhang King Ancient Tree Green Pu'er | Tea Habitat | International retail | $1,640 |
Listings claiming this origin 26#
Price ranks compare recorded retail offers for the same tea, including offers outside the current delivery filter. Shipping and import charges are excluded.
Prices compared in the selected currency; unknown values appear last.
| Product | Vendor | Price | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
Banzhang Mountain Soul Sheng Pu'er
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
Price shown for delivery within the EU, including VAT. The final price may vary by destination country. |
Moychay.nlSelected destinations |
€9.67 / 50 g | $21.69 €19.34 / 100 g ≈ $1.52 a session |
TE LaoMan'E Kucha
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Tea EncounterWorldwide |
£68.00 / 400 g | $22.69 £17.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.59 a session |
I've got the Power 2026 Laomane Raw Pu'er
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Bitterleaf TeasSelected destinations |
$62.00 / 200 g | $31.00 ≈ $2.17 a session |
Xinbanzhang Raw Pu'er Spring
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Bitterleaf TeasSelected destinations |
$75.00 / 200 g | $37.50 ≈ $2.63 a session |
CNNP Farmer Ban Zhang Raw Pu'er Tea Cake
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Yunnan SourcingSelected destinations |
$138.00 / 357 g | $38.66 ≈ $2.71 a session |
Pu'er Tee - Shou BU Lang Zheng Shan Cake Pest.Free
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Yoshi enSelected destinations |
€149.90 / 357 g | $47.09 €41.99 / 100 g ≈ $3.30 a session |
Pu'er Tee - Sheng BUlANG SHE Cake Pest.Free
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Yoshi enSelected destinations |
€219.90 / 500 g | $49.32 €43.98 / 100 g ≈ $3.45 a session |
Green Peacock Lao Man'e
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Teas We LikeSelected destinations |
$195.00 / 357 g | $54.62 ≈ $3.82 a session |
Spring Lao Man E Gushu
Details and price notesPrice shown in USD. |
FarmerleafWorldwide |
$230.00 / 357 g | $64.43 ≈ $4.51 a session |
Lao Banzhang Sheng Pu'er
DetailsCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
|
Yoshi enSelected destinations |
€215.90 / 357 g | $67.82 €60.48 / 100 g ≈ $4.75 a session |
Price references 2
For comparison only. These are not retail offers or confirmation of delivery to your selected destination. Compare the same batch, date and pack size; shipping and taxes may differ.
Prices compared in the selected currency; unknown values appear last.
| Product | Vendor | Price | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 陈升号 老班章青饼 357克 参考价 China market quote
quote of 2026-06-08 · checked: 2026-10-18
|
ZZCTea | CN¥85,000 / 9996 g | $127.33 CN¥850.34 / 100 g |
| 雨林档案·老班章（传统系列） Brand suggested price
checked: 2026-10-18
|
Yulin Gucha Fang suggested price | CN¥1,230 / 84 g | $219.27 CN¥1,464 / 100 g |
Prices recorded on the dates checked. Conversions use ECB rates dated 2026-10-20; original prices appear alongside. Origin, age and cultivar are stated by the vendor.
Places within#
老班章
Lao Banzhang Lǎo Bānzhāng
Hani village of about 127 households in northern Bulangshan; roughly 4,500 mu of old trees and perhaps 50 t a year of the most expensive Menghai maocha.
draft
新班章
Xin Banzhang Xīn Bānzhāng
Hani village founded by families from Lao Banzhang, about 7 km south-west of it over one ridge; about 1,400 mu of younger trees, priced well below LBZ.
draft
老曼峨
Lao Man'e Lǎo Màn'é
The largest and oldest Bulang village on Bulang Mountain, famed for intensely bitter tea; villagers distinguish bitter (苦茶) and sweet (甜茶) trees by taste.
draft
Teas associated with this place#
生普
Sheng pu'er shēng pǔ
Pu-er made from sun-dried maocha without the accelerated wet-piling used for shou; its character changes with manufacture and storage.
draft
老班章生茶
Lao Banzhang sheng pu'er Lǎo Bānzhāng shēngchá
Sheng Pu-er identified with Lao Banzhang village in Menghai; a precise village-origin claim that needs lot-level provenance.
draft