春茶
Mar 1 – Apr 30
Picking season given as March–April; first-spring (头春) leaf commands the top price.
老班章
Lao Banzhang
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.
- Level
- Village
- Within
- Yunnan › Xishuangbanna › Menghai › Bulang Mountain
At a glance#
- Output
- About 50 t a year (Xishuangbanna News, 2017). People's Daily Overseas (2013) said a little over 5 t; the gap may reflect old-tree-only vs all leaf, but neither source explains its scope.
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
54 places shown Across the view · 47 km
Altitude#
Garden elevations here and in neighbouring places, as sourced.
Picking calendar#
雨水茶
Summer leaf traded at a fraction of spring (2011 summer maocha reported near 900 yuan/kg vs 1,200 for 2010 spring).
谷花茶
Autumn maocha reported at 1,700 yuan/kg (2012) and 2,800–3,000 yuan/kg (2013).
Terroir#
- Soil
- Deep, slightly acidic soils (Bulang-wide vendor description).
- Slope and light
- Old trees stand around the village in mixed forest rather than in terraces (2017 report). Garden elevation figures (1,600–1,900 m) come from a vendor guide.
Cultivation#
- Cultivars grown
- Yunnan large-leaf
- Landraces
- Seedling large-leaf trees with broad leaves and large downy buds (community description).
- Plant age
- Average about 300 years; local estimates 300–800 years. A 'tea king' tree reported as about 1,280 years old sold at 320,000 yuan/kg in 2017.
- Practice
- Gushu picked as mixed (混采) or selective (挑采) lots; single-tree (danzhu) tea from named trees. Most land is old forest garden rather than terrace.
Local words#
People#
- Hani (Aini) 哈尼族
- Village is entirely Hani (127 households, 500+ people, 2017). Trade sources often say Aini (爱尼), the Hani subgroup of Xishuangbanna.
Market#
- Trading towns
- Menghai town (勐海镇)
- Output
- About 50 t a year (Xishuangbanna News, 2017). People's Daily Overseas (2013) said a little over 5 t; the gap may reflect old-tree-only vs all leaf, but neither source explains its scope.
- Prices of teas claiming this origin
- Reported spring maocha (毛茶) prices, yuan/kg (as reported; sources are trade summaries in journalism, not audited data): 2000: 8 (Menghai factory buying price); 2001: 11–12; 2002: 80–120; 2005: 120–180; 2006: 180–400; 2007 spring: 800–1,500; 2008–09: 400–600; 2010: 1,200; 2012: 2,000–3,000 (mixed picking); 2013: 3,500 (China Securities Journal) / 8,000 (People's Daily Overseas, July 2013); 2014: 8,000; 2015: 5,000–10,000; 2016: 6,000–8,000 old-tree first spring; 2017: 4,000–8,000 (说茶网) or 8,000–15,000 (China Securities Journal); 2018: 8,000–12,000 mixed, 11,000–12,000 selective, 12,000–15,000 near the tea-king trees; 2020 (Kunming spring price release, 23 April): 6,000–8,000 mixed, 12,000 selective. Fresh leaf reached 4,000–5,000 yuan/kg at season opening (2017 report). Single 'tea king' tree: 320,000 yuan/kg (spring 2017). People's Daily (2013) put Lao Banzhang at about ten times the price of neighbouring Lao Man'e.
Misnaming to watch for: Output (5–50 t a year by different reports) is far below the several hundred tonnes sold yearly as 'Lao Banzhang', much of it blends or fakes. 'Banzhang' alone, 'Xiao Banzhang' (Zhangjia), 'Da Banzhang' and the 'Banzhang five villages' are not Lao Banzhang claims. Lao Man'e is roughly 20 km away and some of its leaf has been sold under the Banzhang name.
History#
- 2000Menghai Tea Factory buys Lao Banzhang maocha at about 8 yuan/kg (as reported).
- 2002Reported maocha price jumps to 80–120 yuan/kg as private producers start buying mountain-named leaf.
- 2007Chen Sheng tea company (陈升茶业, Chen Sheng Hao) signs a 50-year cooperation agreement with the village (People's Daily Overseas dates the partnership to 2008).
- 2008Pu'er market slump; Lao Banzhang maocha falls to about 400–600 yuan/kg (2008–09, as reported).
- 2017-03Leaf of a Lao Banzhang 'tea king' tree reported sold at 320,000 yuan/kg, a record.
- 2018-05-26Ruigong Lao Banzhang tourism development company launched in the village; over ten million yuan invested in roads and parking.
- 2020-04-23Kunming spring-price release: 6,000–8,000 yuan/kg mixed, 12,000 selective.
Other names and written forms 6#
Chinese variants
- 班章(ambiguous — may mean the wider Banzhang area)
- 班章五寨(Banzhang five villages)Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang, Lao Man'e, Bakanan, Bakalong; collective, not synonymous.
- Da Banzhang / 大班章Broad flavour-zone usage.
- 上班章(Shang Banzhang)Original name of the village before part of it moved out to found Xin Banzhang (Xishuangbanna News 2017).
Romanisations
- Lao Ban Zhang
Abbreviations
- LBZ
Names and ambiguities#
Village, administrative village, five villages, or zone
Lao Banzhang is one village within the Banzhang administrative village on Bulang Mountain. That administrative village also contains Xin Banzhang and Lao Man'e, and the 'five villages' grouping adds Bakanan and Bakalong. 'Xiao Banzhang' (Zhangjia Sandui) is unrelated geographically. See Lao Banzhang sheng pu'er.
Annual output
2017 price
Start of the Chen Sheng partnership
Who founded Banzhang
Notes#
"Banzhang" alone is used loosely in the market for the wider area (Lao Banzhang, Xin Banzhang, Lao Man'e, Bamai). A tea labelled "Banzhang" is not a Lao Banzhang claim. Supply is tiny relative to what is sold under the name; treat listings as claims.
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. 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 16#
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Lao Ban Zhang Old Tree Sheng Dragon Balls
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.
|
Crimson Lotus TeaWorldwide |
$4.99 / 5 g | $99.80 ≈ $6.99 a session |
Lao 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 |
$544.50 / 250 g | $217.80 ≈ $15.25 a session |
Gu Ming Xiang Lao Ban Zhang Gu Shu 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 |
$883.25 / 400 g | $220.81 ≈ $15.46 a session |
| Lao Ban Zhang Spring | Tea UrchinSelected destinations |
$480.00 / 200 g | $240.00 ≈ $16.80 a session |
Lao Banzhang autumn
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.
|
pu-erh.skWorldwide |
€23.38 / 10 g | $262.21 €233.80 / 100 g ≈ $18.35 a session |
Lao Banzhang Gushu
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.
|
pu-erh.skWorldwide |
€770.58 / 200 g | $432.10 €385.29 / 100 g ≈ $30.25 a session |
Lao Banzhang Imperial 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 |
€1,400 / 357 g | $439.77 €392.13 / 100 g ≈ $30.78 a session |
Lao Banzhang '06
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.
|
pu-erh.skWorldwide |
€58.63 / 10 g | $657.54 €586.30 / 100 g ≈ $46.03 a session |
Lao Banzhang '05
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.
|
pu-erh.skWorldwide |
€68.51 / 10 g | $768.34 €685.10 / 100 g ≈ $53.78 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.