Bangwei(邦崴) Administrative Village is located in Fudong Township, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Puer City, Yunnan Province. It covers an area of 35.12 square kilometers, with an altitude of 2026 meters and an annual average temperature of 16.8 ℃. The village is known for its fertile land and is suitable for growing crops such as rice, corn, and tea.
One of the notable features of Bangwei is its ancient tea trees. The Bangwei transitional ancient tea trees grow in Xinzhaizhai Village, Bangwei Village, Fudong Township, at an altitude of 1900 meters. These large arbor tea trees are over 1000 years old and have been used by local tea farmers for generations.
In 1992, a joint investigation and demonstration meeting was held by several organizations to study the Lancang Bangwei ancient tea tree. Experts discovered that this was the only ancient transitional tea tree found in the world, making it a rare and valuable plant. The tree provides a scientific basis for research and fills an important gap in the history of Chinese and world tea.
In 1993, experts and scholars from 9 countries and regions visited Bangwei to study the ancient tea trees. By analyzing the karyotype of the tea tree, it was found that the Bangwei big tea tree is more primitive than Yunnan big leaf species and Indian Assam species. It is a transitional type from wild type to cultivated type, which is completely correct according to the karyotype analysis results.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued a set of four (tea) stamps in 1997, with the first “Tea Tree” stamp featuring a transitional ancient tea tree from Bangwei. This stamp ended the dispute over the origin of tea trees, declaring to the world that the Lancang Bangwei ancient tea tree is the only large transitional tea tree found in the world and that the origin of tea plants is in Yunnan, China.
The Bangwei Ancient Tree Tea has a plump appearance and is dark green, with a sharp and lasting aroma. The tea soup is thick, full, and strong with a sweet flavor, while the tongue surface and the middle and rear part of the upper jaw are slightly bitter. The bottom of the cup is fragrant, resistant to bubbles, and the taste changes quickly, mellow, and steady. The leaf bottom is elastic and has complete stripes.
Final
Bangwei in Yunnan Province is home to the unique Bangwei transitional ancient tea tree, which is a national treasure of China and a common heritage of all mankind. With more than 1000 years of history, this rare and primitive large arbor tea tree has been picked and used by local tea farmers since ancient times. Through scientific research and multidisciplinary analysis, experts have confirmed that the Bangwei tea tree is a transitional type from the wild tea plant to the cultivated type. Its exceptional taste, aroma, and appearance make it a must-try for any tea lover.
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