King of Tea Tree Festival in Menghai County, XishuangBanna
Overview
- Chinese Name: 西双版纳勐海县茶王节
- English Name: King of Tea Tree Festival in Menghai County, XishuangBanna
- Location: Menhai County, XishuangBanna
In May, Menghai is bathed in green tea hues and rich tea aromas. The streets and alleys of Menghai County are already bustling with activity, as tea companies, tea merchants, and esteemed guests from all over the world gather in Menghai as scheduled to continue their tea journey, discuss tea matters, and explore the tea industry. The Tea King Festival is a stage for tea enthusiasts to meet, discuss tea, promote tea culture, and develop the tea industry. On May 16th, the 13th Menghai Tea King Festival, themed “A Lifestyle Called Yunnan | Drink Menghai Tea · Enjoy Menghai Flavors,” was held in Menghai County. The festival lasts from May 16th to 22nd, with venues in Menghai and Guangzhou. The Guangzhou venue features a Spring Tea Expo Menghai Pavilion, forums, product promotions, and a mass tasting of Menghai tea. In Menghai, the festival includes the opening ceremony of the 13th Menghai Tea King Festival, the inauguration of the China Menghai Pu’er Tea Digital Museum, the Menghai Tea King competition, and over 20 festival events such as the “Ten Thousand People Tea Mountain Walk.”
Menghai has a long history of tea cultivation, production, consumption, and trade, with abundant ancient tea tree resources and numerous high-quality varieties. The tea industry is not only a traditional pillar industry of Menghai but also a significant industry in advancing the new era of border prosperity and people’s enrichment. In 2023, Menghai achieved a comprehensive tea industry output value of 25 billion yuan, ranking first in the province in terms of output value, production, and taxes, benefiting 260,000 tea farmers with an average income increase of 13,100 yuan. Over the years, Menghai County has earned several prestigious titles, including Top Ten Chinese Tea Brand Influence Counties, Top 100 Chinese Tea Counties, Top Ten Tea Industry Development Counties of the 13th Five-Year Plan, Advanced County in “Three Teas Coordination,” and Yunnan Province’s “One County, One Industry” Demonstration County.
Since the successful hosting of the first Menghai Tea King Festival in 2010, the festival has effectively enhanced Menghai’s reputation and won the title of “Most Beautiful Tea Town in Western China” in 2014. The 12th Menghai (International) Tea King Festival was held in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture from September 30 to October 4, 2023. The 13th Menghai (International) Tea King Festival will be held from May 16 to 19, 2024.
Festival Culture
Menghai County is internationally recognized as a central area of origin for tea trees and one of the birthplaces of Pu’er tea. It has a long history of tea cultivation, production, consumption, and trade, with abundant ancient tea tree resources and numerous high-quality varieties. Menghai boasts the oldest tea tree kings, ancient tea gardens, tea-growing villages, and the most mellow Pu’er tea, as well as the most prominent Pu’er tea brands in the domestic and international markets.
On October 23rd, the 16th China Tea Economy Annual Conference and the 12th Menghai (International) Tea King Festival press conference were held in Beijing. During the press conference, Menghai County’s mascots “Mengmeng” and “Haibai” were unveiled for the first time. The mascots are based on the white divine elephant from Menghai legends and continue the city’s brand elephant design, with the slogan “Tea King Menghai · Home of the Brave.” The mascots’ ears and legs feature seven colors matching the Menghai city logo, symbolizing the colorful Yunnan. “Mengmeng” represents “the brave,” incorporating Pu’er tea as a main design element, with leg patterns reflecting traditional Dai cultural motifs and typical architecture (octagonal pavilions). “Mengmeng” wears a magical “Banyan Leaf” bracelet representing banyan leaf culture, safeguarding Menghai’s pristine land. “Haibai” features tea flowers as a main design element, holding “one bud, two leaves” of Pu’er tea, embodying Menghai’s hospitality, and wears a “Seven Pieces” bracelet representing the symbolism of seven pieces of tea cake and Menghai tea culture. The leg patterns of “Haibai” are designed with water motifs, symbolizing Dai water culture. The mascots showcase Menghai County’s dual honors as “China’s Pu’er Tea First County” and “Spring City of Xishuangbanna.” They have a sweet smile, rhythmic and aesthetic design, and strong visual impact. After anthropomorphic design, the mascots are lively, energetic, and confident, embodying “ecology, culture, dynamism, vitality, and harmony,” reflecting Menghai County’s ecological development concept of “ecology, green, health,” and the core advantages of “brave spirit, tea industry, and ethnic customs.” “Mengmeng” and “Haibai” will share “Menghai tea, Menghai flavor” with people from around the world. The mascots were designed by Dongdao Brand Creative Group Co., Ltd., the exclusive supplier of official brand design services for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics.
Festival Activities
The “Tea Competition Conference” is a traditional event of the Menghai Tea King Festival, where “Tea Kings” from various Pu’er tea regions will engage in intense tea competitions to select the “Menghai Tea King” for 2015. The awarded teas will be auctioned on-site, with the proceeds and auction company’s commission donated to support Menghai County’s educational endeavors. Additionally, the festival will showcase traditional tea rituals and ethnic folk tea art performances.
12th Festival
On September 15, 2023, the press conference for the 12th Menghai (International) Tea King Festival was held in Kunming. The festival took place from September 30 to October 4 in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. The event was divided into three aspects: firstly, “Tea King Competition,” with public tastings. The “Tea King Competition” assessed the annual Tea King on September 30 through public tasting and professional evaluation, providing a platform for tea enterprises, merchants, tea enthusiasts, and lovers. Secondly, expanding Menghai’s reach by hosting the Tea King Festival in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Ordos, further enhancing the influence of Menghai Pu’er tea culture and economy. Thirdly, a comprehensive and lively shopping event with both offline and online exhibitions and sales.
13th Festival
On April 13, 2024, the press conference for the “A Lifestyle Called Yunnan · Tea King Menghai Brave Home Cool Water Splashing Festival” was held in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. According to the press conference, the 13th Menghai (International) Tea King Festival will be held from May 16 to 19, 2024. This year’s “Tea King Festival” will also be hosted simultaneously in Guangzhou, the main sales area of Pu’er tea.
Festival Origins
Menghai has made considerable efforts to establish itself as “China’s Pu’er Tea First County,” successfully creating renowned Pu’er tea brands such as “Dayi,” “Colorful Yunnan,” “Chen Sheng Hao,” “Octagonal Pavilion,” and “Lao Ban Zhang.” Since the successful hosting of the first Menghai Tea King Festival in 2010, the festival has effectively increased Menghai’s visibility and earned the title of “Most Beautiful Tea Town in Western China” in 2014. “Menghai Tea” has also received the National Administration for Industry and Commerce’s Geographical Indication Certification Trademark.
