Pazhen Tea Plantation in Menghai County, XishuangBanna
Pazhen Laozhai Village is part of the Pazhen Village Committee in the Gelanghe Township of Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, located at an elevation of over 1600 meters. The tea gardens are planted on slopes ranging from 1600 to 1900 meters and are adjacent to the famous Pasha area. The village produces both ancient tree ecological tea and plantation tea. The recent batch of tea from Dayun Tea Company was sourced between April and May 2013, primarily using plantation tea, with some contribution from tree tea. Due to the proximity of spring to early summer, there is not much price difference between plantation and small tree teas, and Pazhen Laozhai Village’s tea is generally not expensive. Thus, when producing ripe tea, the raw materials are not distinctly categorized, with ancient tree tea being separately picked.
Geographical Context
Gelanghe Township’s Pazhen Village Committee is located 29 kilometers southeast of Menghai County and 1 kilometer from the township government. The area has an elevation of 1575 meters. Officially, Pazhen is situated beneath the mountains of Pasha, with some tea fields of Pazhen located on the mountain. This geographical proximity fosters a natural connection between the two villages. Local lore suggests that Pasha villagers come to Pazhen to buy fresh leaves for processing into Pasha tea, while Pasha villagers claim their tea reaches the Lao Banzhang area on Bulang Mountain.
Tea Characteristics
- Tea Processing Techniques
The tea processing techniques in Pazhen are noticeably less refined compared to those in Pasha, with excessive heat during the kill-green process sometimes resulting in a burnt taste. Despite this, established veterans have set up initial processing sites in the area, indicating a focus on Pazhen tea’s potential. - Appearance and Taste
Due to the drought this year and reduced rainfall, the early spring tea appears whiter with a high aroma but exhibits a strong astringency that dissipates quickly. In comparison, Pazhen tea is noted to have a heavier bitterness. The price of Pazhen tea is generally lower than that of Pasha tea, which is primarily sourced from ancient trees at elevations of 1800 to 2000 meters, likely contributing to the flavor differences.
Characteristics of Gelanghe Tea
Traditionally, tea from Gelanghe is primarily produced as tightly rolled maocha (粗茶) rather than as raw cakes (生饼). The process includes machine kill-green and rolling, resulting in a tea with a notable astringency, especially in higher-grade materials like palace and special grade teas. For the Dayun Tea Company’s four-star Pazhen Laozhai Village ripe tea, the main materials are selected from grades 3 to 5, with careful blending of higher-quality grades to avoid astringency. There are no rough, aged flavors from lower-grade teas.
Although the tea does not possess the rich strength characteristic of Bulang Mountain tea, it is light, pleasant, sweet without being cloying, and has a glutinous aroma. For example, after eating a substantial amount of meat, one might not want a sweet tea like 7581, making Pazhen Laozhai Village tea a perfect choice for balance.
