Tea Cultivar · Camellia sinensis var. assamica
Bingdao Landrace
- Origin
- China - Lincang, Mengku, Bingdao village
- Primary use
- sheng puerh, gushu single-village
Overview
The Bingdao landrace is the seed-propagated da-ye-zhong tea population native to Bingdao Lao Zhai (old village) in Mengku township, Shuangjiang county, Lincang prefecture. Over the past two decades it has become the most expensive single-origin tea material in China, with old-tree spring maocha from the five Bingdao villages regularly selling for tens of thousands of yuan per kilogram. The landrace is genetically distinct from neighboring Mengku-area populations and is characterized by a long history of in-situ seed propagation by the Dai and Lahu communities of the area.
Characteristics
Trees in the old gardens range from a few decades to several centuries in age and grow as single-trunked arbors rather than pruned bushes. Leaves are large, soft, and notably less leathery than Menghai-area da-ye-zhong, with a lighter green color and slightly serrated margins. Bud-to-leaf ratio is high, and the spring flush carries a heavy down of silvery white trichomes prized by buyers.
Flavor profile
Bingdao is famous for an unusual combination of low perceived bitterness with extreme aromatic intensity - rock-sugar sweetness, iced melon, mountain-spring coolness, and a long, glassy huigan that lingers for many minutes. Mouthfeel is full but soft, with none of the harsh grip of Menghai material; aged Bingdao is reputed to develop into one of the most refined expressions of sheng puerh.
Where it grows
China - Lincang, Shuangjiang, Mengku