Puerh tea’s character is deeply influenced by the regions and mountains where it grows. Each mountain offers a unique flavor profile, making puerh a journey through Yunnan’s landscapes. Below is a carefully checked overview of the main producing regions and their renowned mountains.

1. Xishuangbanna 西双版纳

Located in southern Yunnan along the Mekong River, Xishuangbanna is known for its wild and ancient tea forests. Teas from this region are characterized by bold mountain aroma, strong chaqi, and versatile flavor profiles ranging from mellow sweetness to robust, stimulating liquors. The region is considered the heartland of traditional Puerh tea production.

Lao Ban Zhang
Located in Bulang Mountain, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, Lao Ban Zhang is hailed as the “King of Tea.” Its leaves are thick and robust, with plump buds covered in fine hairs. The tea is known for its bold, powerful chaqi, with light bitterness, lingering sweetness, and a fragrance between orchid and floral honey, combined with a strong wild mountain character. The returning sweetness (huigan) is rapid and long-lasting, making it a favorite of seasoned tea enthusiasts.

Bu Lang Mountain
Also located in Bulang Mountain, Menghai County, this tea comes from wild and semi-wild Yunnan large-leaf varietals. Its taste is more stimulating, with a noticeable bitterness on the tongue and palate, but also dense aroma and strong flavor. Unlike the refreshing character of Ban Zhang, Bulang tea has a heavier, distinctive charm that appeals to those who prefer a bold and thick taste.

Nan Nuo Mountain
Situated in Menghai County, this was the site of the original Menghai Tea Factory’s primary processing facility. Nannuo preserves over 1,000 hectares of mixed ancient tea gardens. Its tea features a deep, lingering throat feel, high and expressive fragrance, distinct honey aroma, mellow taste, and full-bodied liquor.

He Kai
Located in Menghai County, the leaves are dark, glossy, and tightly rolled. The liquor is bright golden yellow. Astringency is stronger than bitterness. The tea carries a pectin-like aroma, smooth mouthfeel with clear bitterness that quickly dissolves. Highly resistant to brewing, it reveals unique flavors across multiple infusions.

Na Ka
In Menghai County, Na Ka teas are known for strong wild character and prominent bitterness, yet the liquor carries underlying sweetness. It delivers quick and pleasant huigan, with full-bodied liquor and high fragrance. Widely recognized, Na Ka stands out for its intense aroma and flavor.

Yi Wu
Located in Mengla County, part of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains. The tea is famous for its elegant fragrance and soft water. Its aroma is lively, powdery, and layered with wild mountain notes. Yiwu teas are pure, rich, and enduring, with smooth texture and mellow taste. They are considered the classic representation of the “gentle” side of Puerh.

Ma Hei
Situated in Yiwu, Mengla County, Mahei is often called the “Second in Yiwu.” Its liquor is soft, glutinous, and elegant, with long-lasting floral and fruity aromas. The liquor appears glossy and translucent, delivering a full, delicate taste with notable chaqi. It embodies refined elegance in the cup.

Gua Feng Zhai
Also in Yiwu, Mengla County, this area produces teas with exceptional Puerh quality and strong wild character. The tea combines sweet smoothness with honey notes, delicate texture, and an enduring throat feel. It has significant potential for post-aging, offering evolving complexity over time.

Man Sa
Part of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains in Mengla County, Man Sa is considered the embodiment of masculine strength among Puerh. Its liquor is sweet, pure, and powerful, with fragrance and smoothness spread across the palate. In recent years, its liquor has become thinner, yet its unique character remains attractive.

Yi Bang
Located in northern Mengla County, Yi Bang is one of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains. As the highest in elevation, it is renowned for its distinctive fragrance. Its profile blends Yiwu’s honeyed floral aroma with Yi Bang’s refined clarity, producing a delicate and elegant mouthfeel. Nearby lies Man Song, famed for producing imperial tribute teas during the Qing dynasty, and still celebrated for its refined fragrance, clean liquor, and rare elegance.

Ge Deng
Also in Mengla County, one of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains. Ge Deng teas are sweet and pure, with sharp, high aroma, long-lasting throat feel, and rich taste. They carry a distinctive wild mountain energy. Though production is limited, their quality is outstanding.

Mang Zhi
Situated in northern Mengla County, also part of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains. Mang Zhi teas are known for their distinctive fragrance, similar to Yi Bang and Ge Deng, with full-bodied taste, lingering sweetness, and unique charm.

You Le Mountain
Located in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, You Le is the only one of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains not in Mengla County, now known as Jinuo Mountain. Its teas are characterized by unique fragrance, mild bitterness and astringency, quick huigan, and soft liquor with regional distinctiveness.

2. Lincang 临沧

Situated northwest of Xishuangbanna, Lincang features high-elevation tea areas and well-preserved ancient tea gardens. Teas from this region are recognized for their thick, rich liquor, long-lasting throat feel, and complex floral or honeyed fragrances. The climate and terrain give the teas a distinct elegance and depth.

Bing Dao
Situated in Bingdao Village, Shuangjiang County, Lincang, Bing Dao is honored as the “Queen of Puerh.” Renowned for its high fragrance, sweetness, and thick, heavy liquor with long throat feel, it carries honeyed and orchid-like aromas, with minimal bitterness or astringency. Its salivation effect is pronounced and enduring, making it one of the most celebrated Puerh teas.

Xi Gui
From the Lincang region, known as the “Ban Zhang of Lincang.” Xi Gui has strong chaqi, rich aroma, mellow yet powerful taste, and resilient liquor. It balances strength with smoothness, with high fragrance reminiscent of orchids, delicate texture, and quick, refreshing huigan.

Da Xue Shan
Located in Yongde County, Lincang, Da Xue Shan produces teas with remarkable purity and intensity. The liquor is thick and smooth, with floral and honey fragrance, rich chaqi, and excellent aging potential.

Mang Lu Mountain
Situated in Shuangjiang County, Mang Lu teas are known for their strong mountain character. The liquor is bold yet clean, with a balance of bitterness and sweetness, and a lingering throat feel that makes them highly recognizable.

Xiao Hu Sai
Found in Shuangjiang County, Xiao Hu Sai is noted for its strong aroma, mellow and thick liquor, and resilient aftertaste. Its teas are bold yet refined, with excellent endurance over multiple infusions.

Man Nuo
In Shuangjiang County, Man Nuo teas are thick and smooth, with a floral fragrance layered with honey notes. The liquor is mellow, with soft bitterness that quickly transforms into sweetness.

Bai Ying Mountain
Situated in Yongde County, Bai Ying teas are elegant, with soft texture, clear liquor, and distinctive orchid-like fragrance. Their taste is subtle yet persistent, appealing to those who prefer refined teas.

Da Chao Shan
Located in Lincang, Da Chao Shan produces teas with bold chaqi and wild mountain charm. The liquor is rich, with balanced bitterness and sweetness, leaving a long-lasting resonance in the throat.

Bang Dong
Part of the Lincang region, Bang Dong teas are bold and enduring. Their aroma, flavor, and huigan are well-balanced, offering a full mouthfeel of sweetness akin to olive-like coolness. With long throat resonance and floral-rocky fragrance, they leave a memorable impression.

3. Puerh City 普洱

Located in central-southern Yunnan, Puerh City is a major hub for cultivated and wild tea plantations. Its teas tend to be lighter, delicate, and aromatic, often displaying elegant orchid or floral notes with soft, smooth liquor. The region is celebrated for its balance of gentle flavors and subtle complexity.

Jing Mai
Located in Lancang County, Puerh City, encompassing Jingmai and Mangjing villages. With a thousand-year history, it hosts the largest cultivated ancient tea gardens in Yunnan. The leaves are shorter, lightly fermented, with sweet and persistent fragrance. The liquor is smooth, soft, and slightly thin, with distinct orchid aroma and gentle floral sweetness in the aftertaste.

Bang Wai
Also in Lancang County, Bang Wai teas come from Yunnan’s wild large-leaf varietals. Their flavor is sweet and full, with light bitterness and astringency at the tongue and palate, followed by strong concentrated sweetness. They feature layered aroma and unique wild mountain character.

Kun Lu Mountain
Located in Ning’er County, Kun Lu teas are robust and layered, with prominent bitterness that transforms into strong huigan. The liquor is full-bodied, with floral and fruity notes, making it a standout among Puerh teas.

Wu Liang Mountain
Stretching across several counties in Puerh, Wu Liang teas are known for their high floral fragrance, clean liquor, and refreshing mouthfeel. They carry light bitterness, soft texture, and excellent resilience, offering long-lasting sweetness.

Qian Jia Zhai
Situated in Zhenyuan County, Qian Jia Zhai is home to ancient tea trees over 2,700 years old. Its teas are rich and thick, with a strong mountain character, deep fragrance, and enduring aftertaste, prized for their aging potential.

Lao Wu Mountain
Located in Jingdong County, Lao Wu teas are bold and powerful, with strong chaqi, thick liquor, and layered aroma. Their wild mountain notes stand out, delivering a memorable, enduring taste.