2019 Baiying Mountain Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake

Nestled deep in the mountains of Manwan Town 漫湾镇, on the banks of the Lancang River 澜沧江 in Lincang, Yunnan Province, Baiying Mountain 白莺山 sits at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. It faces the famous Wuliang Mountain across the river and backs onto the ancient tea tree groves of Dabing Mountain. With a village population of fewer than 400 people, the ecosystem remains untouched and richly diverse, where flora and fauna coexist harmoniously. Before 2017, Baiying Mountain remained largely unknown to the tea world. Local farmers lived primarily by farming and animal husbandry, occasionally processing tea for their own use. As a result, the mountain preserved a vast number of ancient tea trees that had never been harvested—wild, natural, and full of untamed charm.

It is precisely this former "obscurity" that allowed Baiying Mountain's ancient tea trees to thrive in a natural state. Trees over 200 years old are common here, and some even date back a thousand years. The tea trees are sparsely scattered, with thick, upright trunks, absorbing the essence of nature amid birdsong and insect chirping, free from human interference. This 2019 Baiying Mountain raw Pu-erh is made from pure material harvested from untouched ancient tea gardens in the early days—raw, pristine, and extremely rare. Today, Baiying Mountain has gained considerable fame. During the spring harvest season, the mountain is bustling with activity, and early pure-source tea has become increasingly precious, worthy of both appreciation and long-term storage.

This raw Pu-erh is made from Baiying Mountain ancient tree leaves picked in the spring of 2019 and dry-stored for three years in Menghai’s 勐海 warm and stable climate, which supports smooth aging. The tea cake’s processing scent has faded completely, revealing a clean and pure dry aroma. The liquor is a deep apricot yellow, bright and clear. Fragrances of flowers and subtle plum interweave, gentle and elegant without being overpowering. The taste is rich and full-bodied, the texture thick and smooth. It balances fragrance and mouthfeel well, with a fast and enduring returning sweetness. Its natural sweetness and lingering floral-fruity aftertaste in the later steeps demonstrate the depth and potential of a fine raw Pu-erh—truly a favorite for seasoned tea drinkers.