Yiwu is a historic ancient town located in the northwest of Mengla County, Xishuangbanna, about 30 kilometers from Mengxing. Not only is it a historic city, but it is also a renowned ancient tea mountain with a long-standing tea-making history. Because of its deep roots in tea production, Yiwu is home to numerous ancient tea trees, making it one of the top premium Pu-erh tea-producing regions today. Yiwu Pu-erh tea is practically synonymous with top-tier Pu-erh.
The Yiwu Ancient Tea Mountain boasts the highest production among the six ancient tea mountains. About 80% of the local residents belong to China’s ethnic minority groups. Local county records describe the area by noting: “The main roads in the county are only eight feet wide and entirely made of dirt. In precipitous cliff areas, they narrow to just three feet due to geographical constraints.” Coupled with elevations ranging from 656 to 2,000 meters and rugged terrain, transportation has historically been challenging. Despite its remote location, the area enjoys a humid climate with abundant rainfall, high mountains, and heavy mists. The soil, weathered from purple sandstone parent material, contains over 4.5% organic matter. This unique environment is exceptionally favorable for tea tree growth, making it a prime tea region since ancient times. Today, numerous ancient tea trees still grow here in their own natural ecosystem, providing a tremendous advantage for local tea production.
▲ Yiwu Pu-erh tea represents the pinnacle of Pu-erh tea.
“Every mountain has tea trees, and every village grows tea” perfectly captures the essence of the Yiwu tea mountains. Whether in the villages or deep within the mountain forests, ancient tea gardens of varying densities can be found everywhere. The oldest cultivated ancient tea tree in Shuidong stands 10.33 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 1.06 meters and is over 700 years old. Most trees belong to the Pu-erh variety, with a small number of Mengla varieties as well. This unique environment establishes Yiwu as the premier region for today’s top-grade Pu-erh teas.
▲ Due to their exceptional quality, Yiwu tea leaves are mostly crafted into premium raw (sheng) Pu-erh tea, while ripe (shou) Pu-erh is relatively uncommon.
Representative ancient tea trees in Yiwu include the Shuidong Tea King Tree in Yiwu Village, the Tongqing River Saidai Ancient Tea Tree, and the Guafengzhai Ancient Tea Tree. Thanks to careful preservation and a pollution-free environment, the Yiwu Pu-erh tea produced here is of exceptionally high quality. Furthermore, the warm, humid climate and fertile soil allow these ancient tea trees to sprout early and vigorously, producing plump buds rich in fine hairs. They can sprout multiple times a year, with a harvesting season spanning up to 10 months. This offers both great volume and superior quality. The quality of Yiwu Pu-erh tea truly surpasses that of other tea regions. Yiwu Zhengshan Wild Tea stands out as the most prized and top-tier Pu-erh tea on the market.