Sleepy Deer Mountain belongs to the remnants of Wuliang Mountain. In the primeval forest on Kunlu Mountain, there are towering giant trees and fragrant leaves. “Sleepy deer” is actually a Dai language. “Sleepy” is a mountain depression, and “deer” is a bird or sparrow. “Sleepy deer” refers to the steep and confusing mountain roads here, even “the yellow crane can’t fly, and the ape wants to climb for help”. Hence the name “Sleepy Deer Mountain”.
Kunlu Mountain belongs to Kuanhong Village, Fengyang Township, Ning’er Hani and Yi Autonomous County. The altitude is 1410-2271 meters, the annual average temperature is 23.00 ℃, and the annual precipitation is 1483.00 mm. The average annual temperature in Pu’er area is much higher than that in Banna area. The villagers are mainly Hani and Han.
According to the local elders, in the past, the government sent troops to the spring tea harvesting every year. Produced tribute tea as a tribute to the emperor, and Kunlu camellia became one of the tribute tea bases of Pu’er Prefecture in the Qing Dynasty. Hence the term “royal ancient tea garden”.
It is said that the history of the Kunlu Ancient Tea Mountain has always been kept secret. It’s just that there was very little tribute tea produced in Yunnan at the beginning, which could not meet the needs of the royal palace and nobles at all. It is even more impossible to enter the families of ordinary people. Every year when the tea is picked in spring, the government sends troops to guard and supervise the production. It is extremely confidential and naturally does not appear in historical records. Therefore, this mysterious ancient tea garden also adds mystery to the world.
The Humanities and History of the Royal Tea Garden in Kunlu Mountain
Historically, Kunlu Mountain was a tribute tea garden dedicated to the royal family. The picking and production of tribute tea are all supervised by the government, which is kept secret and little known. I heard from the elders that during the Qing Dynasty, it was the spring tea picking season every year in the big tea forest (that is, the ancient tea garden of 10,000 mu in Kunlu Mountain). The government will send officers and soldiers into Kuanhong to supervise the production of tea. And the prepared human head tea, Qizi cake tea and tuo tea were transported to Beijing. Pay tribute to the palace. Because the sleepy deer mountain has been maintaining ecological management, traditional processing. Over the years, it has been the best in Pu’er, and it is difficult for outsiders to buy it.
Sleepy Deer Mountain: Exploring the Royal Tea Garden
In order to explore this mysterious ancient tea garden that has been left in the mountains for two centuries. We traveled thousands of miles and came here especially for the name. Under the guidance of the road sign “Royal Ancient Tea Garden of Sleepy Deer Mountain”, circle along the winding mountain road. Rows of tall, lush and green ancient trees stand tall on both sides of the mountain road. There are pine, cypress, bamboo, and many unknown trees. A breeze blows, and the leaves dance in the same direction. Just like the guards standing in line and standing guard, they are giving standard military salutes to the tourist vehicles entering the mountain.
The road washed by the rain was clean and spotless, and the air was cool and pleasant. From time to time, it exudes a fresh and intoxicating wildflower fragrance. “Sleepy deer” means that even those agile deer will be trapped due to the steepness and confusion of the mountain road. Although today’s mountain roads are still rugged, it is much easier to drive after manual construction of cement pavement. It is no longer as dangerous as it used to be. Even if there are deer, it may be difficult to be trapped.
Come up to the mountain, under the emerald green peaks and towering ancient trees. Surrounded by clouds and mist, a cottage like a paradise appeared in front of my eyes. Hundreds of artificially cultivated large tea trees grow in or around the stockade composed of more than a dozen Yi families. The ancient tea trees vary in height and thickness: some are taller than two-story buildings, and some are so thick that it is difficult to hold hands. The morphological types are also different: there are cultivated types and wild types. There are large and medium-sized leaves. Standing in front of and behind people’s houses, it can be said that people are in tea, and tea is in people.
The tea trees are covered with green grass and wild flowers bloom everywhere. The scenery is extremely charming. Walking under the tea tree, from time to time, you will find a “change” in the grass. It turned out to be chickens raised by the villagers for food. This is a beautiful picture of the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, what a perfect ecology!
For the villagers who live there, each family is allocated several ancient tea trees, ranging from 4 to more than 20. His family got 10 trees. In addition to engaging in agricultural work every day, they also devote part of their energy to ancient tea picking and simple management.
Brother Lu said: “More than ten years ago, Pu’er tea was not as famous as it is now. The ancient tea in Kunlu Mountain was hidden in the deep mountains and no one knew it. The “Royal Ancient Tea Garden” that used to be beautiful has faded out of the rivers and lakes for many years. Now Pu’er tea is hot. After getting up, the reputation of Kunlu Mountain has also grown. Every spring, there is an endless stream of merchants who come here to collect tea. When the price is good, spring tea can be sold for 6,000-7,000 yuan per kilogram.”
“Through the support of the government in recent years, the road into the mountain has been repaired, and the transportation is convenient. The price of tea is good, and the tea farmers benefit from it. The villagers’ awareness of the protection of ancient trees has increased, and they treat them like darlings. There is no over-harvesting or felling of big trees. , The phenomenon of excessive pesticide application. The surrounding environment is natural and ecological, the old trees are luxuriant and growing well, and the quality of tea has been improved.”
As the enthusiastic Brother Lu spoke, he grabbed a handful of mao tea and threw it into an earthenware pot. Pour into the boiled water and make tea for us. He said that it was fresh leaves picked from the century-old tea tree that his family got, and he made it at home, let us taste it. We are used to small cups of fine tea, and we held up palm-sized earthenware tea bowls. While listening to Brother Lu’s talk, while drinking a big bowl of tea, I felt very cordial and natural.
Although the tea is very bitter. But under the influence of the charming and quiet natural scenery and the simplicity and enthusiasm of the tea farmers. We can still drink a hint of sweetness from it.
After trying several kinds of Maocha made by his family in succession, I feel that the biggest feature of Kunlushan Qiaomu tea is its sweetness. It is not as soft and sweet as Yiwu tea. The new tea tastes slightly bitter and turns sweet. The taste is fragrant, sweet and sweet. After returning to sweetness, there is an old and strong feeling. The tea fragrance is elegant, sharp, long-lasting and long-lasting. Rich and deep, the throat rhyme is sweet and long-lasting, and the energy is rising and solid. Worthy of the title of Royal Tea Garden.
Features of Pu’er Tea from Sleepy Deer Mountain
I don’t know if it’s because of the mixed growth of various leaf species and wild ancient trees. Kunlushan Pu’er tea has a unique aroma, which is different from Banzhang’s aggressiveness, Yiwu’s softness, and Mengku’s strongness. It opens up another world with its freshness, elegance, sweetness and solidity. Among the three major tea regions, this tea is the only one that can be called “elegant”.
The new tea tastes slightly bitter in the mouth, but soon turns sweet to sweet. The taste is fragrant, sweet and sweet. Lubricant, good aftertaste, sweet and long-lasting throat rhyme, rising and solid Qi accumulation. Although it is not considered classics, the throat rhyme is long-lasting, elegant and unforgettable. Those who taste it will feel comfortable physically and mentally, worthy of the title of Royal Tea Garden and aspire to the Pu’er tea world.
