China’s famous fine tea tree varieties, the general term for large-leaf tea tree varieties in Yunnan Province. It mainly includes Mengku big-leaf tea (also known as big black tea), Fengqing big-leaf tea and Menghai big-leaf tea. It is native to the southwest of Yunnan Province and the Lancang River Basin in the south. They are mainly distributed in counties (cities) such as Shuangjiang, Lancang, Menghai, Fengqing, Changning, Yunxian, Baoshan and Yuanjiang in the province.
Pu’er tea
The plant is a tree type with a tall crown. The height of the natural growth tree is 5-6m, and the maximum height is more than 20m. The tree posture is half developed, partially developed or relatively erect. The branches are high and the branches are sparse. The leaves are extra large, with an average leaf length of 13cm, leaf width of 5cm, and the largest leaf surface of 26.0×10.5c㎡. Leaf shape oblong, elliptic or nearly oblanceolate. The leaves are mostly horizontal, with acuminate leaf tips, and the leaves are dark green or yellow-green. Gloss is good, and the leaf surface is raised or significantly raised. The mesophyll is thick and soft, with obvious lateral veins, mostly more than 10 pairs. The leaf margins are rolled back, the serrations are deep and even, and the buds and leaves are thick and strong. Very fluffy.
There is one layer of palisade tissue on the leaves, and the ratio of palisade tissue to spongy tissue is about 1:3. The germination period is early, the growth period is long, and the germination ability is strong. There are 5-6 rounds of germination in one year, and the new shoots are strong in tenderness. Flowers mostly solitary, some clustered or in pseudoracemes. The short diameter of the corolla is 25mm, the long diameter is 45mm, 6-7 petals, 5 sepals. The cold resistance is weak, and it will suffer severe freezing damage below -5°C. Suitable for black tea. Tea polyphenols and catechins are rich in fresh leaves.
Sexual breeding breeds
Mengku big leaf species: also known as Shuangjiang Mengku species, a sexually propagated variety. Arbor type, tree posture unfolding, strong growth potential, high branch position. The leaves are oblong, with long and blunt tips. The leaf base is oval, and the leaf color is dark green. The mesophyll is thick and soft, and the leaf surface is prominently raised. The leaf margins are slightly curled, the serrations are large and shallow, the main veins are obvious, the bud heads are thick, and the buds are yellow-green. Dense hair, strong germination. New shoots germinate five rounds a year, and tea can be picked 28 times a year. The average weight of one bud and two leaves is 0.62 grams, and the yield is 37%-65% higher than that of local varieties. Six-year-old tea trees produce 330 kilograms of fresh leaves per mu.
The color is black and brown, and the taste is strong. The soup is rich in color and has a sharp aroma. The finished tea strips are thick and long, and the pekoe is exposed. One bud and two leaves steamed green sample contains 33.76% tea polyphenols, 4.06% caffeine, and 1.66% amino acids. The total amount of catechins is 182.16 mg/g, and the water extract is 48%. Originally produced in Iceland Township, Mengku District, Shuangjiang County, it is mainly distributed in Shuangjiang, Lincang, Zhenkang, Yongde and other counties. In 1984, it was approved as a national fine breed.
Why use Yunnan big-leaf species to make Pu-erh tea
The big-leaf teas in Yunnan mainly include the following: Mengku big-leaf teas, Fengqing big-leaf teas, Menghai big-leaf teas, Jingdong big-leaf teas, and Jinggu big-leaf teas. These are the best raw materials for making Pu-erh tea. There are great differences between large-leaf and small-leaf varieties, which also determine the quality of Pu-erh tea to a certain extent.
First of all, let’s talk about it from the perspective of foam resistance. The spongy cells of the large-leaved species are smaller. Large-leaf teas are more durable than small-leaf teas. Why good Pu-erh tea can be brewed more than ten times. In addition to the craftsmanship, the most important thing is its raw material, which uses Yunnan big-leaf species. Compared with those made of small leaf species such as green tea, etc., it has obvious advantages.
Secondly, the chemical composition is different. Large leaf species contain more effective substances such as tea polyphenols and caffeine. The resulting tea has a strong flavor. Compared with the small leaf species, the ingredients are a little less. The taste will be even weaker. But the small-leaf species also has an advantage, that is, the aroma is more elevated. So different ingredients are also doomed to it, and what kind of process is used to process it. We can say without hesitation that Pu’er tea and black tea are the most suitable for large-leaf varieties in Yunnan.
Finally, the special geographical environment has created the large-leaf species in Yunnan, as well as Pu-erh tea. Pu-erh tea has a special craft Odui. The rich taste and aroma in the large leaves are the basis for the transformation of aroma in the post-fermentation process of Pu-erh tea. In addition, in terms of taste, the tea made from the big-leaf species is stronger than the tea made from the small-leaf species. Rich in layers, durable and foam-resistant. The aroma is longer than that of small-leaf tea, and the antioxidant effect is stronger than that of small- and medium-leaf tea. These are the advantages of Pu’er tea.
