Year: 2026 spring
Weight: 10 grams sample and 200 grams bing
Country of origin: China, Yunnan province, Xishuangbanna

Yiwu Wangong (弯弓) – When a Great Village Became a Mountain Forest

Today, Wangong (弯弓) is regarded as one of the most sought-after and prestigious tea-producing areas in the whole of Yiwu. Few people realise, however, that only two centuries ago this was not a remote mountain forest hiding ancient tea trees, but the thriving heart of one of Yunnan’s greatest tea-producing regions.

During the Qing Dynasty, the historic region of Mansa (曼撒) was among the wealthiest of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains. Dozens of villages flourished across its mountains, supporting a population of well over ten thousand people. Among the most important settlements were Wangong Dazhai (弯弓大寨) and Mansa Old Street (曼撒老街), connected by the legendary Tea Horse Road (茶马古道) along which Pu-erh tea travelled towards Tibet, Southeast Asia and the imperial courts of China.

Historical records describe Wangong as the largest village within the Mansa region, home to more than four hundred households. It was also the site of an impressive Guan Di Temple, considered the largest and most magnificent temple among all of the Ancient Six Tea Mountains.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, tragedy struck. Repeated devastating fires, followed according to local tradition by epidemics and armed conflicts, gradually forced the inhabitants to abandon their villages. Trade routes shifted elsewhere, and the once prosperous settlements slowly disappeared. Stone streets, homes and temples collapsed, while nature patiently reclaimed everything that had belonged to man.

Over the following decades, subtropical mountain forests slowly enveloped the former tea gardens. Ancient tea trees remained scattered among towering forest giants, bamboo groves and dense native vegetation. Even today, Wangong does not resemble a conventional tea plantation. It is a true mountain forest where ancient tea trees quietly hide far from roads and villages.

Administratively, today’s Wangong tea gardens belong to Dingjiazhai (丁家寨), a village inhabited by the Yao ethnic minority (瑶族). Our tea comes from Baichayuan (白茶园), one of Wangong’s most highly regarded ancient tea gardens, where the old trees continue to grow naturally within an undisturbed forest ecosystem.

Harvesting tea in Wangong remains exceptionally demanding. Tea pickers must cross dense mountain forests, wade through streams and follow narrow muddy trails that are often accessible only on foot or by motorcycle. The ancient tea trees do not form continuous plantations but grow in isolated clusters scattered across the mountain slopes. Once one group of trees has been harvested, the journey continues over another ridge to reach the next hidden grove.

For this reason, people often say that every single leaf of Wangong must be earned. It is not a romantic marketing slogan but a simple description of the reality faced by those who harvest tea here every spring.

Perhaps it is precisely this long period of isolation that has preserved the extraordinary character of Wangong’s ancient tea trees. Among experienced Pu-erh drinkers, Wangong is regarded as one of Yiwu’s greatest treasures—a place where history, untouched nature and centuries of tea cultivation have merged into a truly exceptional terroir.

Spring 2026 Tasting Notes

The tea leaves for this tea come from gushu trees that mostly as old as 300 years and more. It is greate chance to compare the Qiaomu version of this tea with this that comes from ancient tea trees.

The very first infusion, brewed without a rinse, is delicate, subtle and remarkably pure. It reminds me of fresh morning dew resting quietly on the forest floor at sunrise. Although gentle in expression, it already leaves behind an elegant lingering aftertaste that quietly promises far greater things to come.

The second infusion rises slowly, almost like an aircraft beginning its take-off. The liquor immediately becomes much thicker, while the aftertaste gains remarkable strength and persistence. Once again, this spring demonstrates the exceptionally high standard of processing found throughout the 2026 harvest. Every element feels clean, precise and beautifully composed.

By the third infusion, Wangong fully reveals its Yiwu identity. A refined forest bitterness emerges, unmistakably belonging to the ancient forests of Wangong. A whisper of smokiness appears, not as a flaw but as a subtle accent that deepens the tea’s personality and enhances its sense of place. The aroma becomes extraordinarily powerful, filling both the cup and the surrounding air. This remarkable spring has not only produced teas of greater concentration but also of exceptional aromatic intensity.

Each sip carries the unmistakable feeling of old forests and ancient woodlands. The flavours are vibrant and concentrated, yet never overwhelming. Beneath their strength lies a soothing, deeply comforting aftertaste that gradually spreads throughout the mouth.

As the liquor cools slightly, another dimension begins to emerge. The sweetness becomes more pronounced, the texture grows rounder and softer, while the earlier bitterness quietly retreats. At the same time, delicate sharper edges continue to provide structure and definition. Notes reminiscent of apricot kernels appear, bringing their characteristic elegant bitterness that perfectly complements the forest character of the tea.

Throughout the entire session, Wangong displays remarkable balance. Power never overwhelms refinement, and intensity never compromises purity. Every infusion feels alive, carrying the unmistakable vitality that only truly ancient forest tea trees can express.

This year’s Wangong possesses everything I admire in exceptional Yiwu tea—clarity, profound depth, vibrant aromatics and an extraordinary sense of place. More than simply offering beautiful flavours, it captures the atmosphere of an abandoned mountain forest where ancient tea trees have quietly continued their existence long after the people who once cultivated them disappeared. Every cup feels like a small journey into that forgotten landscape.