Apr 11, 2015 Imperial Tribute Tea ManSong Sourcing Adventure and its Mystical History ! ManSong Valley locates in Southern YunNan, it belongs to the YiBang Mountain Tea production region. The Mountain is 950 meters above sea level. Soil of the ManSong valley is very different from other tea production area. The soil on the tea mountain is reddish, it contains very high in PH level and rich in minerals. ManSong Valley Tea production started during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), it was an imperial reserved tea production area during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) . In the Qing Dynasty, only government officials were allow to enter the reservation area to harvest teas and tribute to the imperial court. According to history, A Prince of the Ming Dynasty fled to YunNan ManSong area after the Qing Dynasty took over China from the Ming Dynasty. After the prince's death, he was buried in the mountain named Prince Mountain at the ManSong area. The Prince Mountain was named after the prince's death, it is where we discovered the hidden ManSong Old Tea Trees .ManSong's tea is always remain like a legend to PUERH TEA DRINKERS, as not many people have been to the mountain and they never had a chance to try the real ManSong Teas from the origin. Many said that most of the old tea trees from ManSong was destroyed by fire and war. According to rumors, there are not many old tea trees left. But We know there are few local villagers who found the hidden old tea trees deep inside the mountain. The old tea trees are hidden deeply in the undiscovered forest. It is very hard to reach to the tea trees and pluck the tea leaves. In lucky days, the farmer can only pluck less than 2lbs of fresh leaves per day (Usually it requires 4kg of fresh tea leaves in order to make about 1kg of loose tea leaves). There is a saying "you can afford LaoBanZhang Teas with money, but even with money, it is hard to find the real ManSong Old Tea Tree " Therefore, many PuErh tea drinkers dreamed to try this mystical tea. However, Mr.Hu ( TanLongTea founder) is lucky enough, he followed the brothers who born and raise in ManSong, they brought Mr. Hu to the ancient tea tree forest. According to Mr. Hu , he dig into the secret tea forest by riding Motorcycle for 40 minutes and walking for over 1 hour ! http://www.tanlongtea.com/products/once-the-imperial-tribute-tea-mansong-valley-2015-first-flush-old-trees-2015 The ManSong Tea is very long lasting, up to 25-30 infusions, here is the recent review on the ManSong Tea: http://www.tanlongtea.com/collections/our-teas-puer/products/once-the-imperial-tribute-tea-mansong-valley-2015-first-flush-old-trees-2015 近年，普洱古树茶越来越多人追捧，老班章、冰岛，成为追茶人心中的‘名牌’，好茶的代表口味。而对有着漫长历史的曼松贡茶，知之甚少。犹如人们只知道追求LV，其后才发现大马士；追求奔驰、宝马，再发现还有英皇御用的美洲豹。 传说中的曼松贡茶，老胡在茶界中只了解一二。在百度里搜搜，也有曼松茶的介绍。几年前，从朋友手中隔着胶袋看过曼松茶的外观，曼松茶独特的外观记忆犹深。也从某处品尝过与易武茶相近的“曼松茶”。追寻曼松茶是老胡近年的愿望。偶然的机会，在西双版纳认识自称是曼松茶山土生土长的彝族人罗兄弟。去年罗兄弟带着自家收釆精制的曼松古茶，从云南来到广州拜访老胡，这才得以品尝到纯料曼松茶！！曼松茶独特的香味、滋味、茶韵、饮后的良性生理反应，是其他茶少有的，也是使人记忆难忘的!有了罗兄弟这指路人，老胡抓住早春时机，深入曼松茶山，探寻神秘的传说中的“曼松贡茶”。第一天，从版纳出发，行车了弯延崎岖的山路，到曼松茶山罗兄弟家已是下午三时多了。曼松茶山，地理位置为北纬22.1度，东经度101.6，周边面积为70平方公里，种茶区域平均海拔高度为850至950米，常年平均气温在15至30度之间，昼夜温差明显，土质为褐红色，pH值（待测试）曼松茶的产区为王子山和背阴山l。我们可以从王子山的命名印证曼松贡茶的历史。据说明朝未年（1644年前后），南明王溃败至云南，南明王子投靠了倚邦乡负责贡茶收采的头人，头人与王子举家迁到曼松茶区。后王子因怪病去逝。头人就把王子埋在山上，此山从此叫“王子山”。现山上还有王子墓塚。罗兄弟是土生土长的彝族人，从小与茶结缘，种茶、制茶样样精通，他亲手制的曼松茶，是有响当当名气的。 曼松贡茶，近二、三十年虽有种植，但产量极低，古树茶更是稀少，东一小片，西一小片；而很多生态特好的，藏隐在背阴山与王子山之间的原始从林中，只有知道踪影山民才能找到。要进入王子山与从背阴的古茶腹地，必须在险要的山路骑摩托车40分钟，再徒步一个多小时。大部份的外来客望而止步！ 二十多年没骑车了，先试练习驾驶摩托 彝族罗兄弟指着林中小屋，“这就是我的出地。” “这是我小孩时爱吃的红花果，花也可以吃” 罗 清潵见底的山溪，可见小鱼。水是甜甜的。 曼松茶，树林中东一片，西一棵，周边是原如森林
