Mengku large-leaf tea

Mengku large-leaf tea

　　A superior variety of sexually propagated tea plants. It was among the first batch of 30 nationally recognized superior tea varieties approved by the National Tea Cultivar Appraisal Committee in 1984. Originally native to Mengku Town, Shuangjiang County. The original strain has a high degree of purity. It is mainly distributed in Shuangjiang, Lincang, Zhenkang, Yongde, Fengqing, and Changning counties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was introduced and extensively cultivated in provinces and regions such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. The plant is of the arbor type, with a tall and broad crown, relatively sparse branching, and an open tree posture. The leaves are large, measuring 13.8–21.9 cm in length and 5.8–9.0 cm in width, predominantly elliptical. The leaf tips are acuminate, the leaf surface is strongly raised, the blades are thick and soft, the leaf margins are slightly undulating, with 10–12 pairs of lateral veins and sparse, shallow, and blunt serrations. Mature leaves are dark green, while young leaves are yellowish-green. It has an early sprouting period, a long growth cycle, and strong budding ability. The buds and leaves are plump, covered in abundant fuzz, and highly tender-retaining. The average weight of one bud and three leaves per hundred buds is 121.4 grams. The peak flowering period is in mid-November, with low fruit-setting rates. It yields highly, producing 150–200 kg per mu under good cultivation conditions, and up to 400 kg at maximum. It has high levels of tea polyphenols and catechins. Spring tea from one bud and two leaves contains 4.04% caffeine, 1.66% amino acids, 33.7% tea polyphenols; each gram of tea leaves contains 182.16 mg of catechins. Suitable for making black tea, Pu'er tea, and green tea. When processed into Gongfu black tea, it reveals golden tips, has stout and heavy strips, a high and strong aroma, robust flavor, and a bright red liquor. When made into broken black tea, it has a high aroma, strong and fresh taste, and a bright red liquor. When processed into green tea, it shows visible white fuzz and offers a mellow taste. Ideal for cultivation in areas with mild climate, high humidity, absolute temperatures not lower than –3°C, and deep, fertile soil.

　　Praised by leading authorities in China’s tea industry as the “authentic Yunnan large-leaf tea” and the “pride of Yunnan large-leaf tea.”

　　Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Mengku large-leaf tea is located within Shuangjiang Lahu, Va, Blang, and Dai Autonomous County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. It spans six townships (towns): Dawen Township, Mangnuo Township, Bangbing Township, Shahe Township, Mengmeng Town, and Mengku Town, as well as two farms: Mengku Overseas Chinese Management Area and Shuangjiang Farm Management Committee. Geographic coordinates: 99°35′–100°09′ east longitude, 23°11′–23°48′ north latitude; it stretches 64.2 km from north to south and 57.9 km from east to west, with a total planted area of 16,000 hectares and an annual yield of 16,000 tons.