You’re the Best, Probably. 2026 Spring Xinbanzhang Raw Puer
Price range: $11.00 through $338.00
- Description
- A tale of 2 Banzhangs
- Additional information
- Reviews (0)
Description
If you asked us for the closest thing to Laobanzhang (LBZ, Lao = “old”) without actually being LBZ, then this tea would be our answer. With an aggressive flavour, bitterness up front that transforms to sweetness, and a full body, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the real deal.
Between us, we prefer this tea over most genuine LBZ we’ve had. Made from Xinbanzhang (XBZ, Xin = “new”) huncai/mixed pickings of arbour and big/old trees, this tea is quite rich and has impressive depth. There is a slight soy sauce scent on the rinse that we’ve only come across with a handful of teas. Meanwhile the soup is brothy, with a thick mouthfeel.
Geographically, this tea is also as close as we could get to LBZ, as the garden comes from an area along the villages’ shared border. So close, yet so far, but arguably for the best. In this case, being on the “wrong” side of the line allows everyone to win, as this tea delivers on every level for only a fraction of the cost for tea picked a few dozen meters away.
Strong and bold in its youth, it’s safe to say that this tea is a strong choice for long term storage.
$0.34-0.44/gram
Picking Period: April 1-5
Region: Xinbanzhang, Yunnan
The two new and old villages are living out a modern parable, where Xinbanzhang split off from the original village due to scarcity of resources to support a growing population. This split started centuries ago, but became more formalized by the 1960s, with those left behind envying the new village’s resources.
40+ years later the roles were swapped, as tea moved from state companies to private producers and Laobanzhang was, in a way, “discovered”. In a short amount of time, tea that was previously sold to the Menghai tea factory for a few dollars per kg was worth thousands sold to private companies. While the families in LBZ were the biggest winners, it can’t be denied that XBZ and other surrounding villages also benefitted from this new attention… just not as much.
Although the villages are administratively distinct, they are only 7km apart in distance, with their respective tea gardens essentially blending into each other. Considering the characteristics of both teas are also quite similar, it can sometimes be difficult to draw a distinction – something unscrupulous sellers are well aware of. A large amount of “Laobanzhang” on the market is likely wholly or partially from Xinbanzhang.
Additional information
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