Camellia sinensis var. assamica ★★★★☆

Menghai Da Ye

Also known as: Menghai Large-leaf

Thick, potent and bitter-sweet with great ageing power. The classic Menghai pu'er base.

Species
var. assamica
Lineage
Heirloom
Country
China (Yunnan)
Year
Traditional
Leaf size
Very-large
Cup quality
4/5

Menghai Da Ye (勐海大葉種) is the Yunnan large-leaf (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) population variety of Menghai County in Xishuangbanna, one of the heartlands of pu'er tea. It is not a single bred cultivar but a seed-propagated landrace population of big-leaf assamica trees adapted to the region.

Its vigorous large leaves are rich in the polyphenols that give Menghai pu'er its thick, potent, bitter-sweet character and its renowned ability to age and transform over decades. It is the benchmark base material behind the classic recipes of the Menghai Tea Factory and much of the sheng and shou pu'er market.

Heirloom
Traditional cultivar predating modern selection programs.
Lineage data & sources
Founder / landrace population — this descends from regional seed-grown or wild tea rather than two named parents, so no specific parentage is claimed.
Sources: orientaleaf.com

Teas produced

Pu-erh shengPu-erh shou

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BittersweetThickHoneyEarthyPotent

Growing regions

Origins where Menghai Da Ye grows

Brands likely carrying Menghai Da Ye

Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.

Related cultivars

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