What varieties of big-leaf tea trees are there in Yunnan?

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Pu'er tea has a strict geographical indication, which requires that it must be made from sun-dried raw tea leaves of the Yunnan large-leaf variety. Only tea produced in this manner can be called Pu'er tea. So, what are the varieties of the Yunnan large-leaf tea plant? There are the New Six Tea Mountains and the Ancient Six Tea Mountains of Pu'er tea, and due to factors such as geographical location, moisture, soil composition, and climate, the quality of tea produced in each mountain varies. This is primarily because the tea plants are influenced by these factors, leading to differences in their growth, which in turn results in variations in the raw materials of Pu'er tea and ultimately affects its quality.

The representative varieties of Yunnan large-leaf tea trees can be divided into two major categories: natural populations and clonal varieties. The "natural populations" primarily include the Fengqing variety, Mengku variety, and Menghai variety. These are all descendants of Yunnan large-leaf tea trees propagated through natural hybridization and seed reproduction.

"Fengqing Variety": Centered in Fengqing County, Lincang City, it was primarily introduced and distributed in Yunxian, Yongde, Zhenkang, Lincang, Changning, Baoshan, Tengchong, Longling, Dehong, and other regions. During the mid-to-late 1980s, it was extensively introduced to various areas of Yunnan.

"Mengku Variety": Centered around Shuangjiang County in Lincang City, it has been introduced and primarily distributed in Shuangjiang, Lincang, Cangyuan, Gengma, Lancang, Mei County, Menglian, Simeng, Jinggu, Jingdong, Zhenyuan, and other regions. In the mid-to-late 1980s, it was extensively introduced to various areas across Yunnan.

"Menghai Variety": Centered in Menghai County of Xishuangbanna, it was primarily introduced and distributed in Xishuangbanna and Simao City. In the mid-to-late 1980s, it was extensively introduced to southeastern and central Yunnan regions.

Another representative variety of Yunnan large-leaf tea is the offspring of Yunnan large-leaf tea bred through asexual propagation. In 1986, provincial-level superior varieties primarily included Yunkang No. 43 and Changye Baihao, approved by the Yunnan Provincial Crop Variety Review Committee. In 1987, national-level superior varieties such as Yunkang No. 10 and Yunkang No. 14 were approved by the National Tea Variety Review Committee. In 1992, provincial-level superior varieties including Yunmei, Yungui, and Aifeng were approved by the Yunnan Provincial Crop Variety Review Committee. In 1995, provincial-level superior varieties such as Yunxuan No. 9 and Yunkang No. 37 were approved by the same committee. All of these are descendants of the Menghai variety. With the involvement of the Yunnan provincial government in the 20th century, the offspring of the Yunnan large-leaf tea "Menghai variety," represented by "Yunkang No. 10," were widely promoted across Yunnan and showed a trend of further propagation and expansion.