Sun-baked cereal grain profile with an enduring leather strap grist that only southern Menghai county Banzhang terroir can slap with. Just as it appears, feinting towards bitter, it juices up with a complex sweetness and minerality that’s worth sitting with. With a bit more upfront bitterness than Bakalong and a longer lasting finish, Bakanan is considered Lao Banzhang Jr. by banzhang heads in the local industry, perhaps the crowned prince to the "King of Pu'er", having the most similarity to the dominating character of one of the most famous and priciest tea villages in China.

坝卡囡 Bàkǎnān is a small Lahu ethnicity village of about 40 households.  Bakanan hosts over 150 acres of prime ancient tree tian cha (sweet tea variety) gardens that are estimated to be over 200 years old—with many specimens considered substantially older due to size—mainly in the guoyoulin state-owned forest area north of the village, the base known as 大黑山 Daheishan "Big Black Mountain". The Yangs, a Hani family I've been working with since 2019, is based in Lao Banzhang and has set up operations in Bakanan since 2021.  Visits these last two years to Mr. Yang's son Zhilin and their tea gardens have proven successful in establishing a solid channel for good tea there.  Remote and rugged terrain, ancient trees, and excellent industry standard production going in this one.  I recommend picking up a cake.

southern aerial view of Bakanan village taken above the Dahei ancient gardens