Xin Banzhang, "New Banzhang" is a Hani minority village with ancient trees, the average age not as high as its neighbor Old Banzhang's.  While staying in Lao Man'e recently, we drove up the road to Xin Banzhang to visit Da Cheng and his family.

Da Cheng's family recently signed a 30 year contract with the government to harvest from a guoyoulin state-owned wilderness area northwest of town, between Xin Banzhang and Lao Banzhang.  While the trees are not as old as the backyard monsters back at the Yang family mansion in LBZ, this pristine high mountain area is exactly the type of ecology you want to see associated with flavorful, clear, and layered tea.

Since this is the first time I've worked with this family, I let them do their usual processing knowing the opportunity to provide feedback will take place before next year.  The processing is green, with much of the enzyme denatured by the wok action during the sha-qing step.  While this treatment can sacrifice some ageability, it produces a crisp, lively, fragrant expression that many feel complement the Banzhang profile.  Despite this treatment, the mouthfeel structure remains quite soupy and thick for a unique version of Banzhang that stands out from the others in this year's release.