---
title: "Yunnan Tea: Pu-erh Mountains, Old Trees and Dian Hong"
description: "Yunnan is where the tea tree began: pu-erh from Menghai, Yiwu and Lincang, broad-leaf old trees, and Dian Hong red tea with golden buds and honey sweetness."
canonical_url: https://leafspirit.store/knowledge/yunnan
lang: en
last_updated: 2026-07-26
site: Leaf & Spirit - Chinese tea house in Phuket, Thailand
---
# Yunnan Tea: Pu-erh Mountains, Old Trees and Dian Hong

Yunnan (云南 - “south of the clouds”) is China’s south-western province on the borders of Laos and Myanmar and, by the general verdict of botanists, the birthplace of the tea tree itself. Tea is not so much grown here as it simply grows: trees hundreds of years old still stand in the mountain forests.

## What it is famous for

Yunnan is the kingdom of pu-erh: both sheng and shou come from here - from Menghai, Yiwu and Lincang counties and mountains like Wuliang. The broad leaf of the local tea-tree variety (da ye zhong) gives a dense, sweet, long-lasting liquor - the very character that makes pu-erh worth ageing for decades. The province’s second ace is Dian Hong, Yunnan red tea with honey-pepper sweetness and golden buds.

## Land and climate

Highlands from one to well over two thousand metres, mild winters, mists and red soils - the leaf ripens slowly here and gathers flavour like mountain honey. The difference between a garden bush and an old tree is audible in the cup at once: tree teas are deeper, calmer and noticeably longer.

## In our collection

Nearly all our pu-erhs are Yunnanese, from young shengs to aged gong ting. It is the most direct way to taste the province - mountain by mountain, year by year.

## Buy these teas

- [Lily Dianhong](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/lily-dianhong.md) - from 550 THB
- [Lychee Black Tea](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/lychee-black-tea.md) - from 280 THB
- [Jasmine Grape Green Tea](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/jasmine-grape-green-tea.md) - from 280 THB
- [Peach Oolong](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/peach-oolong.md) - from 280 THB
- [Rose Black Tea](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/rose-black-tea.md) - from 280 THB
- [Milk Oolong](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/milk-oolong.md) - from 480 THB
- [Joy Sheng Pu-erh (2023)](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/joy-sheng-pu-erh-2023.md) - from 1280 THB
- [Nuo Wu Sheng Pu-erh (2018)](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/nuo-wu-sheng-pu-erh-2018.md) - from 750 THB
- [Ancient Tree Raw Pu-erh (Sheng) Mini Cake](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/ancient-tree-raw-pu-erh-sheng-mini-cake.md) - from 140 THB
- [Ancient Tree Ripe Pu-erh (Shou) Mini Cakes](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/ancient-tree-ripe-pu-erh-shou-mini-cakes.md) - from 130 THB
- [Bamboo Tea Caddy with Mini Pu-erh](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/bamboo-tea-caddy-with-mini-pu-erh.md) - from 910 THB
- [Caffeine-Free Floral & Fruit Blend](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/caffeine-free-floral-fruit-blend.md) - from 450 THB
- [Golden Silk (Jin Si)](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/golden-silk-jin-si.md) - from 570 THB
- [Golden Snail (Dian Hong Jin Luo)](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/golden-snail-dian-hong-jin-luo.md) - from 590 THB
- [Imperial Gong Ting Ripe (Shu) Pu-erh (2018)](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/imperial-gong-ting-ripe-shu-pu-erh-2018.md) - from 750 THB
- [Wuliang Mountain Sheng Pu-erh (2019)](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/wuliang-mountain-sheng-pu-erh-2019.md) - from 1200 THB
[Shop Red Tea (Hong Cha) in our catalog](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/red.md)

*Updated 2026-07-26 · Reviewed by tea master Ms. Judy (Wang Mengyu)*

Notes on traditional properties are part of Chinese tea culture and are not medical advice.

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Contact: WhatsApp https://wa.me/66829896048 · LINE https://lin.ee/NAgjG2p · info@leafspirit.store · 101 Cherng Talay Road, Choeng Thale, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand · Open daily 10:00-18:30 (Phuket time). AI agent site guide: https://leafspirit.store/llms.txt · Machine-readable price list: https://leafspirit.store/prices.md