King of PuErh – Lao Ban Zhang 老班章 by LZGC

Power. Prestige. Legacy. The undisputed king of Sheng PuErh.

Deep in the core of Mount Bulang lies Lao Ban Zhang (老班章), a small village with an outsized reputation. Widely hailed as the "King of PuErh", Lao Ban Zhang produces raw PuErh tea from ancient trees that embody the very essence of boldness, complexity, and transformation.

👑 Why Lao Ban Zhang Is the King

Lao Ban Zhang’s fame is not marketing hype — it’s earned from centuries of tradition, terroir, and craftsmanship.

- Grown at altitudes above 1,600m
- Harvested exclusively from ancient trees
- Famous for its unmistakable Cha Qi (茶气): strong, energizing, lasting
- Initially bitter, with bold structure and pungency, then transforming into deep sweetness that lingers long in the throat and heart
- A tea of prestige and investment value, aged to perfection over decades

📦 Our Royal Collection: Aged in Singapore

Over the years, we’ve collected Lao Ban Zhang from renowned vintages and reliable producers, including:

- Year 2000: Rarely available, full-bodied with rounded edge
- 2004 – Menghai Liming Tea Factory 勐海黎明茶厂: Aged 21 years, explosive strength mellowed into harmony
- 2011 / 2012 Early Spring Harvests: Brash in youth, but now gracefully matured with balance and throat feel

Each tea has been aged in Singapore’s natural climate, allowing the tea to breathe and develop rounded, mellowed energy without dampness — a signature of our millennium collection.

💫 A Tale of the King & Queen of Sheng PuEr

In our journey to build a royal collection, we crowned:

- Lao Ban Zhang as the King – bold, structured, powerful
- Mt.Yiwu as the Queen – elegant, soft, floral, lasting

After 23 years of storage, we now invite you to discover their story — not only through a full tea cake, but through curated tasting packs and ceremonial appreciation.

🔍 Tasting Notes

- Liquor: Deep golden-orange, clean and bright
- Aroma: Layered forest and sun-dried herb
- Texture: Thick and smooth with long finish
- Energy: Strong “Qi” rising from throat to crown, meditative and powerful

📦 Available Formats

- Full Cakes (2000 / 2004 / 2011 / 2012)
- Loose-leaf samples and 100g Entry Packs available for connoisseurs

📖 A Collector’s Anecdote: The Bold Gamble of 2000

Back in the early 2000s, Lao Ban Zhang was not yet crowned as the King of PuErh — at least not commercially. When we came across a 2000 batch from the village, the price was modest. But we hesitated.

Why?

The tea buds were large and unruly, the leaf colour didn’t look refined, and it was, quite frankly, harsh to drink. The first few steeps were so potent and aggressive, they were nearly impossible to swallow. It had brute force, but lacked polish.

Yet… the aftertaste lingered. The Cha Qi was undeniable. Something told us this tea was not meant for now, but for the future.

So we took the leap — we added it to our vault.

Today, after over two decades of patient aging in Singapore, that same tea has transformed into something majestic:
🌿 The bitterness has melted into strength.
🍯 The raw edge has become honey-smooth depth.
🧘 The energy it delivers is profound and spiritual.

What was once a gamble is now a crown jewel of our Sheng PuEr collection — and a living lesson in the magic of time and trust in terroir.