As early as the Tang Dynasty, ethnic minority groups in Yiwu were already cultivating large tea gardens here. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Yiwu reached its peak in Pu-erh tea production. Known as the “Hometown of Tribute Tea,” Yiwu is also the starting point of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. From this land, tea traveled across different regions and ethnic groups, taking on diverse forms while passing down the shared traditions that shaped the rich and colorful history of Pu-erh tea.

Dingjiazhai in Yiwu is one of the few villages that still preserves the ancient practice of producing “rattan tea.” Rattan tea management involves plucking tea leaves and then removing excess old leaves from the branches. This method not only promotes healthy growth and nutrient accumulation before the spring flush but also makes harvesting easier, combining natural wisdom with generations of ethnic heritage.

Located deep within the rainforest, Yiwu Dingjiazhai benefits from an exceptional growing environment and a long, distinguished history within the famed Six Great Tea Mountains of Pu-erh. Every tea tree and every leaf from this village carries a lineage of taste and tradition that deserves to be experienced and remembered.

This unique rattan-style cultivation allows tea trees to receive more sunlight, cleaner air, and greater nutrient absorption. As a result, the leaves become thicker, fuller, and more visually appealing. Finished Dingjiazhai tea cakes display balanced, well-structured compression with a glossy surface and visible silver hairs—each plump bud clearly presented to tea lovers.

Ancient trees that have grown in these mountains for centuries naturally embody deep forest aromas and wild mountain character. Combined with the rich internal substances brought by the rattan management style, and refined through precise harvesting and processing techniques, the tea achieves an even more layered and robust taste. Yiwu Dingjiazhai offers truly high-quality ancient-tree Pu-erh—brighter fragrance, sweeter mouthfeel, and a purity that comes directly from the rainforest.