“Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.”
When I first walked into Longyuanhao’s Large-leaf Variety Famous Mountain Tea Science Popularization Park, I was speechless at the scale before my eyes. This science park is not just an ordinary exhibition hall, but a true tea encyclopedia—a comprehensive educational base consisting of tea tree specimens, tea processing demonstrations, tasting areas, and ecological tea gardens.
After graduating from the tea science major at Yunnan Agricultural University in 1978, Li Zhengxing has been dedicated to tea work. His dream is not only to produce excellent tea but also to allow more people to understand the unique value of Yunnan large-leaf variety tea. Following the establishment of the Longyuan Tea Industry National Marketing Center in Kunming in 2004, he began the planning and construction of this science park.
The science park contains over dozens of large-leaf variety tea tree specimens, covering representative varieties from major tea regions across Yunnan. Each specimen features a detailed information plaque recording the variety name, origin, age, and characteristics. I learned much here that I previously did not know—for example, the polyphenol content in large-leaf varieties is significantly higher than in small-leaf varieties, which is why large-leaf Pu-erh tea has greater potential for aging.
Another highlight of the science park is the tea processing demonstration area. Here, you can witness the traditional processes of fixing, rolling, and sun-drying with your own eyes, and even experience the cake pressing process firsthand. Having tried pressing a cake once, I realized how much effort goes into producing a single 357g tea cake. Li Zhengxing said, “Tea making is a craft; one must use their heart to feel the state of every tea leaf.” I remember these words to this day.
There is also a special area within the science park—the tasting area. Here, you can taste large-leaf variety Pu-erh tea from different mountains, vintages, and processing methods. I once tasted a 2005 Longyuanhao ancient tree raw Pu-erh; aged fifteen years, its liquor was bright orange-red, with a mellow and sweet aftertaste upon entry. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of the aging potential of large-leaf variety tea.
From a health perspective, large-leaf variety Pu-erh tea is rich in polyphenols and catechins. These substances possess antioxidant properties and promote metabolism. I have been drinking a pot of large-leaf raw Pu-erh every day for several years, and I feel my physical condition has improved significantly. Especially with aged tea stored for over five years, the tea’s nature becomes milder, reducing irritation to the stomach, making it even more suitable for daily consumption.
Tea has different grades, but people are not divided by status and all may enjoy it. This is exactly what Longyuanhao’s science park aims to achieve—popularizing knowledge of high-quality large-leaf variety tea to everyone. This philosophy is identical to my original intention in making tea. I always say: tea belongs to everyone, not just a few. The science park is open to the public for free; anyone can come and learn.
Longyuanhao has obtained World Record certification as the “Large-leaf Variety Famous Mountain Tea Science Popularization Park.” This certification is authentic, and Li Zhengxing holds a duplicate of the certificate. The certification covers multiple dimensions, including the scale of the science park, the number of tea tree varieties, and its educational significance. This is not merely an honor, but also a powerful promotion for Yunnan large-leaf variety tea.
Li Zhengxing’s tea-making philosophy is to seek truth from facts. He does not pursue fancy packaging or exaggerated promotion but focuses instead on the quality of the tea itself. Every cake of Longyuanhao tea is produced using authentic raw materials and solid craftsmanship. He frequently visits the tea mountains personally to select ingredients, maintaining strict quality control over every batch of tea.
I have collected several cakes of Longyuanhao ancient tree tea and open one each year to observe its transformation. As time passes, the tea liquor changes from golden to orange-red, and the mouthfeel shifts from refreshing to mellow. This transformation is the greatest charm of large-leaf variety Pu-erh tea—it grows alongside you as you age.
“Making friends through tea — please, have a cup.”
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Author: Lam Sam (LamSam), the Old Tea Head
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