2025 BingDao Laozhai Old Village Dragon Ball Raw Puerh

Bingdao Laozhai is the original Bingdao village (often referred to as the "Old Village") and the source of the raw puerh most closely associated with 冰糖甜 (rock-sugar sweetness). Although Bingdao is now commonly used for five villages—Laozhai, Dijie, Nanpo, Bawai, and Nuowu—the five areas are not equal in reputation or price. Laozhai stands apart for its scarcity, old tea trees, and exceptional sweetness.

Middle-Tree Material from Laozhai

The most expensive Bingdao Laozhai teas come from 古树 (gushu)—ancient trees generally considered to be around 300 years or older in Yunnan. Below that are 大树 (dashu), typically around 150–250 years, and 中树 (zhongshu), generally around 50–100 years old.

This dragon ball tea comes from a nearly 100-year-old middle tree.

It isn't ancient-tree material, and that's exactly what makes it more accessible. True gushu Laozhai is extraordinarily limited and expensive. Even dashu material from Laozhai can cost more than the most premium teas from other famous Yunnan villages.

The advantage here is that you can experience genuine spring-pick Bingdao Laozhai without stepping into those extreme prices.

What Makes It Bingdao?

The signature is rock-sugar sweetness, but not in the sense of simply tasting sugary, but rather a returning sweetness that comes back after swallowing and continues to spread through the mouth. This tea, alongside this rock sugar-like sweetness, has soft and floral orange blossom notes, restrained bitterness, a refreshing cotton-candy grape-like finish, and a gentle cooling sensation in the chest. 

The tea has a full body with a silky, medium-light viscosity. The aftertaste keeps coming back—sweetness followed by the same gentle floral character, again and again. The tea becomes increasingly sweet and complex as the session progresses, reaching its best expression around the 3rd–9th infusion.

This is one of the Bingdao teas sourced during Leo's 2026 sourcing trip. All five Bingdao villages were visited, but Bingdao Laozhai was the only village where the teas were compelling enough to bring back. This particular Dragon Ball comes from Teahouse #57, one of only four producers Leo selected from in Laozhai.

Each Dragon Ball weighs approximately 8g, making it especially convenient for a single gongfu session.

Gongfu Brewing

1 Dragon Ball (~8g) · 90–100ml gaiwan or teapot · 200°F / 91°C

• Rinse once.

• First infusion: 30 seconds to fully open the tea ball.

• Next 2 infusions: 3 seconds each.

• After the 8th infusion, increase each steep by about 1 second.

The tea can easily provide around 15-20 infusions, with the sweetness and complexity continuing to develop throughout the session.

Notes: Rock Sugar, Orange Blossom, Cotton Candy Grape