Blang Minority: Tea Cultivators
The Blang people of Jingmai Mountain, also known as the Blang ethnic group or Blang Minority in China, reside near its highest peak, Aileng Peak. Mangjing Village, their primary settlement, includes communities like Wengji, Upper and Lower Mangjing, Manghong, Wengwa, and Nanai.
Jingmai Mountain is known as a “tea mountain,” and the Blang Minority have a rich history of tea cultivation. The Blang Minority have cultivated tea for thousands of years and enjoy sharing their tea with the world.
Optimistic, hardworking, and creative, the Blang Minority have a unique culture that includes distinctive clothing, traditional songs, and the “one bud, two leaves” motif, which adorns their rooftops as a nod to their connection with tea. Known for their warm hospitality, they greet one another not with “How are you?” but with “Come, have tea!”
Tea is deeply interwoven with every aspect of their lives. Tea trees grow alongside their villages, known as ancient tea groves rather than plantations. Their identity as “People of the tea mountains” distinguishes them from neighboring ethnic groups. During festivals or weddings, tea is offered to elders and spirits alike, symbolizing harmony and gratitude. The Blang Minority see tea, forests, and humans as part of a balanced ecosystem.
Over a thousand years ago, led by their chief Pa Aileng（Tea Ancestor）—the Blang people (Blang Minority) arrived on Jingmai Mountain, resembling an elephant and containing fertile land, inspired them to settle. Discovering the medicinal properties of tea, they began cultivating tea trees here.
Today, the Blang Minority continue to honor traditional beliefs revolving around the worship of the Tea Ancestor. Each April, during the Tea Ancestor Festival (Songkran Festival), they gather at the “Tea Spirit Alter” to call upon the blessings.
The Tea Ancestor or Pa Aileng’s teachings on respecting tea trees have been passed down through generations, and the Blang Minority still uphold the principle of harmony between tea trees and the forest.
This unity between people, tea trees, and spirits is the essence of their culture and the inspiration behind their joyful dance.
To explore more about the mysteries of the Blang people, you can read this article——The Blang People: Guardians of the Tea Spirit.