The Blang People: Guardians of the China Tea Spirit
The Blang People (布朗族) are one of China’s 56 ethnic minorities, primarily residing in the Yunnan Province. Known as the “China Tea Spirits,” the Blang people have an extraordinary connection to Jingmai Mountain Tea that dates back millennia. Let’s delve deeper into the China tea spirit, their history, culture, and unique relationship with tea.
1. The Blang: Ancient China Tea Spirit
The Blang people are among the oldest indigenous groups in Yunnan, with a history spanning over 8,000 years. Their ancestors, the Pu people, settled in the region as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties. According to a 2000 census, the Blang population was 91,882, making them one of China’s smallest ethnic minorities.
They live between altitudes of 1,500 and 2,300 meters in the forested hills of Yunnan, where Jingmai Mountain tea trees thrive amidst lush greenery. The Blang have their own language, Blangyu, though it lacks a written script. They practice a blend of animistic religions and Theravada Buddhism, which deeply influences their daily lives and tea traditions.
The Blang people have a profound connection with tea and are celebrated as the “China Tea Spirit” .
2. China Tea Spirit Philosophy: Every Tea Tree is a Spirit
Over 1,000 years ago, the Blang began cultivating jingmai Mountain tea in the pristine forests of Yunnan. To them, every tea tree is has a tea spirit, a manifestation of their ancestors’ souls. This belief fosters a deep reverence for nature, where no tree is cut or harmed without ritualistic permission.
The forest’s wildlife, from elephants to wild oxen, is equally venerated. Many animals are considered ancestral totems, protected from harm and revered as sacred beings.
3. Tea Craftsmanship: Dance of the China Tea Spirit
The Blang’s Jingmai Mountain tea making process is an art that embodies their spiritual connection to tea. Each spring (March and April), tea leaves are handpicked following a ceremonial worship of the “Tea King Tree.” The leaves undergo traditional processes like withering, pan-firing, rolling, and sun-drying to create their celebrated teas.
Tea harvesting pauses in the summer to let the trees recover, resuming in autumn (September and October) for another round of picking. After the autumn harvest, the tea trees are allowed to rest until the next spring, ensuring sustainability and quality.
Pan Frying
Rolling
Sun-dring
Blang teas include:
White Tea
Tea Flowers
Crab Foot Herb
Sour Tea
Each type reflects the Blang’s dedication to preserving their tea heritage and harmonious coexistence with nature. The tea is an art from the China tea spirit.
4. Festivals of the China Tea Spirit
The Blang people celebrate numerous festivals rooted in their animistic and Buddhist traditions. These festivals are lively, colorful events that honor their ancestors, nature.
- Gate Closing Festival (June, Lunar Calendar): A time to honor ancestors and practice vegetarianism, showing reverence for nature.
Gate Opening Festival (September, Lunar Calendar): A joyous celebration of the harvest, featuring family visits and communal feasts.
Sankang Festival (Feb 27 – Mar 1, Lunar Calendar): The Blang’s grandest festival, marking the New Year. This includes rituals at the “Tea Soul Altar” to summon the China tea spirit and pray for favorable weather.
5. Traditional Attire: A Colorful Expression of the China Tea Spirit
Blang people, as the China Tea Spirit, their clothing is vibrant and culturally distinctive:
- Men wear black, white, or yellow long-sleeve tops paired with loose brown trousers.
Women don colorful blouses adorned with embroidered trims and multi-layered tube skirts. Their accessories include flowered headpieces, pom-pom earrings, and intricate silver jewelry, creating a strikingly beautiful ensemble.
6. Culinary Delights of the China Tea Spirit
Blang cuisine is similar to that of the Dai people but features unique uses of Jingmai Mountain tea leaves and tea flowers in their dishes. It is part of the soul of China Tea Spirit. Popular recipes include:
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Tea Leaf Omelets
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Tea Flower Stir-Fry
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Tea-Infused Beef
These dishes not only highlight the versatility of tea but also reflect the Blang’s innovative culinary traditions as a China tea spirit.
7. Hospitable of the China Tea Spirit
The Blang are known for their simplicity, warmth, and hospitality. Each household typically has its own tea supply, and visitors are always welcomed with a cup of freshly brewed tea. Sharing tea is more than a gesture of politeness; it’s a cultural ritual that fosters connection and friendship.
Sources: Tea and Traditional Culture of the Blang People by Xiang Yueping（《布朗族的茶与传统文化》向跃平著）; Mangjing The Blang People and Tea by Su Guowen（《芒景布朗族与茶》苏国文著）
If you’re intrigued by the Blang’s way of life, learn Jingmai Mountain, home to one of the world’s oldest tea forests and a UNESCO World Heritage site. To learn more, check out our article, “Jingmai Mountain: A Tea Paradise.”