{"product_id":"lzgc-king-of-puerh-lao-ban-zhang","title":"King of PuErh – Lao Ban Zhang 老班章 by LZGC","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"256\" data-end=\"318\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"256\" data-end=\"318\"\u003ePower. Prestige. Legacy. The undisputed king of Sheng PuErh.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"320\" data-end=\"599\" class=\"\"\u003eDeep in the core of Mount Bulang lies \u003cstrong data-start=\"358\" data-end=\"381\"\u003eLao Ban Zhang (老班章)\u003c\/strong\u003e, a small village with an outsized reputation. Widely hailed as the \u003cstrong data-start=\"449\" data-end=\"468\"\u003e\"King of PuErh\"\u003c\/strong\u003e, Lao Ban Zhang produces raw PuErh tea from ancient trees that embody the very essence of boldness, complexity, and transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"606\" data-end=\"646\" class=\"\"\u003e👑 \u003cstrong data-start=\"613\" data-end=\"646\"\u003eWhy Lao Ban Zhang Is the King\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"647\" data-end=\"762\" class=\"\"\u003eLao Ban Zhang’s fame is not marketing hype — it’s earned from centuries of tradition, terroir, and craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Grown at altitudes above 1,600m\u003cbr\u003e- Harvested exclusively from ancient trees\u003cbr\u003e- Famous for its unmistakable Cha Qi (茶气): strong, energizing, lasting\u003cbr\u003e- Initially bitter, with bold structure and pungency, then transforming into deep sweetness that lingers long in the throat and heart\u003cbr\u003e- A tea of prestige and investment value, aged to perfection over decades\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1161\" data-end=\"1211\" class=\"\"\u003e📦 \u003cstrong data-start=\"1168\" data-end=\"1211\"\u003eOur Royal Collection: Aged in Singapore\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1324\" class=\"\"\u003eOver the years, we’ve collected Lao Ban Zhang from \u003cstrong data-start=\"1264\" data-end=\"1285\"\u003erenowned vintages\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"1290\" data-end=\"1312\"\u003ereliable producers\u003c\/strong\u003e, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1328\" data-end=\"1341\"\u003e- Year 2000: Rarely available, full-bodied with rounded edge\u003cbr\u003e- 2004 – Menghai Liming Tea Factory 勐海黎明茶厂: Aged 21 years, explosive strength mellowed into harmony\u003cbr\u003e- 2011 \/ 2012 Early Spring Harvests: Brash in youth, but now gracefully matured with balance and throat feel\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1613\" data-end=\"1805\" class=\"\"\u003eEach tea has been aged in \u003cstrong data-start=\"1639\" data-end=\"1670\"\u003eSingapore’s natural climate\u003c\/strong\u003e, allowing the tea to breathe and develop \u003cstrong data-start=\"1712\" data-end=\"1757\"\u003erounded, mellowed energy without dampness\u003c\/strong\u003e — a signature of our \u003cstrong data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1804\"\u003emillennium collection\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1812\" data-end=\"1863\" class=\"\"\u003e💫 \u003cstrong data-start=\"1819\" data-end=\"1863\"\u003eA Tale of the King \u0026amp; Queen of Sheng PuEr\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1865\" data-end=\"1920\" class=\"\"\u003eIn our journey to build a royal collection, we crowned:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1923\" data-end=\"1952\"\u003e- Lao Ban Zhang as the King – bold, structured, powerful\u003cbr\u003e- Mt.Yiwu as the Queen – elegant, soft, floral, lasting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2055\" data-end=\"2226\" class=\"\"\u003eAfter \u003cstrong data-start=\"2061\" data-end=\"2084\"\u003e23 years of storage\u003c\/strong\u003e, we now invite you to discover their story — not only through a full tea cake, but through curated tasting packs and ceremonial appreciation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2650\" data-end=\"2670\" class=\"\"\u003e🔍 Tasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2673\" data-end=\"2683\"\u003e- Liquor: Deep golden-orange, clean and bright\u003cbr\u003e- Aroma: Layered forest and sun-dried herb\u003cbr\u003e- Texture: Thick and smooth with long finish\u003cbr\u003e- Energy: Strong “Qi” rising from throat to crown, meditative and powerful\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2911\" data-end=\"2935\" class=\"\"\u003e📦 Available Formats\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Full Cakes (2000 \/ 2004 \/ 2011 \/ 2012)\u003cbr\u003e- Loose-leaf samples and 100g Entry Packs available for connoisseurs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"\" data-end=\"122\" data-start=\"64\"\u003e📖 \u003cstrong data-end=\"122\" data-start=\"71\"\u003eA Collector’s Anecdote: The Bold Gamble of 2000\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"327\" data-start=\"124\"\u003eBack in the early 2000s, \u003cstrong data-end=\"207\" data-start=\"149\"\u003eLao Ban Zhang was not yet crowned as the King of PuErh\u003c\/strong\u003e — at least not commercially. When we came across a 2000 batch from the village, the price was modest. But we hesitated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"333\" data-start=\"329\"\u003eWhy?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"597\" data-start=\"335\"\u003eThe tea \u003cstrong data-end=\"373\" data-start=\"343\"\u003ebuds were large and unruly\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong data-end=\"414\" data-start=\"379\"\u003eleaf colour didn’t look refined\u003c\/strong\u003e, and it was, quite frankly, \u003cstrong data-end=\"461\" data-start=\"443\"\u003eharsh to drink\u003c\/strong\u003e. The first few steeps were so \u003cstrong data-end=\"517\" data-start=\"492\"\u003epotent and aggressive\u003c\/strong\u003e, they were nearly impossible to swallow. It had brute force, but lacked polish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-end=\"731\" data-start=\"599\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"731\" data-start=\"601\"\u003eYet… the aftertaste lingered. The Cha Qi was undeniable. Something told us this tea was \u003cstrong data-end=\"730\" data-start=\"689\"\u003enot meant for now, but for the future\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"780\" data-start=\"733\"\u003eSo we took the leap — we added it to our vault.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"1055\" data-start=\"782\"\u003eToday, after \u003cstrong data-end=\"845\" data-start=\"795\"\u003eover two decades of patient aging in Singapore\u003c\/strong\u003e, that same tea has transformed into something \u003cstrong data-end=\"904\" data-start=\"892\"\u003emajestic\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr data-end=\"908\" data-start=\"905\"\u003e🌿 The bitterness has melted into strength.\u003cbr data-end=\"954\" data-start=\"951\"\u003e🍯 The raw edge has become honey-smooth depth.\u003cbr data-end=\"1003\" data-start=\"1000\"\u003e🧘 The energy it delivers is profound and spiritual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-end=\"1202\" data-start=\"1057\"\u003eWhat was once a gamble is now \u003cstrong data-end=\"1133\" data-start=\"1087\"\u003ea crown jewel of our Sheng PuEr collection\u003c\/strong\u003e — and a living lesson in the \u003cstrong data-end=\"1201\" data-start=\"1163\"\u003emagic of time and trust in terroir\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"OVP","offers":[{"title":"2012 Spring Collection Teacake 357g","offer_id":40867084206138,"sku":null,"price":2300.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2011 Spring Collection Teacake 357g","offer_id":40867084238906,"sku":null,"price":2395.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2004 Spring Collection Teacake 357g","offer_id":40867084271674,"sku":null,"price":2900.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2000 Sample 8g","offer_id":40867084304442,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2000 Spring Collection Teacake  357g","offer_id":40867084402746,"sku":null,"price":3050.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1587\/1309\/files\/2012_1024x1024_2x_96764257-d173-4cd9-840d-01f956efc220.jpg?v=1746675506","url":"https:\/\/ovp.mom\/products\/lzgc-king-of-puerh-lao-ban-zhang","provider":"OVP Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}