Da Ye Zhong (Large-Leaf Yunnan)

In short

Da Ye Zhong (大叶种, Dà Yè Zhǒng, 'large-leaf variety') is the collective name for the large-leaf Camellia sinensis var. assamica plant populations native to Yunnan Province, China. These plants form the genetic foundation of all Yunnan teas — pu-erh (sheng and shou), Dianhong (Yunnan black tea), and Yunnan green teas. Da Ye Zhong includes both fully wild ancient trees (gushu, 古树, 'old trees') found in old-growth forest settings across Xishuangbanna, Lincang, and Pu'er prefectures, and centuries-old cultivated plantation varieties. The leaves are significantly larger than the small-leaf (xiao ye zhong) varieties used in most Chinese green teas, reflecting the plant's subtropical lowland ancestry and its relationship to Camellia sinensis var. assamica.

Quick facts

Type: Tea Plant
Origin: Yunnan Province, China (Xishuangbanna, Lincang, Pu'er, Dehong prefectures; also Guizhou, Myanmar border regions)

Taxonomy and Relationship to Camellia sinensis var. assamica

Da Ye Zhong plants are classified as Camellia sinensis var. assamica or closely related subspecies — the same species variety independently discovered in the Assam region of India in the 19th century. Molecular phylogenetic studies support Yunnan as one of the primary centers of origin for the tea plant, with the large-leaf populations of Yunnan's mountains representing some of the oldest and most genetically diverse tea plant populations on Earth. In practical terms, Da Ye Zhong refers to any Yunnan large-leaf cultivar or landrace population — it is not a single named cultivar but a category encompassing hundreds of local genotypes. The key shared characteristic is leaf size: Da Ye Zhong leaves typically measure 10–20 cm in length at maturity, compared to 3–7 cm for Chinese xiao ye zhong (small-leaf) varieties. The large leaves reflect adaptations to Yunnan's humid subtropical climate — high rainfall, warm temperatures, and mixed forest environments in the lower valleys.

Wild Ancient Trees (Gushu) and Their Significance

A culturally and commercially important subset of Da Ye Zhong plants are the gushu (古树, 'ancient trees') — trees estimated to be hundreds or in some cases over a thousand years old, found in old-growth forest areas across Xishuangbanna and adjacent regions. These trees are not plantations crops; they are relict agricultural or semi-wild trees from historical cultivation by Dai, Hani, Lahu, and other ethnic minority communities who maintained 'forest gardens' where tea trees grew mixed with other forest species. Gushu trees produce relatively small yields of leaf per tree but are prized by pu-erh enthusiasts for what practitioners describe as richer, deeper flavour complexity and a distinctive hui gan (回甘, returning sweetness) that develops minutes after swallowing. The highest-prestige gushu teas — from specific mountains such as Lao Ban Zhang, Yi Wu, Bing Dao, and Naka — command extraordinary prices in the collector market for aged sheng pu-erh. The distinction between genuine old-tree leaf and younger plantation leaf is significant commercially, though authentication is difficult.

Role in Pu-erh, Dianhong, and Yunnan Green Teas

All three major Yunnan tea categories depend on Da Ye Zhong leaf as their raw material. Sheng pu-erh (raw pu-erh) begins as sun-dried Da Ye Zhong maocha (毛茶, rough tea), which is compressed and aged — the large leaf's high polyphenol content supports the enzymatic and microbial transformations of aging. Shou pu-erh (ripe pu-erh) uses the same raw leaf but undergoes accelerated fermentation (wo dui, 渥堆). Dianhong — Yunnan's premium black tea — is fully oxidized Da Ye Zhong processed using orthodox tea methods; the high trichome content of Da Ye Zhong buds produces the golden tips characteristic of premium Dianhong. Yunnan green teas, though less commercially prominent than their Jiangnan counterparts, use Da Ye Zhong processed with minimal oxidation, typically pan-fired or sun-dried. The leaf's larger size and higher polyphenol baseline mean Yunnan greens tend toward more robust, full-bodied character compared to Zhejiang or Jiangsu green teas.

Sources & further reading (2)

encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07
encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07

Frequently asked questions

Is Da Ye Zhong a cultivar or a species?

Da Ye Zhong is a variety-level classification — it refers broadly to large-leaf Camellia sinensis plants of Yunnan origin, corresponding broadly to Camellia sinensis var. assamica and closely related genetic populations. It is not a single named cultivar in the agricultural sense. Within Da Ye Zhong, there are dozens of named local ecotypes and officially registered cultivars (such as Yunnan Daye, Fengqing Daye, Mengku Daye, and others), each with slightly different characteristics. When buyers specify 'Da Ye Zhong' on a tea label, it indicates Yunnan large-leaf plant material as the raw ingredient, as opposed to small-leaf (xiao ye zhong) varieties used in other Chinese teas.

What is the difference between gushu and taidi pu-erh?

Gushu (古树, ancient tree) refers to leaf from old-growth or centuries-old individual trees in forest settings, typically harvested by hand in small quantities. Taidi (台地, terrace plantation) refers to leaf from modern plantation rows of younger plants (typically 20–50 years old). Both use Da Ye Zhong material, but gushu leaf is associated with richer complexity, more prominent hui gan (returning sweetness), and greater aging potential — and commands dramatically higher prices. Taidi is the standard for most commercial pu-erh production. Gushu authentication is a persistent challenge in the market, as genuine old-tree leaf from famous mountains can fetch hundreds to thousands of dollars per kilogram.

Where are the most famous Da Ye Zhong growing areas?

The most prestigious Da Ye Zhong growing areas are in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) — particularly the mountains of Menghai County (Lao Ban Zhang, Nan Nuo Shan, He Kai, Zhang Jia Wan) and Mengla County (Yi Wu, Man Song, Gua Feng Zhai). In Lincang Prefecture, Bing Dao and Naka villages produce highly coveted single-origin gushu material. In Pu'er Prefecture, Jing Mai Mountain is notable for ancient cultivated forest tea gardens maintained by the Blang people. Each mountain produces Da Ye Zhong leaf with distinct flavour characteristics, driven by altitude, soil, microclimate, and specific local genotype composition.