Imagine waking up to sea of clouds swirling over ancient tea forests, where every leaf breathes with 1,000 years of history. From March 15 to 22, 2026, join our Yunnan Tea Study Tour—a journey that weaves together tea science, ethnic heritage, and soul-stirring landscapes in the heart of China’s tea cradle 🌿.
🌄 Highlights of Your Journey:
🌿 Live the tea culture of the Dai and Blang people, who believe every mountain, tree, and stream has a soul.
🍂 Taste teas across time — from freshly processed leaves to aged Pu’er that whispers of decades past.
🏞️ Explore UNESCO heritage sites, ancient villages, and hidden forest trails where wild tea trees thrive.
👨 Learn with Master Mabol Zhong — tea scientist, writer, and cultural guide who bridges tea and wine worlds.
🏫 Make your own tea cake, join a traditional tea ceremony, and share stories around a bonfire under the stars.
Led by Mabol Zhong—tea scholar, WSET sommelier, and author of Love in Jingmai and Burgundy—this isn’t just a tour; it’s a pilgrimage to the roots of tea civilization. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jingmai Mountain is where the Dai and Blang peoples have practiced "animism" for centuries—believing mountains, trees, and even tea leaves hold sacred spirits. Here, tea isn’t just a drink; it’s a way of life, woven into spring plowing, harvest festivals, and family rituals.
Yunnan is where tea trees grow into forests, not plantations.
Nowhere is this more evident than Jingmai Ancient Tea Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where tea trees have grown alongside Blang and Dai villages for over a thousand years.
Here, tea is connected to animistic beliefs:
Mountains have spirits
Trees have guardians
Tea is seen as a living soul, not a commodity
To study tea here is to understand why tea matters — culturally, spiritually, and historically.
✅ Jingmai Mountain: Clouds, Heritage & Aged Tea. Chase dawn’s sea of clouds over Dapingzhang Ancient Tea Plantation ☁️. Vertically taste Jingmai Pu’er across vintages—master the art of brewing and appreciating aged tea. Roll up your sleeves to make tea with local farmers, and let the fragrance of fresh leaves linger on your fingers.
✅ Mangjing Village: Blang Tea Festival MagicStep into the Blang people’s Tea Ancestor Festival—worship ancient tea gods, sip tangy fermented sour tea, and dance around bonfires under starry skies 🔥. Roast tea over open flames, tour Wengji’s time-honored village, and press your own Pu’er cake to take home as a tangible memory.
✅ Menghai: Ripe Pu’er’s HometownDive into the birthplace of ripe Pu’er—visit TEATEA’s workshop and learn the secrets of fermentation and refining 🧪. Taste teas from iconic mountains, and feel how Menghai’s soil and climate shape their rich, mellow character.
✅ Yiwu: Tribute Tea Elegance. Walk through Mahei Village’s ancient lanes and stand before legendary "Tea King Trees" 🌳. Decode Yiwu’s tribute tea legacy at the local museum, hike Tongqinghe’s primeval forests (with a wild picnic!), and sample sleep-enhancing ripe Pu’er as night falls.
✅ Cultural TapestryDress in Dai costumes for a photoshoot 📸, listen to Guqin melodies, and share stories with fellow tea lovers over farewell feasts. Every moment blends tradition with connection—this is travel for the soul.
This internship combines structured tea learning with authentic field experience across multiple iconic tea regions:
Jingmai (ancient tea forests & ethnic culture)
Menghai (Pu’er production center)
Yiwu (historic tribute tea region)
Participants don’t just observe — they walk, pick, taste, process, compare, and reflect.
You will:
explore ancient tea forests with local farmers
Witness tea harvesting and traditional processing
learn how regional terroir shapes tea character
taste teas across villages, mountains, and vintages
participate in ethnic tea festivals and ceremonies
Learning happens in the mountains, around the fire, at the tea table — not only in lectures.
Learn from a tea master with academic rigor and decades of field experience
Access exclusive experiences: festival participation, private factory tours, artisan collaborations
Immerse in ethnic cultures—Blang rituals, Dai hospitality, and village life untouched by time
Small-group intimacy (limited spots!) for personalized guidance
🎁 Early Bird Offer: Save RMB 800 when booking 8 weeks in advance!
📅 Dates: April 15-22, 2026. Reserve for this trip by March 15, 2026.
📍 Route: Jingmai → Menghai → Yiwu → Jinghong
2026 Yunnan Tea Tour(Spring).pdf
Is it possible to apply this trip after March 15, 2026? Contact us now. 📧 Email: info@chineseteaacademy.org 💬 WeChat: IACI2025
If you think 8 days is not enough, welcome to join the one-month tea internship. Download the planned itinerary 👇,
📅 Dates Deadline: Jan 31, 2026.
INTERNATIONAL TEA INTERNSHIP APRIL 2026.pdf
