High in the misty peaks of Jingmai Mountain, 72-year-old Su Guowen – known locally as the Blang ethnic group's 'last prince' – walks among ancient tea trees like a living bridge between tradition and modernity. 🌍🍵
For centuries, the Blang people have revered these tea forests as sacred ancestors. But since Pu'er tea from this region gained global fame in the 2010s, Su has watched his homeland transform. 'When foreign buyers first came offering gold for our tea cakes,' he recalls, 'we realized our quiet mountain had become part of a $9 billion global industry.'
This year, Jingmai's tea exports hit record highs, with young entrepreneurs livestreaming harvests to buyers in 38 countries. Yet Su remains focused on his life's mission: 'We must protect these trees like our own eyes – commercial success means nothing if we lose our roots.'
As climate change alters harvest patterns and counterfeit teas flood markets, the Blang community's sustainable practices offer lessons for the world. Their secret? 'Treat the forest as family,' Su smiles, 'and it will always provide.' 🌳💚
