Solid block black tea

Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of black tea. How do I use it? Emmy

Reply to
EmmyBlue
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As a general rule you dont if it looks like a plaque or embossed. It will be brittle and shatter like humpty dumpty if dropped. The ones from Indian sold at Cost Plus or World Market will have a disclaimer not fit for human consumption. The non descript ones from China can be consumed. It will be hard but pliable. It will break but wont shatter if dropped. Just whack off a chunk equivalent to loose tea and brew normally. China is now producing the equivalent of compressed Indian black tea and it remains to be seen it can be consumed.

Jim

PS Russia also produces a compressed black tea but it is rare and can be consumed. Once again if it is a pretty plaque dont drink it. If it is a plain brick go for it.

Reply to
netstuff

I have had a compressed block of tea that was a recreation of an early American/British type. It wasn't made up of actual leaves compressed tightly but instead a solid block of tea from what seemed to be either very fine fannings/dust or something similar. You had to use a cheese grater or pocket knife to create some shavings in your cup and then add boiling water. It was more of a history thing because the tea was not so great, but meant to be edible. It was about the size of a deck of cards. Outside of that most Chinese versions I'd be leery of, they are probably just decoration.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

I misspoke myself. The ones from World Market are embossed Chinese unfit for human consumption according to the back of the box. For the rest of us back of the box also says this was the typical brick exported to Mongolia and Tibet which we know isnt true. I just grated an edge for a cup. Not bad. I couldnt detect any artifical taste. Black sticky fines and some green small leaf grade. More worthwhile as an ornament than a cup.

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Jim

Reply to
netstuff

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invalid unparseable

Is it possible for you to take a photo of it and post it here? If not even just some more info on it, like where you got it, how much it cost, the general shape/look, etc. I wasn't trying to talk you out of it completely just from your initial brief description... I was talking about the display/decoration compressed teas which are inexpensive and are obviously coated/varnished. You may have real compressed tea which is edible, it's just that you need to be a bit careful because it really could just be decorative. I'm sure that someone here could probably even translate the writing on it, which is always neat and adds to the personal attachment. What I had been trying to say initially is that if it is questionable and without us knowing more, I personally couldn't in good faith tell you to shave some off and brew it.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

Is it possible for you to take a photo of it and post it here? If not even just some more info on it, like where you got it, how much it cost, the general shape/look, etc. I wasn't trying to talk you out of it completely just from your initial brief description... I was talking about the display/decoration compressed teas which are inexpensive and are obviously coated/varnished. You may have real compressed tea which is edible, it's just that you need to be a bit careful because it really could just be decorative. I'm sure that someone here could probably even translate the writing on it, which is always neat and adds to the personal attachment. What I had been trying to say initially is that if it is questionable and without us knowing more, I personally couldn't in good faith tell you to shave some off and brew it.

- Dominic ~~~~~~~~~~~ I understand and appreciate the warning...it does look somewhat 'old'...but not shiny.

Sorry, no picture, I'm technologically challenged.

It was a gift from a neighbor who was leaving for a tour of duty in Iraq, so I don't know anything about it. It was in a box of many different teas. I did ask 'what's that?' and she said 'block tea.' It's an almost black rectangular flat block...with star designs and Chinese (?) characters on the package.

If nothing else, my crazy friend said give it to him, he'd chew it like tobacco!

Reply to
EmmyBlue

I watched a segment last night on the new sin tax of tobacco products primarily in the cigar industry. It showed some processing which again reinforces my claim that industry could make a decent puer product. I say forego the mao cha and make a puer from tobacco. Funny I go into the Arabic markets and see the blocks of tobacco used in the hookas.

Jim

Reply to
netstuff

Chip a piece off and crush it. Add boiling water and steep it for a couple minutes, then pour the water off into a cup leaving the leaves behind.

Either it will taste good or not. If it tastes bitter, but has the same sort of taste you associate with Chinese restaurant tea, try a lower water temperature and give it another shot.

Louis Armstrong said that there are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music. The same goes for tea. If you like it, drink it. If you don't like it, put what is left up on Ebay....

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

Hmmm...I wonder what kind of "tea" my neighbor meant? ;)

Reply to
EmmyBlue

~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, but I think I'll just keep it as a decoration on my teapot collection shelf. The block looks very old...like an antique.

Reply to
EmmyBlue

You say that like it's a bad thing.

w
Reply to
invalid unparseable

~~~~~~~~~~ ;) Noooo, it's a good thing. Why, Antiques Roadshow is one of my favorite shows.

Reply to
EmmyBlue

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