2,088
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 47:
Line 47: − +
→Pressing
=== Pressing ===
=== Pressing ===
[[Image:Pu-erh_factory.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A pu-erh tea factory, which steams, bags, and presses the loose leaf pu-erh into tea bricks]]
[[Image:Pu-erh_factory.jpg|thumb|right|A pu-erh tea factory, which steams, bags, and presses the loose leaf pu-erh into tea bricks]]
To produce pu-erh, many additional steps are needed prior to the actual pressing of the tea. First, a specific quantity of dry ''máochá'' or ripened tea leaves pertaining to the final weight of the ''bingcha'' is weighed out. The dry tea is then lightly steamed in perforated cans to soften and make it more tacky. This will allow it to hold together and not crumble during compression. A ticket, called a "''nèi fēi''" ([[wiktionary:内|内]][[wiktionary:飞|飞]]) or additional adornments, such as coloured ribbons, are placed on or in the midst of the leaves and inverted into a cloth bag or wrapped in cloth. The pouch of tea is gathered inside the cloth bag and wrung into a ball, with the extra cloth tied or coiled around itself. This coil or knot is what produces the dimpled indentation at the reverse side of a tea cake when pressed. Depending on the shape of the pu-erh being produced, a cotton bag may or may not be used. For instance, brick or square teas often are not compressed using bags.
To produce pu-erh, many additional steps are needed prior to the actual pressing of the tea. First, a specific quantity of dry ''máochá'' or ripened tea leaves pertaining to the final weight of the ''bingcha'' is weighed out. The dry tea is then lightly steamed in perforated cans to soften and make it more tacky. This will allow it to hold together and not crumble during compression. A ticket, called a "''nèi fēi''" ([[wiktionary:内|内]][[wiktionary:飞|飞]]) or additional adornments, such as coloured ribbons, are placed on or in the midst of the leaves and inverted into a cloth bag or wrapped in cloth. The pouch of tea is gathered inside the cloth bag and wrung into a ball, with the extra cloth tied or coiled around itself. This coil or knot is what produces the dimpled indentation at the reverse side of a tea cake when pressed. Depending on the shape of the pu-erh being produced, a cotton bag may or may not be used. For instance, brick or square teas often are not compressed using bags.