Changes

== Production ==

== Production ==

In ancient China, compressed teas were usually made with thoroughly dried and ground tea leaves that were pressed into various bricks or other shapes, although partially dried and whole leaves were also used. Some tea bricks were also mixed with binding agents such as flour, blood, or manure to better preserve their form so they could withstand physical use as currency. Newly formed tea bricks were then left to cure, dry, and age prior to being sold or traded. Tea bricks were preferred in trade prior to the 19th century in Asia since they were more compact than loose leaf tea and were also less susceptible to physical damage incurred through transportation over land by caravans on the ancient tea route.

 

In ancient China, compressed teas were usually made with thoroughly dried and ground tea leaves that were pressed into various bricks or other shapes, although partially dried and whole leaves were also used. Some tea bricks were also mixed with binding agents such as flour, blood or manure to preserve their shape so they could withstand physical use as currency. Newly formed tea bricks were then left to cure, dry and age prior to being sold or traded. Tea bricks were preferred in trade prior to the 19th century in Asia since they were more compact than loose leaf tea and were also less susceptible to physical damage incurred through transportation over land by caravans on the ancient tea route.

Tea bricks are still currently manufactured for drinking, as in ''pu-erh'' teas, as well as for souvenirs and novelty items, though most compressed teas produced in modern times are usually made from whole leaves. The compressed tea can take various traditional forms, many of them still being produced. A dome-shaped nugget of 100g (standard size) is simply called ''tuóchá'' (沱茶), which is translated several ways, sometimes as "bird's nest tea" or "bowl tea."  A small dome-shaped nugget with a dimple underneath just enough to make one pot or cup of tea is called a ''xiǎo tuóchá'' ([[wiktionary:小|小]][[wiktionary:沱|沱]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]; the first word meaning "small") which usually weighs 3g–5g.  A larger piece around 375g, which may be a disc with a dimple, is called ''bǐngchá'' (饼茶, literally "biscuit tea" or "cake tea").  A large, flat, square brick is called ''fángchá'' (方茶, literally "square tea").

Tea bricks are still currently manufactured for drinking, as in ''pu-erh'' teas, as well as for souvenirs and novelty items, though most compressed teas produced in modern times are usually made from whole leaves. The compressed tea can take various traditional forms, many of them still being produced. A dome-shaped nugget of 100g (standard size) is simply called ''tuóchá'' (沱茶), which is translated several ways, sometimes as "bird's nest tea" or "bowl tea."  A small dome-shaped nugget with a dimple underneath just enough to make one pot or cup of tea is called a ''xiǎo tuóchá'' ([[wiktionary:小|小]][[wiktionary:沱|沱]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]; the first word meaning "small") which usually weighs 3g–5g.  A larger piece around 375g, which may be a disc with a dimple, is called ''bǐngchá'' (饼茶, literally "biscuit tea" or "cake tea").  A large, flat, square brick is called ''fángchá'' (方茶, literally "square tea").

=== Beverage ===

=== Beverage ===

In ancient China the use of tea bricks involved three separate steps:

In ancient China the use of tea bricks involved three separate steps:

#''Toasting'': A piece was broken from the tea brick and usually first toasted over a fire. This was probably done to [[Disinfection|sanitize]] the tea brick and destroy any mold or insect infestation that may have occurred when the bricks were stored uncovered in warehouses and storerooms or in covered jars underground. Toasting also imparted a pleasant flavor to the resulting beverage.

#''Toasting'': A piece was broken from the tea brick and usually first toasted over a fire. This was probably done to sanitize the tea brick and destroy any mold or insect infestation that may have occurred when the bricks were stored uncovered in warehouses and storerooms or in covered jars underground. Toasting also imparted a pleasant flavor to the resulting beverage.

#''Grinding'': The toasted tea brick was broken up and ground to a fine powder.

#''Grinding'': The toasted tea brick was broken up and ground to a fine powder.

#''Whisking'': The powdered tea was mixed into hot water and frothed with a whisk before serving. The color and patterns formed by the powdered tea were enjoyed while the mixture was being drunk.

#''Whisking'': The powdered tea was mixed into hot water and frothed with a whisk before serving. The color and patterns formed by the powdered tea were enjoyed while the mixture was being drunk.

== Use as currency ==

== Use as currency ==

Due to the high value of tea in many parts of Asia, tea bricks were used as a form of currency throughout China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Central Asia. This is quite similar to the use of salt bricks as currency in parts of Africa. Tea bricks were in fact the preferred form of currency over metallic coins for the nomads of Mongolia and Siberia. The tea could not only be used as money and eaten as food in times of hunger but also brewed as allegedly beneficial medicine for treating coughs and colds. Until World War II, tea bricks were still used as a form of edible currency in Siberia.

Due to the high value of tea in many parts of Asia, tea bricks were used as a form of currency throughout China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Central Asia. This is quite similar to the use of salt bricks as currency in parts of Africa. Tea bricks were in fact the preferred form of currency over metallic coins for the nomads of Mongolia and Siberia. The tea could not only be used as money and eaten as food in times of hunger but also brewed as allegedly beneficial medicine for treating coughs and colds. Until World War II, tea bricks were still used as a form of edible currency in Siberia.

Tea bricks for Tibet were mainly produced in the area of Ya'an in Sichuan province. The bricks were produced in five different qualities and valued accordingly. The kind of brick which was most commonly used as currency in the late 19th and early 20th century was that of the third quality which the Tibetans called "brgyad pa" ("eighth"), because at one time it was worth eight Tibetan tangkas (standard silver coin of Tibet which weighs about 5.4 grams) in [[Lhasa]]. Bricks of this standard were also exported by Tibet to Bhutan and Ladakh.

Tea bricks for Tibet were mainly produced in the area of Ya'an in Sichuan province. The bricks were produced in five different qualities and valued accordingly. The kind of brick which was most commonly used as currency in the late 19th and early 20th century was that of the third quality which the Tibetans called "brgyad pa" ("eighth"), because at one time it was worth eight Tibetan tangkas (standard silver coin of Tibet which weighs about 5.4 grams) in Lhasa. Bricks of this standard were also exported by Tibet to Bhutan and Ladakh.

==Health effects==

==Health effects==