Pressed tea: 5 main advantages
Such a concept as "pressed tea" from China is not familiar to every Ukrainian. Because in ordinary stores, the tea product is sold in loose form. But the Chinese have known about its advantages since the VIII century. His story began… Why would you think that? You won't believe it! With the banal convenience of transportation. Tea leaves were pressed when huge quantities of goods had to be moved over long distances on slow animals. The pressed type took up much less space than the loose type, while the raw material was better preserved. Centuries have passed, and pressing has not lost its relevance. And even on the contrary, it has gained scale. Today, almost all Chinese tea is pressed. The most widely – known PU-erh, which over the years becomes not just older, but tastier, more fragrant, more healing.
How is pressing performed? the Tea leaf is carefully sorted and sorted, steamed and weighed. It is poured into rags and pressed under a special press (previously it was done with stones). The finished product is checked by a master for quality and weight control. After that, the pancake, nest, tablet is Packed in paper, which is the date of manufacture and the name of the factory.
5 main advantages of pressed Chinese tea compared to loose
- It provides ideal storage of raw materials for a long time (until tea is consumed). It can be 10, 30, or 100 years. Chinese pressed tea is stored much longer than its loose "brother". This is not surprising. Raw materials are less in contact with the air, and therefore do not spoil. At the same time, the loss of taste, aroma and useful substances is reduced several times.
- Convenient storage and transportation are guaranteed. Pressed Chinese tea is easier to transport over any distance. It takes up less space than a loose view. If the latter must be transferred to a special storage jar after purchase, the former does not require it. It is perfectly preserved in ordinary food paper. Its properties are not lost. This type is practical and convenient in everyday life. For example, going to the country, you can take a small to Chu in 5 grams and enjoy your favorite drink in nature.
- Pressed tea is brewed faster. Especially in pills. This is explained simply: during pressing, the tea leaf is already undergoing heat treatment, being exposed to steam. Therefore, when it gets under hot water, it is instantly brewed, revealing its uniqueness.
- Pressed Chinese tea is more economical in the use of welding. Steam treatment has a positive effect on extraction (it passes faster). In this regard, to get a rich, high-quality infusion, a small piece of pressed raw material is taken.
- Chinese pressed tea can be a great gift that will not lose its value over the years, but on the contrary, will acquire it. And today in China, when a child is born, parents put aside a tea cake, store it until the child grows up. Often for the proceeds from pressed tea money play a wedding. In Ukraine, you can buy a tea tile with an inscription in the form of hieroglyphs. This gift will be remembered for many years.
Types of pressed Chinese tea
There are several main types of pressed tea:
- Bin Cha – a generally established classic form in the form of a pancake of various sizes: from 50 to 250 grams, from 357 to 600 grams. Puer is most often sold in this form.
- To Cha-associated with a nest or bowl. It is also used for Puer and red teas. Ideal for those who want to try pressed tea for the first time. The traditional weight is 250 grams. There are also nests from 25 to 100 grams.
- Xiao To – a small nest, a lump, a cube, a tablet. Weight-15 grams. As a rule, it is used for lower-quality tea. To brew you need a La carte.
- Fan Cha - looks like a brick. Its surface often contains an imprint in the form of a hieroglyph. Weight - from 50 grams to 5 kilograms.
- Lao Cha-tile, brick, damn. To a greater extent, we are used for green varieties.
- Jin Gua-pumpkin. On the territory of China, it symbolizes protection from evil in any of its manifestations. The best raw materials are used for its production. Weight - from 100 grams to 3 kilograms. A gift in the form of a pumpkin-Puer can become an expensive and significant gift, symbolizing happiness.
- Jin Cha-mushroom. Weight-250 grams. Currently, it is rarely used.
brewing pressed tea
Initially, with a special knife or an ordinary table knife, you need to break off a piece of pancake, tablet, nest and crumble it by rubbing. Approximately 4-6 grams. This is enough for 250 ml of water. You can use unit-dose tablets or the slot. Washing of raw materials is mandatory – it cleans the tea from dust (the first filling with hot water). Further brewing process-traditional, individual, corresponding to each variety.
The effect of brewing Chinese pressed tea is impressive. If you bought a really high-quality product, the infusion will demonstrate the most striking, elegant properties, manifested in the taste, aroma, and tonic effect.
Where to buy pressed Chinese tea in Kiev and Ukraine?
Tea pancakes, tablets, bricks, nests… All this assortment under the name pressed tea can be bought in the specialized tea online store "Miy Chay". The price of the product depends on the variety, year of collection, and quality of raw materials. It is not difficult to order any of these types. The site interface is simple and clear. Delivery is carried out within the specified time.
The quality of pressed Chinese tea is determined by two parameters:
- Nice appearance: in pancakes, bricks... the integrity of the tea leaf should be clearly visible. The color may not be uniform, depending on the variety. Do not allow debris, foreign inclusions.
- The corresponding pleasant aroma without the smell of dampness.
