Hunan mǐ zhūan chá Brick Tea?

[thirdeye]

Today my boss ( president of the company) surprised the heck out of me. I returned to my desk this morning after a meeting an there was a package on my desk with a note saying , “call me”.
I did just that and he explained that he over heard me talking to another employee about tea and thought I would enjoy trying some of this tea. He said it was Hunan mǐ zhūan chá brick tea, a black pu-erh tea from southern china and this brick was about 15 or so years old. All I can do is take his word for it as I have know clue. The thing is three lbs.

I did a little research and this is what I found:

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

1. Toasting: A piece was broken from the tea brick and usually first toasted over a fire. This was likely done to sanitize the tea brick and destroy any molds or insects. Such infestations likely 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 tea.

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

3. 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 imbibed.
In modern times, bricks of pu-erh type teas are flaked, chipped, or broken and directly steeped after thorough rinsing. The process of toasting, grinding, and whisking to make tea from tea bricks is now uncommon and not generally practiced.


Has anyone had this? How is it and more importantly, how do I use it. I understand what whisking is when it comes to cooking. Is this the same activity for tea?

I have to say this stuff smells great.

[Howard Newell]

Sorry I can't help you, but that looks really neat! A gourmet store in middle of NC has one of these bricks on display. I'll have to ask the saleslady how tea is prepared from it the next time I visit.

[Wisdom]

That's totally awesome.. I'm curious as to how the tea will turn out as I've never had anything like it before. Honestly, it looks like "Muo.." the stuff they use to make ink for Chinese Calligraphy or Chops, but I'm sure he doesn't hate you enough to fool you into drinking that!
-\Visdom

[Hobbesoxon]

The whisking method was around in the Song Dynasty - tea powder + water, whisked in a bowl. When tea-drinking was exported to Japan, this method of preparation went with it, and the Japanese still use it to this day.

Back in China, the methods changed, with people preferring to brew the actual leaves, rather than powdered versions of them - which is where they (and we) are today, of course.

The brick format is for convenience of storage and transport - and probably aesthetic appeal. You typically only find (sorry to say this) such bricks with pretty pictures pressed into them in the tourist shops, these days. Also (sorry again) the quality of the leaves is likely to be inferior.

The idea is to break a bit off, perhaps separate the leaves, then brew it up in water as usual. Let us know how you get on! It might be a good 'un.


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

[thirdeye]

You typically only find (sorry to say this) such bricks with pretty pictures pressed into them in the tourist shops, these days. Also (sorry again) the quality of the leaves is likely to be inferior.

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

LOL, yes sir, that would be my boss, always the professional tourist so you've most likely hit it on the head.

Knowing him, he probably thinks he really has something here, of course, he likes imitation seafood salad to....

[Proinsias]

Most likely something like this

If you were lucky it would turn out to be something like this.

If you are really lucky it might turn out to be one of the ancient lost bricks worth over $150,000 per cake.

Looks to new and shiny to be anything too fancy from the pics. I would brew it the way you prefer to brew black tea.