Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of black
tea. How do I use it?
Emmy
--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

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.


On Apr 5, 3:38 am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
> Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of black
> tea. How do I use it?
> Emmy
> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

On Apr 5, 5:38*am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
> Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of black
> tea. How do I use it?
> Emmy
> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

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

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.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2rxgwgx.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/1z553rq.jpg

Jim

On Apr 5, 7:18 am, wrote:
> 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.
>
> On Apr 5, 3:38 am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
>
> > Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of black
> > tea. How do I use it?
> > Emmy
> > --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

On 2009-04-05, Dominic T. > wrote:
> On Apr 5, 5:38*am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
>> Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of black
>> tea. How do I use it?
>> Emmy
>> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/
>
> 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

--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/
"Will Yardley" > wrote in message
...
> On 2009-04-05, Dominic T. > wrote:
>> On Apr 5, 5:38 am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
>>> Maybe someone here can help me. I received a gift of a solid block of
>>> black
>>> tea. How do I use it?
>>> Emmy
>>> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/
>>
>> 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
~~~~~~~~
Thank you all, and thanks for the warning. I will probably not try it
because it has Chinese writing on the package. Well, I'm pretty sure it's
Chinese.
--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

On Apr 6, 9:18*pm, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
>
> ~~~~~~~~
> Thank you all, and thanks for the warning. I will probably not try it
> because it has Chinese writing on the package. Well, I'm pretty sure it's
> Chinese.
> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

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

"Dominic T." > wrote in message
...
On Apr 6, 9:18 pm, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
>
> ~~~~~~~~
> Thank you all, and thanks for the warning. I will probably not try it
> because it has Chinese writing on the package. Well, I'm pretty sure it's
> Chinese.
> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

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!

--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

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

On Apr 8, 5:50 am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
> "Dominic T." > wrote in message
>> Is it possible for you to take a photo of it and post it here?

> If nothing else, my crazy friend said give it to him, he'd chew it like
> tobacco!
>
> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

EmmyBlue > wrote:
>
>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.

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
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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

--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

> wrote in message
...
>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
>
> On Apr 8, 5:50 am, "EmmyBlue" > wrote:
>> "Dominic T." > wrote in message
>>> Is it possible for you to take a photo of it and post it here?
>
>> If nothing else, my crazy friend said give it to him, he'd chew it like
>> tobacco!
>>
>> --http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/
>

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> EmmyBlue > wrote:
>>
>>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.
>
> 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
> --
~~~~~~~~~~
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.
--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/

On 2009-04-10, EmmyBlue > wrote:

> 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.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

w

"Will Yardley" > wrote in message
...
> On 2009-04-10, EmmyBlue > wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> You say that like it's a bad thing.
>
> w
~~~~~~~~~~
Noooo, it's a good thing. Why, Antiques Roadshow is one of my favorite
shows.
--
http://soonerblue.bloghi.com/