{"product_id":"117-the-puer-cru-brique-xie-xizang-90s","title":"117– Traditional Border Xiaguan Raw Pu-erh Tea Brick – 1990s","description":"\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1vwmwa5\" data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"282\"\u003e117– Traditional Border Xiaguan Raw Pu'erh Tea Brick – 1990s\/2000s\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1vwmwa5\" data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"282\"\u003eOrigin: \u003cstrong data-start=\"283\" data-end=\"306\"\u003eDali, Yunnan, China\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"308\" data-end=\"758\"\u003eProduced by the famous \u003cstrong data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"356\"\u003eXiaguan Tea Factory\u003c\/strong\u003e, located in Dali, Yunnan, this tea brick is part of a unique history linked to the ancient \u003cstrong data-start=\"461\" data-end=\"492\"\u003eTea and Horse Road\u003c\/strong\u003e as well as the \u003cstrong data-start=\"507\" data-end=\"534\"\u003eSouthern Silk Road\u003c\/strong\u003e. For generations, Tibetan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia populations consumed these bricks as an essential source of nutrition in regions where vegetables were scarce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"821\"\u003eAn old local proverb perfectly sums up its importance:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"823\" data-end=\"896\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"823\" data-end=\"896\"\u003e\"Better three days without meat than one day without tea.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"15mgp2c\" data-start=\"903\" data-end=\"928\"\u003eA Historic Mission\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"930\" data-end=\"1142\"\u003eSince the Tang dynasty, border tea trade was strictly controlled by the Chinese state and represented a major element of exchange between Han regions and border ethnic minorities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1144\" data-end=\"1398\"\u003eAfter the founding of modern China, the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1199\" data-end=\"1210\"\u003eXiaguan\u003c\/strong\u003e tea factory became one of the main manufacturers designated by the government to produce \u003cstrong data-start=\"1305\" data-end=\"1332\"\u003enational reserve tea\u003c\/strong\u003e as well as \u003cstrong data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1397\"\u003etea intended for Tibetan border regions\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1400\" data-end=\"1565\"\u003eFor nearly a century, Xiaguan has perpetuated this mission by producing tea bricks specifically designed for populations living in remote areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"19tzaak\" data-start=\"1572\" data-end=\"1607\"\u003eThe Evolution of the Xiaguan Brick\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1609\" data-end=\"1784\"\u003eIn \u003cstrong data-start=\"1612\" data-end=\"1620\"\u003e1966\u003c\/strong\u003e, during a period of industrial transformation, the old traditional shape called \u003cstrong data-start=\"1713\" data-end=\"1724\"\u003eBao Yan\u003c\/strong\u003e was gradually replaced by a more practical format:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1786\" data-end=\"1894\"\u003e→ easier to transport\u003cbr data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"1816\"\u003e→ simpler to package\u003cbr data-start=\"1840\" data-end=\"1843\"\u003e→ better suited for long journeys by horse or on foot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1896\" data-end=\"1991\"\u003eThis is how the famous \u003cstrong data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"1955\"\u003eXiaguan tea brick\u003c\/strong\u003e as we know it today was born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2202\"\u003eIn the 1990s, despite China's economic development, these bricks continued to be transported to the most isolated regions, sometimes still by horse or after several days of walking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"12hx4ue\" data-start=\"2209\" data-end=\"2225\"\u003eParticularity\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2227\" data-end=\"2331\"\u003eThis traditional Pu'erh brick develops over time a deep liquor with amber red reflections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"xsq25c\" data-start=\"2333\" data-end=\"2356\"\u003eAromatic notes:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2517\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1fi5rzl\" data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2373\"\u003eold wood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"p2m4mo\" data-start=\"2374\" data-end=\"2388\"\u003elight honey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"zin35t\" data-start=\"2389\" data-end=\"2404\"\u003edried fruits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"16x7a8i\" data-start=\"2405\" data-end=\"2460\"\u003evegetal notes typical of old Xiaguan Pu'erh\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1g4gi65\" data-start=\"2461\" data-end=\"2482\"\u003eslight minerality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"gvpnq6\" data-start=\"2483\" data-end=\"2517\"\u003enoble aging notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2519\" data-end=\"2530\"\u003eOn the palate:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2532\" data-end=\"2606\"\u003eSoft, thick, and lubricating texture with a pure and persistent finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2608\" data-end=\"2760\"\u003eAfter more than twenty years of aging, the initial astringency gradually disappears, giving way to a rounder and more harmonious infusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"icza40\" data-start=\"2767\" data-end=\"2781\"\u003ePreparation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2783\" data-end=\"2814\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2783\" data-end=\"2806\"\u003eRecommended dosage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 to 10g\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2816\" data-end=\"2858\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2816\" data-end=\"2829\"\u003eRinsing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2829\" data-end=\"2832\"\u003e2 quick rinses at 100°C\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2860\" data-end=\"2950\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2860\" data-end=\"2874\"\u003eInfusion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2874\" data-end=\"2877\"\u003e10 to 20 seconds for the first infusions\u003cbr data-start=\"2922\" data-end=\"2925\"\u003eIncrease gradually\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2952\" data-end=\"3014\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2952\" data-end=\"2976\"\u003eNumber of infusions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2976\" data-end=\"2979\"\u003eMany infusions possible\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"3016\" data-end=\"3019\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"lr85t4\" data-start=\"3021\" data-end=\"3036\"\u003eStorage\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3038\" data-end=\"3137\"\u003eStore in a dry, ventilated place, away from humidity, light, and strong odors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3139\" data-end=\"3205\"\u003eNatural aging can continue for several years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"anhxbr\" data-start=\"3212\" data-end=\"3239\"\u003eA Tea Steeped in History\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3241\" data-end=\"3294\"\u003eThis Xiaguan brick is much more than just a tea:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3296\" data-end=\"3481\"\u003eIt is a living witness to the history of tea trade in China, exchanges on the Tea and Horse Road, and the fundamental role of tea in Tibetan border regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3483\" data-end=\"3613\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eNow rare, it represents a historical piece sought after by lovers of old Pu'erh and collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3483\" data-end=\"3613\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3483\" data-end=\"3613\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eTHE STORY:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of Xiaguan tea brick 1\/2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce upon a time, in the Lugou Lake region, on the border of Dian, enter the gathering places of minorities. Ask the Yi elders in the grocery stores if they sell brick tea. The old man will make the brick tea from the tea factory, and tell you with certainty, \"This is the best to drink. From youth to this day, paste tea and salt tea cannot do without it. Not drinking it for a day hurts the brain.\" The pious choice of Tibetan compatriots and the firm recommendations of the elderly are the true picture of the influence of Xiaguan tea in the Tibetan region. Currently, as the only government-designated tea production company for reserve tea and border sales tea in Yunnan Province, the Xiaguan Tea Factory has carried on this special historical mission for nearly a hundred years. Border tea is a special category of tea in the settlements of ethnic minorities in the Gobi, plateaus, grasslands, and other places in Tibet, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia. Minority compatriots in these regions mainly eat beef and mutton, and the local climate is harsh and vegetables are scarce, so tea has become an important source of essential vitamins and dietary fiber. The production of border tea has a long history and is an important part of the economic and trade history of the Han and border minorities. Since the Tang dynasty, the sale of tea has been controlled by the central government, and specialized institutions were established for exclusive sale. The Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties also established the Tea Horse Department, a functional body for tea trade. After the founding of New China, border sales tea was administered by a plan and classified as a category of national materials to ensure a sufficient supply of tea, a policy that continued until the early 21st century.\u003cbr\u003eThere is a wide variety of tea for sale, in addition to Pu'er tea bricks and Niuxin tea, Furia bricks, black bricks, and flower bricks from Hunan, blue and rice bricks from Hubei, Kang bricks, and Golden Pin bricks from Sichuan are also famous. For ethnic minority compatriots in border areas, tea holds an important place: \"Better three days without meat than one day without tea.\" Dali, where the Xiaguan Tea Factory is located, is the crossing point of the ancient \"Southern Silk Road\" and the ancient \"Tea Horse Road.\" The superior geographical location and special historical factors have determined that the Xiaguan Tea Factory will take on the historical mission of producing frontier bricks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn December 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, some employees of the Xiaguan Tea Factory believed that the \"Baoyan\" trademark was feudal, and the shape of the pressed tea was special, which was not conducive to mechanical processing, packaging, and had high costs. After reporting the research of the provincial tea company, the \"Bao Flam\" was changed to \"Unity Card,\" the \"Compact Tea Heart\" was changed to \"Brick piece type,\" and then the shape of the compact tea gradually evolved into a brick.\u003cbr\u003eThe time came to the 1990s. Although transportation and economy in southern China had undergone considerable development, the transport of border sales tea in the central-west was still difficult. The more poorly transported and difficult areas there were, the greater the need to sell tea to supplement essential daily vitamins. Transporting border tea sometimes required horses or even days of walking to reach the destination.\u003cbr\u003eDue to the gap in the demand for tea from the population in border tea-selling regions, the Xiaguan Tea Factory needs annual reserves of more than 10,000 tons of tea. For the tea factory of that era, Pu'er cake tea was not the focus of their work; these products represented only a very small part of the total production. The priority was to produce the border tea that people in border areas needed.\u003cbr\u003eSince 2000, with the increasing popularity of Pu'er tea in the interior of the mainland each year, the production of tea from the Xiaguan Tea Factory and cake tea has also increased. On the other hand, in traditional tea-consuming regions, due to the increasing number of local migrant workers, local aging has become severely pronounced, and the tea-consuming population has begun to decline. Additionally, traditional butter tea, oil tea, and salt tea are higher in calories, and year-round consumption of water is detrimental to the elderly. As people's living standards improve, and with the development of transportation, the sale of various tea products reaches the border areas, and consumers also have many more choices. Before 2000, the economy of our country's border region was relatively underdeveloped, and border tea sales depended entirely on political subsidies to maintain production, and prices were low. Later, the state removed financial subsidies for tea sales, and many tea companies that were selling tea at a loss began to cease production of border tea. But for the Xiaguan Tea Factory, the production of border tea has been a mission and a social responsibility for years, and it will continue to adhere to it in the future.\u003cbr\u003eTimes are developing, transportation is progressing, and the increasing solitude of selling tea bricks reflects the power of the homeland and the increasingly better living conditions for people on the border. In the past, the paths have changed, the old villages have changed their appearance; the only thing that does not change is the fragrance of Xiaguan tea.\u003cbr\u003eThe Xiaguan Tea Factory, with Baoyan Cun tea and other border tea products, has taken on a major responsibility and mission in the long river of history. From the past to the present, the Xiaguan Tea Factory has always kept its promise to provide high-quality tea to ethnic minority compatriots in border areas, despite the difficulties, but has never given up. In the days to come, I am convinced that the Xiaguan Tea Factory will continue to transmit this mission, contributing to the development of border tea, so that the scent of Xiaguan tea will bloom forever in the border region.\u003cbr\u003eThe article is accompanied by images of tea bricks from the Xiaguan Tea Factory in 2001. After twenty years, the tea soup is no longer sharp, with boiling water, it has an amber red color, the tea is soft, clear and pure, the taste of years radiates its splendor at this moment, the entrance is thick and lubricated, the particular aroma and taste of early Xiaguan Pu'er green tea bloom in the mouth, allowing people to rediscover their sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lemeilleurthedechine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53724068643153,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/2373\/4609\/files\/XiaGuan-The-Puer-Cru-Brique-autonomous-region_68e9ed34-68ba-43f0-84f3-e807b5597163.jpg?v=1777905281","url":"https:\/\/lemeilleurthedechine.com\/en\/products\/117-the-puer-cru-brique-xie-xizang-90s","provider":"Lemeilleurthedechine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}