团茶團茶
Term · History
cake tea
Literal meaning
round/lump + tea
Definition#
Song-dynasty tea pressed in moulds into round cakes, above all the Beiyuan tribute cakes; Ouyang Xiu records eight dragon-phoenix cakes to a jin. Song fiscal texts divide tea into 片茶 (pressed) and 散茶 (loose). The 1391 Hongwu decree ended tribute cakes and ordered buds instead.
Translation and usage#
| Language | Use | Alternatives & cautions |
|---|---|---|
| English | cake tea moulded Song tea cakes translation |
Also acceptable
Avoid ball tea (for Song tea) Babelcarp's gloss belongs to the later pu'er ball format |
| Deutsch | Teekuchen in Modeln gepresster Tee der Song-Zeit translation |
Also acceptable
|
| Русский | туаньча сунские чайные лепёшки, прессованные в формах pinyin with a gloss |
Also acceptable
|
| 简体字 | 团茶 | |
| 繁體字 | 團茶 | |
| 日本語 | 団茶 |
Common confusions#
- Babelcarp defines 团茶 as pu'er pressed into a ball (from the Ming); the Song word means moulded cakes. Context decides.
- Not the same as modern pu'er 饼茶 (bingcha): Song cakes were steamed, pounded green tea for grinding and whisking.