Tuocha
Tuocha (沱茶) is tea compressed into a small bowl or nest shape, typically pu'er in 100 g or 250 g pieces, or minis of a few grams.
Definition
Tuocha (沱茶, tuó chá) is compressed tea shaped like a small bowl or bird's nest, with a dome on top and a hollow underneath. It is mostly made from pu'er, both sheng and shou, though some tuocha is made from other teas. The shape is associated in particular with the Xiaguan Tea Factory in Dali, Yunnan, which has produced tuocha for decades and still sells some of the best-known examples. Standard sizes are 100 g and 250 g, with larger and smaller pieces also made. Mini tuocha of about 3-5 g, individually wrapped, hold a single gongfu session's worth of tea and are widely sold outside China, sometimes blended with chrysanthemum or scented with glutinous-rice herb (nuo mi xiang). The hollow underside lets air reach the center of the tea, which helps the compressed leaf dry evenly after pressing. Xiaguan tuocha in particular are known for tight compression, so they age more slowly than a loosely pressed cake. Because the shape is small and portable, tuocha were historically traded to Sichuan and onward toward Tibet along the same routes as other compressed teas.
In Depth
Break a large tuocha from the underside, starting at the hollow, using a pu'er knife or pick worked between layers. Tightly pressed Xiaguan tuocha can be hard, so a few minutes of gentle steam or a longer rinse can help them open.
For a mini tuocha, drop the whole piece into a 100-150 ml gaiwan or teapot, rinse with boiling water at 95-100°C (203-212°F), then infuse for 15-30 seconds, adding time as it opens. One mini gives 5-8 infusions. Western style, use one mini in 300 ml for 3-4 minutes.
Store tuocha like cakes: airtight is not required, but keep them dry, away from odors, at stable room humidity. Check wrappers for the factory name and production year, since tuocha are widely counterfeited.
See Also
- Pu'er Formats
- Xiaguan Tea Factory
- Compressed Tea