Old Chinese tea tile / tea brick, size 23.8 x 18.9 x 2.5 cm, weight is over 1175 grams, 20th century. The brick has an image on both sides: on the front is a Chinese depiction and the reverse side is divided evenly into sixteen identical sections or portions, which all represent the same value/weight. The tea brick was used as currency in remote areas of China and Tibet, up to around 1960. Since the T'ang period (618-906, before our era), tea was transported on camels via different caravan-routes across land, and was pressed together into compact bricks for this purpose. To make a tile like this, almost 2 kilos of tea had to be steamed, or ground, after which it was pressed between to stones, so a rock-hard, flat block was formed. Due to the density of the brick, the tea couldn't absorb any moisture, but it couldn't dry out either. Therefore these bricks could be kept for a very long time. From the seventeenth century onwards, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) also started transporting the tea bricks by ship. Method of preparation: The ground tea powder is boiled in water for 3-4 minutes, until it is a very strong brew. Of course this is undrinkable, therefore more boiling water, (yak) butter (milk) and salt/herbs are added. The edges of this tile are slightly chipped, otherwise in good condition. Wonderful tea scent.