Pu'er Seven-Cake Tea (Qizi Bing) Origin

The Seven-Cake Tea is the most representative form of Pu'er tea. Traditionally, each tea cake weighed 357 grams. Of course, modern tea factories sometimes produce cakes of 380 or 400 grams for a fuller shape, but they are still called Seven-Cake Tea. Pu'er round tea carries deep meaning, so the Seven-Cake Tea is also known as "Overseas Chinese Round Tea" or "Overseas Chinese Seven-Cake Tea."

How did the Seven-Cake Tea come about?

Explanation 1: "Round like the harvest moon, fragrant as orchids in autumn." This was Emperor Qianlong's praise for the Seven-Cake Tea. Pu'er compressed tea was born under special geographical conditions and historical circumstances. In the old measurement system, one jin equaled 16 liang. For convenient transport, Pu'er tea was "steamed and compressed into shape." Because each cake weighed seven liang, and seven cakes were packed in one bamboo tube, it became known as Seven-Cake Tea. In modern measurement, each cake is 357 grams.

Explanation 2: Why are only seven cakes packed together? One theory is that the Seven-Cake Tea originated from border trade in the Tang Dynasty, known as the Tea-Horse Market. During transactions, seven cakes were bundled together, with an extra cake added for taxation purposes. One cake is 357 grams, and one tube contains seven cakes: 357g × 7 = 2499g, approximately 2.5 kg. One case holds 12 tubes, about 30 kg. A horse could carry two cases, about 60 kg, a load well-calculated by ancient tea horse caravans.

Explanation 3: In Yunnan's minority cultures, the number seven is auspicious, symbolizing many children and blessings, and a full, harmonious reunion. Therefore, Seven-Cake Tea is often used as a wedding gift or holiday present, representing collective goodwill. It is popular in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, and is regarded by overseas Chinese as a symbol of family reunion. Pu'er round tea carries deep meaning, so the Seven-Cake Tea is also called "Overseas Chinese Round Tea" or "Overseas Chinese Seven-Cake Tea."