1970s Fuzhuan Brick (People’s Unification Tea)

Under the reign of Chairman Mao Zedong and the Communist Party private ownership of tea factories became illegal. This hefty 1970s Fuzhuan tea (aka Fu brick tea) from Sichuan Province, Guanxi weighing 3kg represents a united co-operative of the people under a socialist economy. The socialist approach is based on production for use and to satisfy the basic demands and needs of the people for all the people. Unlike capitalism the basis of production is not for profit and therefore not to cater for special groups of consumers with the wealth to make purchases in order to accumulate capital. This tea is symbolic of the belief and idealism at the time and was produced by the people and for the people under the management of the Chinese government.

At the time the new and united nation of “The People’s Republic of China” under Chairman Mao would be marked by rapid changes and grandiose projects that would be pushed by strong idealism. The sense of togetherness and unity that was being projected by the government during this period of time was essential to spread and generate acceptance for government endeavors. The label for this Fuzhuan tea “People’s Unification Tea” represents one of many avenues that would be used by the government to communicate and impact social change and people’s thinking through propaganda.- Note the similar style and design of the tea label to the propaganda posters under Chairman Mao's Era here and here.

An observation of this old and historic tea brick reveals that the processing was basic and rudimentary. The state of the leaves is quite broken and have not undergone any fine processing other than steaming and compression into the required brick shape. The tea is very well protected in a thick cardboard packaging that is reinforced with a layer of plastic wrap. Despite my initial reservation I enjoyed the tea session considerably more than I had expected. After awakening the leaves with hot boiling water the aroma reveals wonderful antique scents. At the forefront is old ginseng, age tobacco and an underlying soft woody accent. The taste of the age brew is pleasingly sweet and pure, accentuating notes of ginseng, dark herbs and wood. It is interesting to note that this tea possesses none of the dark and heavy fermented characteristics of older puerh teas. The liquor offers a soothing and slightly viscous mouthfeel that is coupled by a strong cooling sensation at the back of the throat. The character of Fuzhuan is indeed unique and quite wonderful. Drinking this historic tea brick touches upon me the beauty within such rustic looking tea leaves.

 

Reference made on different 1960s Fu brick teas in a publication catalog.

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