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How to Pry Pu-er Tea Cake and Brick

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According to history, to make tea easier to carry, the Pu-er loose leaves were compressed into various sizes and shapes such as disks/cakes, bricks, or bowls. The traditional methods of crafting Pu-er tea continue to today.

Now, there is a problem, when you have a Pu-er tea cake, how to prepare it? We will use some photos explain how to pry the Pu-er cake, and share some unique tips from experience.

1. Tool

Pu-er Knife

A Pu-er knife, is a special tool be used to pry the Pu-er cake, is similar to an oyster knife or a rigid letter opener, use the Pu-er knife you will minimize leaf breakage.

Pu-er knife has awl and knife two different shape; it can be made from metal and wood/bamboo different material.

Pu-er Tray (Not Required)

When prying Pu-er tea cake, use this convenient tray to collect loose leaves fallen from the cake, the special designed opening corner is perfect for using the knife and helps you to pour leaves into tea pot, cup or other containers.

2. Try your best to minimize leaf breakage.

Tea Cake

Put the cake on the tray, let the tea cake back up, use one hand press and hold the cake, look for the space between the tea leaves to insert the knife to avoid crashing the tea leaves, insert the Pu-er knife into the edge of the cake, gently turn the knife lightly up and down, remove the knife and find the other space repeat until the tea loosens and falls off. This will usually break a chunk of tea from the cake. You can remove the loose chunk from the tea cake and break the chunk easily by hand now.

Tip: Insert the Pu-er knife into the edge of the cake; gently turn the knife lightly up and down.

Pry from the back first, make the cake looks good (like whole cake) from front.

Tea Brick

Look for the space between the tea leaves to insert the knife to avoid crashing the tea leaves, insert the knife into the edge of the brick, gently work the knife lightly up and down, remove the knife and find the other space repeat until the tea loosens and falls off. This will usually break a chunk of tea from the brick. You can remove the loose chunk from the tea brick and break the chunk easily by hand now.

Tuo Cha


We recommended use a tea awl to pry Tuo Cha. Tea awl is easier insert to the Tuo Cha than knife. Find the space between the tea leaves to insert the awl, gently work the awl lightly front and back until the tea loosens and fall off.

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