唐宋时期的“蜡面茶”考略

Wax-faced tea in Tang and Song dynasties

"蜡面茶"是唐宋时期的名贵茶品,在制作过程中加入香料膏油,印制成饼,光润如蜡,故得名"蜡面茶"。"蜡面茶"制作起于唐代,文献中最早记载的"蜡面茶"是湖南的"灉湖茶"。南唐中后期至宋代,以福建建州茶为原料制作"蜡面茶",北宋时制作工艺达到顶峰。"蜡面茶"主要作为贡品进贡皇室,由皇帝颁赐给朝臣,有时也作为礼物赠送邻国,民间罕见。据文献记载,"蜡面茶"除作为饮品,还有医用和制香两种使用途径。从唐末到元代,文人诗词对"蜡面茶"多有题咏,反映了"蜡面茶"的广泛社会影响。

Wax-faced tea was a precious tea in Tang and Song dynasties. It was named after its production process which made the cake tea smooth as waxes by adding perfume. The production of wax-faced tea started from Tang dynast, the first recorded wax-faced tea was Yonghu tea in Hunan province. From mid-late South-Tang dynasty to Song dynasty, Jianzhou tea in Fujian province was taken as the main raw material for the production of wax-faced tea and reached its pinnacle in North-Song dynasty. Wax-faced tea was mainly tribute to royal family, then bestowed to ministers by emperor himself, sometimes gifted to neighbor countries. In any circumstance it was rarely seen by ordinary people. According to historical records, wax-faced tea was used for medicine and incense as well as drinks. From late Tang dynasty to Yuan dynasty, poetry always took wax-faced tea as themes, which reflects its extensive social influence.