Antique Teas
Red Print, Blue Print and Hao-Grade Tea: Understanding Songpin Hao's Position in Puer Tea History
宋聘号红印蓝印号级茶印级茶传世老茶
Understanding Songpin Hao's position in Puer tea history requires placing it within the historical coordinate system of "Hao-grade → Print-grade → Qizi-grade tea."
Red Print, Blue Print and Hao-Grade Tea: Understanding Songpin Hao's Position in Puer Tea History
1. Periodization System of Puer Tea History
Four Major Tea Grade Systems
| Tea Grade | Era | Representative Products | Scarcity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hao-grade tea | 1840–1949 | Songpin Hao, Fenglu Gongcha, Tongqing Hao, etc. | Extremely scarce |
| Print-grade tea | 1950s–1970s | Red Print (around 1951), Blue Print (1950s) | Very scarce |
| Qizi-grade tea | 1970s–1990s | 7572, 7542, 7581, etc. | Relatively scarce |
| Factory tea grade | Post-2000 | Routine products from various factories | Common |
Historical Coordinate Overview
| Period | Time | Main Products |
|---|---|---|
| Hao-grade tea era | 1840–1949 | Songpin Hao, Fenglu Gongcha |
| Print-grade tea era | 1950s–1970s | Red Print, Blue Print |
| Qizi-grade tea era | 1970s–1990s | 7572, 7542 |
| Modern tea era | Post-2000 | Routine products from various factories |
2. Hao-Grade Tea (1840–1949)
Hao-Grade Tea Characteristics
| Characteristic | Content |
|---|---|
| Production entity | Family or firm as unit |
| Raw materials | Yiwu Zhengshan ancient tree tea |
| Craft | Traditional handcraft |
| Packaging | Mainly bamboo shell |
| Inner fly | Inner fly attached to cake back |
| Cake type | Traditional iron cake |
Representative Hao-Grade Teas
| Firm | Founded | Core Product |
|---|---|---|
| Songpin Hao | 1860s | Songpin round tea |
| Fenglu Gongcha | 1730s | Fenglu tribute tea |
| Tongqing Hao | 1730s | Tongqing round tea |
| Hongtaichang | 1920s | Hongtaichang round tea |
| Cheshen Hao | 1830s | Cheshen round tea |
3. Print-Grade Tea (1950s–1970s)
Background of Print-Grade Tea Birth
In 1950, Yunnan Tea Company was established, unifying management of Puer tea production and sales.
| Period | Major Event |
|---|---|
| 1950 | China Tea Company Yunnan Province Company established |
| 1951 | Registered "Zhongcha" trademark; began using "Eight Zhong" trademark |
| 1952 | Unified use of "Zhongcha" Red Print, Green Print packaging |
| 1954 | Public-private partnership completed |
Classic Print-Grade Teas
| Product | Era | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Red Print | 1951–1960s | Red character Eight Zhong tea trademark; highest market price |
| Blue Print | 1950s | Blue character Eight Zhong tea trademark; same generation as Red Print |
| Unpapered Red Print | Mid-to-late 1950s | Later product of Red Print |
Print-Grade vs. Hao-Grade Comparison
| Comparison Item | Hao-Grade Tea | Print-Grade Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Production entity | Firm/family | State tea factory |
| Raw material source | Yiwu Zhengshan ancient trees | Mainly blending |
| Production craft | Traditional handcraft | Semi-mechanized |
| Packaging | Bamboo shell | Paper box packaging |
| Production volume | Extremely small | Relatively more |
| Taste | Traditional Yiwu flavor | Modernized taste |
4. Songpin Hao's Position in Historical Coordinates
Era Background
| Coordinate | Songpin Hao's Position |
|---|---|
| Tea history periodization | Late Hao-grade tea era |
| Historical period | Late Qing to Republic |
| Quality positioning | Hao-grade tea quality benchmark |
| Collection position | Hao-grade tea collection preferred |
Comparison with Other Hao-Grade Teas
| Firm | Founded | Quality Positioning | Surviving Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Songpin Hao | 1860s | Hao-grade tea quality benchmark | Extremely small |
| Fenglu Gongcha | 1730s | Hao-grade tea quality benchmark | Extremely small |
| Tongqing Hao | 1730s | Hao-grade tea quality representative | Relatively small |
5. Red Print: Representative of Print-Grade Tea
Red Print Characteristics
| Characteristic | Content |
|---|---|
| Production era | Approximately 1951–1960s |
| Registered trademark | Eight Zhong tea; red characters |
| Cake type | Iron cake type |
| Packaging | Red Print paper box |
| Inner fly | Has inner fly |
Red Print Price System
| Grade | Price (10,000 CNY/case) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Superior | 100–200 | Good storage; excellent condition |
| Medium | 50–100 | Slightly defective |
| Lower | 20–50 | Average storage |
6. Value Relationship Between Hao-Grade and Print-Grade Teas
Value Comparison
| Dimension | Hao-Grade Tea | Print-Grade Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Historical value | Extremely high | High |
| Scarcity | Extremely scarce | Very scarce |
| Taste value | Hundred years of aging; unique taste | Decades of aging; unique taste |
| Collection value | Extremely high | Very high |
| Market circulation | Extremely rare | Rare |
Collection Value Analysis
| Dimension | Hao-Grade Tea | Print-Grade Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Investment return | Extremely high | Relatively high |
| Value retention | Extremely strong | Relatively strong |
| Liquidity | Relatively low | Medium |
7. Closing Thought
Understanding Songpin Hao's historical coordinate requires placing it within the framework of entire Puer tea history:
- Hao-grade tea (1840–1949): Puer tea's "Classical era"
- Print-grade tea (1950–1970): Puer tea's "Transitional era"
- Qizi-grade (1970–1990): Puer tea's "Modern era"
It is not merely a symbol in Puer tea history, but a historical witness to Puer tea's transformation from "agricultural product" to "collectible."
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