Record of Xuan He Era Tribute Tea in Bei Yuan District is a book written by Xiong Fan during the Song Dynasty

Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...

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The book contains detailed descriptions of the names of various tribute tea cakes

Teacake

This article is about a type of bread or cake. Tea cake can also be used to describe Compressed tea. For the chocolate-covered teacake, see Chocolate-coated marshmallow treats....

 and their packaging, some even with dimensions. Two examples of such descriptions are "Longevity Dragon cake, silver mold, bamboo frame, one inch diameter" and "Eternal Spring Jade Leaf, bamboo frame, diameter 3½ inch.".

The book is one of the Chinese tea classics

Tea Classics

Tea as a beverage was first consumed in China no later than the fifth century BCE. The earliest extant mention of tea in literature is in the Shih Ching or Book of Songs, written circa 550 BCE, although the ideogram used in these texts can also designate a variety of plants, such as sowthistle...

, ancient treatises on tea.