Chinese tea box....how old?

I can't find anything similar to this online. Can someone tell me the age of this tea box? I'm guessing it's late 19th century, but could it be much earlier? Tea must have been very valuable to sell it in locked boxes! Any other thoughts about it? Thanks!

 

That's more latch than lock, and I don't think it's horribly old. The real tea chests were sold in high end shops to hold the very expensive tea. This was sold with the tea in it, after prices had dropped rather a lot. Beyond that...dunno. I'll wait for an actual expert to chime in.

 

I know nothing about the box, but I had to look up KEEMUN TEA. According to Wikipedia (yeah, I know - not a great source!) Keemun was "first produced in late 19th century", meaning of course, that the box (if it is indeed old) couldn't be any older than that, anyway.

 

I think the box would be considered a premium to entice purchase. I would tend to think teens-20s based on styling and workmanship.

 

Lol, I have a similar one like this with lock on it sealed with sealing paper and still with tea inside.....

 

I'd love to see a picture if you have time.

 

The part with the most clues is the label, and more of it than the white part can be read. Especially at the top, some letters can be seen on the black area. A little photoshopping changing colors and contrast should bring those out. And/or try and find similar boxes online and match labels, in hopes of finding a box more readily dated.

 

Let me find it.. However, that one is sealed and never opened before and I thought it won't be old.

 

Just took pics by cell phone, not very clear. sorry about it.

 

The problom is I have the box, but I don't have the key to open this lock.
Break the lock is an option or I can call a locksmith??....

 

Maybe it's more valuable locked and sealed? I wouldn't touch the lock. Very nice box! Thanks.

 

That's a classic chinese lock....I'm sure a key could be found......but better to leave it with the seals intact...

 

Bought without the key....

 

but not....without the TEA !!!!

 

I have this tea... what?... tin? 22" high, 16" square. It says 80lbs net weight.









No idea what pan fried tea is.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamairicha

 

Sounds good to me, but then I like Bancha Hojicha. That's the roasted green tea. This stuff:
https://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011...panese-green-tea-how-to-brew-tea-history.html

 

I like Wuyi tea (Bohea) allmost all kinds.
The one I drank 20 years ago, is almost extinct right now. It's called Xuelong (Snow-Dragon) green tea. It's very smoothy taste when you first drink very little of them. After you enjoy a small cup of it, drink the first cup of hot water, the water will taste very sweet, drink the second cup of hot water, the water smells very fresh and a little bit mint.

There's another kind of tea, whichi you can make one bottle and enjoy for at least one week... the taste just keeps unchanged.

 

Sounds good to me - both of them!