A common question from overseas tea lovers: “When buying tea in Taiwan, you often notice that weights are labeled in catties and taels. Exactly how much is a Taiwanese catty, and how many grams are in a tael?” Today, we’re breaking down the weight units commonly used when buying tea in Taiwan and how they convert to the metric system.
Taiwanese Tea Weight Units: How Many Grams and Taels Are in a Catty of Tea?
In Taiwan, tea weight is typically measured in Taiwanese catties and taels. These units differ slightly from internationally recognized weights like kilograms or pounds. Simply put, 1 Taiwanese catty equals 600 g. 1 Taiwanese catty equals 16 taels. 1 tael equals 37.5 g.
Here are a few common examples to help you remember:
| Tea Weight | Conversion |
|---|---|
| 1 catty of tea | 600 g, approximately 1.32 lbs |
| Half catty of tea | 300 g, approximately 0.66 lbs |
| 2 taels of tea | 75 g, approximately 2.65 oz |
So when you see “1 catty of Lishan tea” at a tea shop, that’s 600 g, equivalent to 0.6 kilograms.
Why does Taiwan still use units like catties and taels?
Taiwanese catties and taels trace their roots back to the Qing Dynasty, when a measurement system based on catties and taels was widely adopted. Even after the metric system was introduced during the Japanese colonial period, these traditional units didn’t completely disappear—instead, they were preserved in specific trading markets such as tea, rice, and produce. Traditional markets in Taiwan still largely use the catty as their standard unit.
In tea culture, catties and taels carry not only unique historical significance but also great practicality. For instance, saying “1 tael” of tea just rolls off the tongue much easier than “37.5 grams.” That’s why people in Taiwan still buy tea using catties and taels; it’s quite rare for anyone to use kilograms or grams in everyday transactions.