The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak / January 14, 2026

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Crossword Answer

1 ? M

2 ? O

3 ? N

4 ? E

5 ? Y

Hint

Interactive Solver for The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 5 Letter

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Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think about something that can be exchanged for goods, but isn't coins or bills.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

????? is a medium of exchange in the form of coins, banknotes, or other items used to facilitate trade.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue refers to historical practices where tea leaves were pressed into blocks and used as a form of currency in ancient China. This practice highlights the high value and trade importance of tea at the time.

Hint 4

another clue

Reveal Hint

Appropriate anagram of VENMO, if you change the "V' to a "Y", Bread, bucks, What makes the world go 'round, per "Cabaret", Currency, Coinage, funds

Clue Analysis

The 5-letter answer to “The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this” in the New York Times Mini puzzle January 14 2026 is MONEY.

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Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 5-letter answer for "The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this" is MONEY.

A: The clue refers to historical practices where tea leaves were pressed into blocks and used as a form of currency in ancient China. This practice highlights the high value and trade importance of tea at the time.

A: This clue was last seen in the NYT Mini Crossword on January 14, 2026.

A: Money is a medium of exchange in the form of coins, banknotes, or other items used to facilitate trade.

A: Appropriate anagram of VENMO, if you change the "V' to a "Y", Bread, bucks, What makes the world go 'round, per "Cabaret", Currency, Coinage, funds

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The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this NYT Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

Interactive Solver for The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this Crossword Clue