Chapter VII · The History: Plain reading — Zuo Si's poem The Doting Daughters reads: 'Their hearts race…
"Zuo Si's poem The Doting Daughters reads: 'Their hearts race for the tea, they puff and blow upon the tripod.'"
Chapter VI · The Drinking: Taste and body — Alas! Heaven nurtures all things, and each has its utmost…
"Alas! Heaven nurtures all things, and each has its utmost subtlety. Yet what men labor at is only the shallow and easy. They dwell in houses, and houses are refined to the utmost;
Chapter V · The Brewing: Text and editions — When the water first boils — with bubbles like fish…
"When the water first boils — with bubbles like fish eyes and a faint sound — that is the first boil. When bubbles rise along the rim like a linked string of spring pearls, that is
Chapter III · The Making: Practice today — The good and ill of tea rest in the transmitted…
"The good and ill of tea rest in the transmitted oral formula."
Chapter II · The Implements: Terroir — The chuan string is made in Jiangdong and Huainan from…
"The chuan string is made in Jiangdong and Huainan from split bamboo, and in Bashan and the gorges from twisted mulberry-bark. In Jiangdong one jin is a large string, half a jin a
Chapter I · The Origin: Close reading — If one takes qini in place of ginseng, none of…
"If one takes qini in place of ginseng, none of the six ailments will be cured. Understand how ginseng may mislead, and the pitfalls of tea become clear."
Chapter I · The Origin: Making — Tea is a fine and noble tree of the South…
"Tea is a fine and noble tree of the South. It may stand one or two feet tall, or reach many dozens of feet. In the mountain gorges of Bashan, there are trees so thick that two men
Chapter VIII · The Producing Regions: Text and editions — In Huainan Circuit, Guangzhou is best, Yiyang and Shuzhou next…
"In Huainan Circuit, Guangzhou is best, Yiyang and Shuzhou next, Shouzhou lower, and Qizhou and Huangzhou lowest."
Chapter VI · The Drinking: Practice today — For tea of rare freshness and rich fragrance, pour but…
"For tea of rare freshness and rich fragrance, pour but three bowls; for that of the second grade, five. With five guests, serve three bowls; with seven, five. With fewer than six,
Chapter V · The Brewing: Terroir — The finest powder is fine as rice-grains; the inferior is…
"The finest powder is fine as rice-grains; the inferior is coarse as water-chestnuts."