Chapter V · The Brewing: Misreadings — For water: mountain spring is best, river water next, and…
"For water: mountain spring is best, river water next, and well water lowest."
Chapter III · The Making: Terroir — 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: Close reading — 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: Vessels and fire — The finest ginseng grows in Shangdang, middling in Baekje and…
"The finest ginseng grows in Shangdang, middling in Baekje and Silla, and inferior in Goguryeo. That grown in Zezhou, Yizhou, Youzhou, and Tanzhou is useless as medicine — let alon
Chapter I · The Origin: Plain reading — 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: Misreadings — In Shannan Circuit, Xiazhou is best, Xiangzhou and Jingzhou next…
"In Shannan Circuit, Xiazhou is best, Xiangzhou and Jingzhou next, and Hengzhou lowest."
Chapter VI · The Drinking: Terroir — 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: Close reading — 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."
Chapter IV · The Vessels: Vessels and fire — For one sheng of boiling water, use one fangcun-spoon of…
"For one sheng of boiling water, use one fangcun-spoon of tea powder. If you like it thin, reduce it; if you crave strength, increase it."
Chapter III · The Making: Words and things — On rainy days do not pick; on clear days with…
"On rainy days do not pick; on clear days with clouds do not pick; only on perfectly clear days pick."