Chapter V · The Brewing: Modern tea science — Tea is frugal by nature; it should not be used…
"Tea is frugal by nature; it should not be used too lavishly, for overuse dims its flavor."
Chapter IV · The Vessels: One-page summary — For water, mountain spring is best, river next, well lowest…
"For water, mountain spring is best, river next, well lowest. Of mountain springs, choose the milky fountains that seep from rocky pools; avoid rushing, churning torrents."
Chapter III · The Making: Making — The buds that sprout from dense thickets, with three, four…
"The buds that sprout from dense thickets, with three, four, or five shoots, are picked by selecting those that rise most boldly."
Chapter II · The Implements: Plain reading — The cheng base, also called tai or zhen, is made…
"The cheng base, also called tai or zhen, is made of stone; otherwise of locust or mulberry wood, half-buried in the ground so that it will not rock."
Chapter I · The Origin: Taste and body — Its tree resembles the gualu; its leaves the gardenia; its…
"Its tree resembles the gualu; its leaves the gardenia; its flowers the white rose; its fruit the palm-nut; its stem the clove; its root the walnut."
Chapter VIII · The Producing Regions: Modern tea science — In Lingnan, teas of Fuzhou, Jianzhou, Shaozhou, and Xiangzhou are…
"In Lingnan, teas of Fuzhou, Jianzhou, Shaozhou, and Xiangzhou are occasionally obtained, and their flavor is excellent."
Chapter VII · The History: One-page summary — In the Jin, Lu Na, governor of Wuxing, when Xie…
"In the Jin, Lu Na, governor of Wuxing, when Xie An came to call, set out only tea and fruit."
Chapter VI · The Drinking: Making — 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: Plain reading — 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: History — The good and ill of tea rest in the transmitted…
"The good and ill of tea rest in the transmitted oral formula."