Chapter IV · The Vessels: Commentary — For tea bowls, those of Yuezhou are best, Dingzhou and…
"For tea bowls, those of Yuezhou are best, Dingzhou and Wuzhou next; of the Yuezhou type, Yue is finest, then Shouzhou and Hongzhou."
Chapter III · The Making: Practice today — Tea is gathered in the second, third, and fourth months…
"Tea is gathered in the second, third, and fourth months."
Chapter II · The Implements: Terroir — The stove should have no chimney; the cauldron should have…
"The stove should have no chimney; the cauldron should have a lipped rim."
Chapter I · The Origin: Close reading — As for the ground: the finest tea grows in shattered…
"As for the ground: the finest tea grows in shattered rock, the middling in gravelly loam, and the inferior in yellow clay."
Chapter VIII · The Producing Regions: History — In Zhedong Circuit, Yuezhou is best, Mingzhou and Wuzhou next…
"In Zhedong Circuit, Yuezhou is best, Mingzhou and Wuzhou next, and Taizhou lower."
Chapter VII · The History: Commentary — Yan Ying, when minister to Duke Jing of Qi, ate…
"Yan Ying, when minister to Duke Jing of Qi, ate only husked-rice meals, with three roast game birds, five eggs, and tea-leaf vegetable."
Chapter V · The Brewing: One-page summary — 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: Making — When it first boils, with fish-eye bubbles and a faint…
"When it first boils, with fish-eye bubbles and a faint sound, that is the first boil; when the rim seethes like linked pearls, the second; when it surges like waves, the third. Be
Chapter III · The Making: Plain reading — Tea takes a thousand forms. To speak roughly: some are…
"Tea takes a thousand forms. To speak roughly: some are like barbarian boots, puckered and shriveled; some like the chest of a wild ox, ribbed and draped; some like clouds rising f
Chapter II · The Implements: Taste and body — 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."