大年這幾天，雞鴨魚肉、美酒佳肴大家都吃喝了不少吧，是不是覺得有點油膩了？

經歷了幾天的大吃大喝，咱們去去油膩，在今天的China story里，一起來聊聊茶文化。

History

歷史

Tea and tea culture have been an intrinsic part of Chinese history and society for centuries, it can be traced as far back to before 2000 BC and the Qing Dynasty. The mythical Emperor 神農 discovered tea when a leaf fell into boiled water he was drinking, beginning a tradition that exists to this very day.

中國是茶的故鄉, 古代中國人發現并利用茶據說是始于神農時代, 少說也有4000多年了。

The Classic of Tea

《茶經》

Tea drinking really took off particularly after the completion of The Classic of Tea by Lu Yu in the 8th century.

尤其是唐代陸羽寫的《茶經》在歷史上可以說是吹響了中華茶文化的號角.

茶經分為3卷共10個章節, 系統地總結了茶葉種植、生產、加工、品飲等等方面, 把飲茶從日常生活習慣提升到了藝術和審美的層次.

To brew tea

泡茶

Inspired by Lu Yu's idea, the literati attributed medicinal qualities to tea, praised it for sharpening the mind.

Religious rituals

宗教儀式

Tea to spread throughout society and to be used in religious rituals and offerings.

特別是文人墨客上流社會, 認為比起會讓人迷醉失態的酒, 茶可以讓你的頭腦清醒, 是一種更上乘的飲品，因此在很多宗教儀式上也少不了茶的身影。

The Ancient Tea Horse Road

茶馬古道

As time goes by, our customs of tea drinking spread over to Europe and to many other regions via the ancient Silk Road and other channels of trade such as Tea Horse Road in southwest of China.

之后, 隨著歷史的推進, 中國的茶文化也隨著絲綢之路和茶馬古道逐步傳向了世界.

萬事順意·龍年大吉

Types of Chinese Teas

茶的種類

The type of tea produced is determined by the level of oxidation the tea leaves are allowed to undergo before the process is stopped by heating the leaves.

茶的種類是根據它的氧化的程度不同來決定的。不過我們的茶商通常會把這個oxidation叫做fermentation發酵.

白茶

White tea

It's essentially unfermented tea.

基本屬于不發酵的茶

綠茶

Green tea

綠茶屬于微發酵 lightly fermented

烏龍茶

Oolong tea

半發酵的烏龍茶 half fermented

紅茶

Black tea

全發酵的紅茶 fully fermented

黑茶

Dark tea / Fermented tea

These are generally quite dark and strong, they're set to be post-fermented.

按咱們的說法來說, 那是一種后發酵的茶

Fermentation

發酵

Oxidation

氧化

萬事順意·龍年大吉

In 2022, traditional tea processing techniques and their associated social practices in China were added to UNESCO's list of the intangible cultural heritage.

在2022年中國傳統制茶技藝以及其相關習俗被加入了聯合國教科文組織的人類非物質文化遺產代表作名錄.

Tea ceremony

茶道

The tea ceremony is a typical Chinese activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of tea. It has held great cultural significance in China for over 1,000 years.

The basic steps of a tea ceremony include prepare tea, offer or serve tea, appreciate tea, sniff tea, savor and drink and taste tea.

To appreciate tea

品茶

Tea competition

斗茶/茗戰

Lidded tea bowl

蓋碗

Sharing cup/pitcher

公道杯/茶海

Purple sand clay teapot

紫砂茶壺

Tea tray

茶盤

Tea holder

茶匙

Scent cup

聞香杯

Tea tongs

茶夾

Tea pet

寵