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Poetically Tea

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In China, a vast number of books and even poems have been written on really every aspect connected to the cultivation, preparation, consumption and indulgence of tea, about mental and health effects, about its ceremonial use etc.

The very first treatise on tea has been written by Lù Yǔ (733–804) who is regarded as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to the Chinese tea culture. His comprehensive Chájīng, The Classic of Tea, consists of 10 chapters outlining in detail the origin of tea, quality of tea, botanical remarks, describing the 15 tools for picking, steaming, pressing, drying and storage of tea leaves and for making compressed tea brick and tea cakes, describing further the 28 items used in the brewing and drinking of tea, and even various types of tea and their drinking methods. But this even to him seems a bit too comprehensive, so finally there is a chapter on those procedures, which may be omitted under certain circumstances.

Poem on Lù Yǔ by Huang Fuzeng:

Saw Lù Yǔ off to Pick Tea
Thousand mountains greeted my departing friend
When spring tea blossoming again
With indepth knowledge in picking tea
Through morning mist or crimson evening clouds
His solitary journey is my envy
Rendezvous in a temple of a remote mountain
We enjoyed picnic by a clear pebble fountain
In this silent night
Lit up a candle light
I knocked a marble bell for chime
While deep in thought for old time.

Further bits:
Previous post on tea.
Details concerning the book The Classic of Tea (wiki).
A comprehensive overview over contemporary books about Tea.

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