四季饮茶：时令与茶的对话
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老桑说
饮一杯时令茶，藏一壶岁月。我们的生活走过了无数个四季，饮茶也是如此。
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「朋友，你好！我是老桑。」
（老桑说茶视频）
老桑说茶 | John Smagula on Tea |
因为茶是一种感观的东西了，也可以感受，也可以品尝 | The sensory experience of tea |
所以它不是一种被动的观察的东西，而是可以互动的 | isn't just for observation, but it invites our participation. |
所以呢喝茶的时候是能够跟中国的文化和历史有一种更紧密的关系 | Drinking tea is a way of becoming a part of Chinese history. |
大家好，我叫桑国亚 | Hi everyone, I'm John Smagula. |
在国外我们没有这个茶道的意识 | We don't have much awareness of tea culture in the West. |
所以我们喝的是袋泡茶或者冰红茶 | We consume bagged and iced black tea |
跟喝汽水一摸一样的 | just like soda. |
就是一种饮料 | It's treated as an ordinary beverage. |
到了中国来以后 | Once I came to China, |
我就开始发现茶的神奇 | I started to discover the mysteries of tea, |
有不同的滋味，有不同的香气， | including its different flavors and different aromas. |
所以这样的那个博大精深的感觉就开始出来 | It started me on a journey into China's profound tea culture. |
所以茶不仅仅是一种饮料， | Tea is not just a beverage, |
而是一种文化，有一种艺术 | but a culture and art. |
那茶是中国文化的核心 | Tea is the essence of Chinese culture. |
也是一个很好的文化使者 | It's also a cultural ambassador. |
那这个就引起了我自己的好奇心 | This inspired my curiosity. |
学到了这些东西以后，学而知不足 | The more I learn, the more I know I need to learn. |
还要继续学，继续了解 | Learning leads to understanding. |
中国的茶文化反映出中国历史的发展 | Tea culture reflects the advancement of Chinese civilization. |
五千年前的神农发现了茶的时候 | When Shennong discovered tea 5,000 years ago, |
是一种原始的中药 | it was a natural Chinese medicine. |
到了唐朝，陆羽的茶经就开始系统化的研究中国的茶叶 | In the Tang Dynasty, Lu Yu wrote the first systematic study on Chinese tea. |
清朝各种各样的茶已经丰富多彩 | By the Qing Dynasty, there was a wide variety of tea. |
到现在56个民族和茶的风俗是百花齐放的 | Now the 56 ethnicities of China have their own folk customs related to tea. |
那我们可以看茶这个字 | In the Chinese written character for "tea" |
上面有一个草字头，下面有个木，中间有个人 | the "person" radical lies between that of "grass" and "wood". |
那这个就是人在草和木之间 | This shows that humanity lives between plants and trees. |
那就是一个大自然的感觉 | It causes us to feel a part of nature. |
所以这样呢，我每一次和茶是一个提醒 | Each cup of tea is a reminder |
那个提醒就是，我和茶 | of our relationship with tea. |
茶是来自大自然，我也是大自然的一部分啦 | Tea comes from nature. I, too, am a part of that same nature. |
喝茶就会影响到我自己怎么生活 | Tea affects my life and |
会影响到我生活的节奏 | the rhythm of life. |
喝茶是一种心境 | Drinking tea is a state of mind. |
所以我是通过中国茶的文化 | Through Chinese tea culture |
分享给外国人的时候 | that I share with foreigners, |
可以让他们更好的了解中国 | I can help them better understand China. |
用茶来拉近外国人跟中国的距离 | Tea reduces the distance between China and the world. |
是给我很大的成就感 | This gives me great satisfaction. |
这样就可以让更多的国内和国外的朋友 | This also enables me to help more people, Chinese and foreign alike, |
都能爱上中国的茶 | come to love Chinese tea. |
虽然时代一直在变，但我们的灵魂依旧如初 | Even though the world is changing, we still stay true to ourselves. |
每当我说起茶的时候，我都会被问及在哪个季节应该喝哪种茶。
这个问题无法被简单回答，因为它与中国传统节气的数量密切相关。有些是依据习俗来判断喝茶的次序，有的则是依据中医的理念，还有的则是根据个人经验和当地的习俗来决定应当在何时喝哪种茶。
在这样的文化背景之下，我把自己个人的饮茶顺序分享给大家。
（饮茶原则1）
这是我所实践的原则。你也可以把这个叫做“喝你所爱”的饮用习惯。其实际上是一个不成文的原则。有研究显示，不同的茶叶对人体健康有着不同的益处，所以一年中每天饮用不同种类的茶叶可以对人的健康起到最有益的作用。
让个人偏好和味蕾决定你的选择。
很多人对我给出的这个答案感到很满意，因为这使他们可以灵活地根据自己的喜好来饮茶。
（饮茶原则2）
尽管有了原则1的建议，很多人仍然坚持按照更加系统专业的方式来饮茶，他们希望我给出一些喝茶顺序上应当遵循的专业建议。
在这种情况下，你可以把自己的一年中的饮茶顺序与茶叶生产的时间大致equivalent（相当的）进行对应。轻发酵茶（轻度发酵）通常制作于一季的早期，深发酵茶（深度发酵）则制作的较晚。依此顺序，你可以在春天喝轻发酵茶，而到冬天时选择喝深度发酵茶。
这样就可以让你的饮茶轮次与自然节气的变化周期相simulate（一致）。
在今天的视频中，我将介绍汉字“茶”的三个组成部分：即一个人立与草与木之间。这个汉字的结构展现了人类与植物和树木和谐共生关系。通过饮茶，我们成为了与自然和平共处的个体。
举例来说，下面是我个人饮茶的日程。我通常会灵活地遵循这个日程，因为我更倾向于实时选择自己喜爱的茶叶品种。
John's Tea Drinking Calendar 老桑的喝茶时间表 | ||
Season 季节 | Tea 茶类 | Examples 典型例子 |
Early Spring 春初 | Pre- Qingming white tea 明前白茶 | Silver Needle 银针 |
Pre- Qingming green teas 明前绿茶 | 龙井 | |
Late Spring 春末 | Post- Qingming white tea 明后白茶 | Shoumei 寿眉 |
Post- Qingming green tea 明后绿茶 | Maofeng 毛峰 | |
Early Summer 夏初 | Late- season green tea 晚期绿茶 | 崂山 |
Yellow tea 黄茶 | Mengding yellow bud 蒙顶黄芽 | |
Late Summer 夏末 | Scented teas 花茶 | Jasmine 茉莉花 Rose 玫瑰 |
Early Fall 秋初 | Lighter oolongs 浅色乌龙 | Iron Buddha 铁观音 Baozhong 包种 |
Late Fall 秋末 | Darker oolongs 深色乌龙 | 凤凰单枞 Big Red Robe 大红袍 |
Early Winter 冬初 | Black teas 红茶 | Lapsang souchong 正山小种 |
| Raw pu'er 生普洱茶 | 云南生普洱 | |
Late Winter 冬末 | Dark teas 黑茶 | Anhua dark tea 安化黑茶 |
Aged white teas 老白茶 | Fuding aged white 福鼎老白茶 |
这仅仅是一个供参考的指导意见，不是固定的原则。
这些茶叶品种也不是每年都按照上述的时间生产的，因为不同的地区和气候都会对茶叶processed（加工）的时间和方式产生影响，所以它只是从低发酵茶到深发酵茶的饮用示例。
在电影《阿甘正传》中，主人公阿甘和珍妮是儿时的伙伴，电影中的他们都各自经历了艰辛的成长历程。越战时期，阿甘告别了珍妮，因为珍妮要在全国旅行以宣传反战思想。
当她登上巴士时，那首经典的二十世纪60年代歌曲Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)《转变，转变，转变（万物皆有时）》出现在了电影背景配乐中：
To everything
(turn, turn, turn)
对于任何事物
（转变，转变，转变）
There is a season
(turn, turn, turn)
都有对应的季节
（转变，转变，转变）
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
天下的任何事情
都有对应的时间
这首歌曲提示我们，世界与生活都有四季之分。在四季中依次出现的特定事物都最终将会是对我们最好的结果。
正如电影里阿甘与珍妮历经磨难最后相遇，那个时刻最终成为了他们结婚生子的美好开端。
我们的生活走过了无数个四季，饮茶也是如此。这样我们就能最大程度地exposure（接触）多种多样的茶叶，吸收不同的营养，丰富我们的茶叶“调色板”，不同类型的茶叶将最充分地滋养你的身体。
例如，“立夏”节气过后，你可以试着喝一些晚季的绿茶，比如山东省的崂山茶或是日照茶。今年第一季的崂山茶是于深春时节采摘的，而一些高海拔的山东茶叶直到5月1日之后才会被采摘。
倘若你仍有疑问，不妨回归第一条原则：想喝什么就喝什么。
无论怎样都应享受这个过程。茶文化不是precise（精确的）科学，而是一种体验并享受适合你茶饮的过程。
朋友，实际上并没有关于何时饮用何种茶叶的具体要求，所以我希望“不成文的原则”能帮助你更加充分地体会中国茶文化，即：（1）想喝什么就喝什么（2）若是一定要遵从形式，那就是春天喝低发酵茶然后逐步过渡到秋天喝深发酵茶，同时可以按照自己的喜好进行随意选择。
希望你能享受茶文化，也欢迎在下方评论区中分享自己的喝茶经验与经历。
谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
英文版
English
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A tea for all seasons:
which tea to drink when
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「 Hello, my friend！
I’m John Smagula. 」
In today's video, I share with you some reasons for my interest in Chinese tea, as well as why I enjoy sharing my experiences with Chinese and foreign audiences alike. Enjoy!
”When I speak about tea, I am often asked which tea to drink during which season. There’s no easy answer, as there are at least as many explanations as there are solar terms! Some are based on tradition, others on principles of Chinese medicine, and still others based on personal experience and local customs.
Many traditional sources suggest drinking scented tea in the spring, white and green teas in the summer, oolong tea in the fall, and black and dark teas in the winter.
”Against this background, I'll give you my own foolproof answers:
1
Rule 1:
Drink whatever tea you want
whenever you want.
That's what I do. You can call it the "Drink whatever tea you want" diet. It's a non-rule rule. Studies have shown that different teas have different health benefits, so drinking a variety of teas each day will give you the maximum benefit year-round.
Let your personal preference and taste buds be your guide.
Many people seem satisfied when I give them this answer. Some people are quite relieved, as it opens up the flexibility to enjoy tea on your own terms.
2
Rule 2:
Go from lighter teas in the spring to darker teas in the winter.
Despite my recommendation of Rule 1, some people insist on having a more systematic approach to tea, and they ask me to recommend some sort of tea drinking routine to follow.
In this case, you can match your annual tea drinking to the rough equivalent of the tea production cycle. Lighter teas (less oxidized) are made earlier in the season, and darker teas (more oxidized or fermented) are produced later on. By analogy, you can drink lighter teas in the spring, and then work your way toward darker teas in the winter.
This way, your tea drinking cycle simulates the cycle of nature.
In today's video, I explain how the Chinese character for "tea" has three radicals: a person between grass and wood. The character indicates how humanity lives harmoniously between plants and trees. By drinking tea, we become at one with nature and peace.
For example, here is my personal tea-drinking calendar. I follow this calendar very loosely, though, as I tend to drink whatever tea feels right at the moment.
John's Tea Drinking Calendar | ||
Season | Tea | Examples |
Early Spring | Pre- Qingming white tea | Silver Needle |
Pre- Qingming green teas | ||
Late Spring | Post- Qingming white tea | Shoumei |
Post- Qingming green tea | Maofeng | |
Early Summer | Late- season green tea | |
Yellow tea | Mengding yellow bud | |
Late Summer | Scented teas | Jasmine Rose |
Early Fall | Lighter oolongs | Iron Buddha Baozhong |
Late Fall | Darker oolongs | Big Red Robe |
Early Winter | Black teas | Lapsang souchong |
| Raw pu'er | ||
Late Winter | Dark teas | Anhua dark tea |
Aged white teas | Fuding aged white |
This is merely a guideline to consider, not a fixed rule. And the teas above are not necessarily produced in that exact order, as different regions and climates all affect when and how tea is processed. It’s just an example of going from a lighter to darker course.
In Forrest Gump, Forrest and Jenny are childhood friends who each go through some trying experiences as they grow into adults. In one Vietnam War era scene, Forrest says goodbye to Jenny as she leaves to travel the country to protest the war. As she gets on the bus, the timeless 1960s song Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season) plays in the background:
To everything
(turn, turn, turn)
There is a season
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose,
under heaven
This song reminds us that the world…and our lives…have four seasons. Certain things happen during each season that ultimately will be for our greater good. For example, once Forrest and Jenny come to grips with themselves and each other, they marry and have a son.
As our lives go through various seasons, so can our tea drinking. This way, we maximize our exposure to various teas, gain various health benefits, and enrich our palettes. It all comes together for your greater good.
For example, as today is the beginning of summer, you can try some late-season green teas, such as Laoshan or Rizhao teas from Shandong. This year's first flush of Laoshan tea was harvested in late April, and some of the higher-elevation Shandong teas aren't plucked and produced until after May 1.
But when in doubt, go back to my first rule: drink what you want when you want.
And no matter what, have fun with it. Tea culture is not about precise science, but about experiencing and enjoying tea as it suits you.
My friend, there is no requirement to drink any tea at a certain time, so I hope my “non-rule rules” help you to more fully experience Chinese tea culture: (1) drink what you want when you want, and (2) if you must follow a pattern, start with lighter teas in the spring and graduate to darker teas in the fall, making exceptions as you wish.
Enjoy! Please leave a comment below to share when you prefer to drink certain teas.
1.Equivalent
a)含义：adj. 等价的；相等的
b)例句：
i.In this case, you can match your annual tea drinking to the rough equivalent of the tea production cycle.
在这种情况下，你可以将自己的一年中的饮茶与茶叶制作的周期相大致相当的进行对应。
ii.This word has no satisfactory equivalent in English.
这个词在英语中没有令人满意的对应词。
c)近义词：counterpart, equal, analogous
2.Simulate
a)含义： v. 模仿；假装
b)例句：
i.This way, your tea drinking cycle simulates the cycle of nature.
通过这样的方式就可以让你的饮茶轮次与自然节气的变化周期相一致。
ii.The models can simulate not just the structures of the molecules but also how they move and interact in relation to each other.
这些计算机模型不仅能够模拟分子的结构，而且还能模拟分子如何移动以及它们如何互相联动作用。
c)近义词：imitate, reproduce, replicate
3.Process
a)含义：v. 加工；处理
b)例句：
i.And the teas above are not necessarily produced in that exact order, as different regions and climates all affect when and how tea is processed.
这些茶叶品种也不是每年都一定按照上述的时间生产的，因为不同的地区和气候都会对茶叶加工的时间和方式产生影响。
ii.Two million workers are employed processing goods for electronic firms.
200 万名工人受雇为电子公司加工产品。
c)近义词：produce, make, create
4.Exposure
a)含义：n. 暴露；接触
b)例句：
i.This way, we maximize our exposure to various teas, gain various health benefits, and enrich our palettes.
这样我们就能最大程度地接触多种多样的茶叶，吸收不同的营养，丰富我们的茶叶“调色板”
ii.No matter what level of exposure you have, your lung cells know it and they are responding.
无论你暴露在什么样的烟雾环境中，你的肺部细胞都知道，并且会起反应。
c)近义词：revealing, uncovering
5.Precise
a)含义：adj. 精确的；明确的
b)例句：
i.Tea culture is not about precise science, but about experiencing and enjoying tea as it suits you.
茶文化不是精确的科学，而是一种体验并享受适合你茶饮的过程。
ii.People can share their precise location, the city they're in, or nothing at all.
人们可以共享他们的精确位置，所在城市，或是根本什么都没有。
c)近义词：accurate, exact, unambiguous
Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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