Grand Treatise on Tea
The Grand Treatise on Tea is a book written by the Chinese Emperor [Emperor Emperor Huizong of Song|Huizong of Song|Huizong] of the Song dynasty in 1107.
Emperor Huizong was a great connoisseur of tea, with masterful skill in the art of tea ceremony. He often engaged in tea tasting and tea competitions with his subordinates at the Song imperial court. Emperor Huizong's favourite was Anji Bai Cha. In the Treatise on Tea, Emperor Huizong provided the most detailed, vivid and masterful description of the Song dynasty technique of tea spotting. The Emperor also laid down seven criteria for Tea Competitions.
The Treatise on Tea is a key document for understanding the most sophisticated tea ceremony in Chinese history. It stands as the monumental treatise on tea after Lu Yu's The Classic of Tea.
Contents
- Preface 茶論
- Locale 地產
- Season & Weather 天時
- Picking & Selection 采擇
- Steaming and Pressing 蒸壓
- Tea Making 制造
- Appraising Tea 鑒辯
- White Tea 白茶
- Grinders and Sieves 羅碾
- Tea Bowls 盞
- Bamboo Whisk 筅
- Water Vase 瓶
- Ladle 構
- Water 水Dian; Preparing and Whisking the Tea 點
- Flavour 味
- Fragrance 香
- Colour 色
- Drying & Storage 藏焙
- Famous Teas 品名
- The Private Sector 外焙