充满元气的明前茶(大美明前茶Thebeauty)
充满元气的明前茶(大美明前茶Thebeauty)茶农大姐花两个小时采茶,两个小时拣茶,然后再半个小时炒茶,生产出来的只是3两茶而已!A typical biluochun tea leaf has one sprout and one tender leaf. My hostess spends two hours picking spring sprouts in the morning another two picking out any undesirable leaf. The host then spends half an hour roasting it. 有四十多年制茶经验的苏州洞庭西山茶农在炒制明前碧螺春。苏州市吴中区洞庭山的碧螺春茶叶制作技艺2012年入选国家第三批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。 The taste and fragrance are so fruity and refreshing that you
Earlier this month before Tomb Sweeping Day I stayed briefly at a tea farmer’s house in an ancient village on Dongting Mountain in Suzhou that is the original production area for biluochun. My host and hostess were tea farmers with more than 40 years of tea-making experience. I watched the hostess screen the tea while the host roasted it in a large iron wok.
明前茶离我们并不远。四月初,利用清明短假,我去了苏州洞庭西山的茶农家小住。茶农夫妇俩都年过花甲。其中丈夫有40多年的炒茶经验了。女主人蒋大姐去采茶,回家以后拣出明前茶标准的一芽一叶,然后男主人用一口大铁锅炒茶。
A few minutes after roasting a delightful aroma filled the kitchen as if we were in a garden of blooming flowers. After half an hour of continuous roasting shaking and rubbing of the leaves the biluochun adorned with tender white fluff on the tiny center sprouts and a curly leaf were ready.
鲜绿的嫩叶下锅以后滋滋作响,几分钟以后,一股美妙的香气弥漫在厨房里。我的感觉就像是来到了鲜花盛开的花园。经过半个小时不断的翻炒、抖动和揉捻,茶叶炒成了,叶片卷曲,白毫毕现。
有四十多年制茶经验的苏州洞庭西山茶农在炒制明前碧螺春。苏州市吴中区洞庭山的碧螺春茶叶制作技艺2012年入选国家第三批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
The taste and fragrance are so fruity and refreshing that you wonder what chemicals constitute the beautiful sprout and what the tea shrubs have absorbed from the soil to be able to present such a bouquet. The pleasant aroma and a sweet aftertaste stay long in the mouth after drinking. It reminds you of the beauty of spring.
这样细嫩的茶叶放到杯中冲泡时,一小撮干茶就会恢复成几十个鲜活的叶片。口味果香浓郁,鲜爽提神,不禁让人去遐想,这漂亮的叶片里到底发生了什么神奇的变化,春天的茶树又从土壤里吸收了哪些养分,竟可以呈现如此美妙的味道。喝完茶后,口唇之间悦人的香气和淡淡饴糖般的回甘久久挥之不去。这就是春天的气息吧。
A typical biluochun tea leaf has one sprout and one tender leaf. My hostess spends two hours picking spring sprouts in the morning another two picking out any undesirable leaf. The host then spends half an hour roasting it.
茶农大姐花两个小时采茶,两个小时拣茶,然后再半个小时炒茶,生产出来的只是3两茶而已!
炒制碧螺春
To guarantee quality tea farmers harvest biluochun only in the spring and early summer for less than a month commonly from March 20 to April 15. After the harvest the farmers prune the tea shrubs leaving them to grow for the rest of the year.
蒋大姐说,她家每年从3月20日左右开始采茶,到4月中旬就停止了。为了保证质量,之后茶树砍到一半,然后就随它去长,直到次年再次采摘。
The tea shrubs are grown in between a variety of fruit trees and nut trees such as loquat waxberry and chestnut which might contribute to their fruity flavor.
西山的茶树和果树间杂种植。果园里随处可见枇杷、杨梅和板栗,它们的根系和茶树交叉,为茶叶添香。
苏州洞庭西山的蒋大姐在采茶
Another famous green tea longjing presents a mouthful of orchid and chestnut-like aromas in the mouth after you drink it as well as a sweet aftertaste. The flavor of the green teas usually lasts for three brews.
同样出名的杭州西湖龙井,在饮用时也会让人满口充满美妙的兰香和栗香,回甘不断。像这样的明前茶一般可以泡三次以上而香气不绝。
To brew such tender tea one has to use mineral water or well water. Tap water is likely going to ruin the subtle taste. The water temperature needs to be lowered to 80 C. If the water is too hot the taste can become bitter.
冲泡细嫩的明前茶,最好用水质比较轻的矿泉水或者是井水。自来水会大大削弱茶香。水温要降到80-85度,才能让茶味最好地展现。太烫的水会让茶出苦味。泡茶是要用上投法,先倒水,再放茶。
The Chinese value the first batch of spring teas especially those produced before Tomb Sweeping Day which fell on April 4 and guyu the last solar term in spring that fell on Tuesday. The teas named mingqian cha and yuqian cha are picked before these two days and are widely considered the best of the year. The spring’s lower temperatures help the tea leaves maintain a higher level of fragrance.
中国茶以“早”为贵,特别是明前和雨前茶,被认为是一年中最好的茶,价格也最高。
西湖龙井茶叶
Green tea has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol aid in digestion and help tea drinkers lose weight. It is rich in polyphenols which are natural chemical compounds found in tea and is believed to help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Some say drinking tea can help prevent cancer and corner radiation.Spring tea is high in amino acids and vitamins which not only imparts a better taste but also many health benefits.
明前茶的概念以绿茶为主。绿茶本身就有降血脂、降胆固醇,促进消化和减肥的作用。而春茶则含有更多茶多酚、维生素和香气物质,不仅味道和香气更佳,也能够更好地起到预防高血压冠心病、防癌和防辐射的作用。
According to Chinese medical theories the vitality of tea sprouts during the spring will help the body adapt to the rising levels of yang energy in nature.
同时,中医认为春季是阳气生发的季节。早春芽头的勃勃生机有助于人体适应季节的变化。
China has many tea-producing regions from Hainan province in the south Shandong province in the east to the Tibet autonomous region in the west. Spring tea leaves are the highest grade for green tea production.
中国拥有广袤的茶叶产区,南至海南,北至山东,西至西藏。春茶不只对于绿茶来说是等级最高的,对其它很多以春茶为原料生产的茶类也是如此,包括白茶、红茶和普洱茶。
For first-timers early spring teas taste light. But if the tea is prepared with the right type of water and with the proper method it presents a subtler structure of flavors.
没喝惯明前茶的人,会觉得茶味偏淡。其实,如果用合适的水和冲泡方法,明前茶会呈现出非常美妙的味道和微妙的层次感。
For those who wish to drink the best teas of China major Beijing tea businesses are teaming up to offer a taste of their spring teas.The 12th Beijing Spring Tea Festival opened at the Beijing Grand View Garden on the past weekend. Tea companies such as Lao She Teahouse Wuyutai and Zhangyiyuan tea stores are showcasing their spring tea products and giving free gifts or store discounts until the end of May.
又到春茶季,享用顶级绿茶的时候到了。上周末,第12届北京春茶节开幕,北京著名茶企扎推儿在大观园展示春茶产品,提供免费的春茶品饮。同时,像老舍茶馆、吴裕泰、张一元这些茶企会在自家门店提供春茶产品、免费礼品和促销,活动持续到五月中旬。
Contact the writer at yejun@chinadaily.com.cn
For authentic spring tea contact Ma Yi at 136-01250-3023
没有时间去茶农家小住品茶,在自家泡一杯清茶,吃一口点心,也是不错春日体验。喜欢的读者可以联系13601253023,与负责茶叶的小马联系,可以保证是最地道的明前茶。
想探讨更多关于茶的知识,也欢迎您发邮件到我的邮箱:yejun@chinadaily.com.cn。
作者:叶军
中国日报资深生活方式编辑