A：Chinese have a saying：Firewood，rice，oil，salt，sauce，vinegar and tea are the seven necessities to begin a day。Though tea is last on the list，we still can see the importance of tea in daily life。
B：Yes，A simple meal in Chinese is Cu Cha Dan Fan，namely coarse tea and tasteless dinner。Even a simple meal is finished off with tea，so its importance is obvious。
A：Tea is compared to personal character。The fragrance of tea is not aggressive；it is pleasant，low-keyed and lasting。A friendship between gentlemen is also like a cup of tea。With a cup of tea in hand，enjoying the green leaves in a white porcelain cup，you will feel peace。Fame，wealth and other earthly concerns are far away。Tea is the symbol of elegance。
B：Maybe it's because tea is regarded as the most Zen-like drink。As early as the Tang Dynasty，a reputed Zen master answered three monks of different status with“Go and have your cup of tea”！This same answer was meant to clear up the perceived inequality among monks。
A：I didn't know that before。Chinese people，in their drinking of tea，place much significance on the act of“savoring”。
B：That's why people also regard tea drinking as an art。“Savoring tea”is not only a way to discern good tea from mediocre tea，but also how people take delight in their reverie and in tea-drinking itself。Snatching a bit of leisure from a busy schedule，making a kettle of strong tea，securing a serene space，and serving and drinking tea by yourself can help banish fatigue and frustration，improve your thinking ability and inspire you with enthusiasm。
A：You may also imbibe it slowly in small sips to appreciate the subtle allure of tea-drinking，until your spirits soar up and up into a sublime aesthetic realm。Buildings，gardens，ornaments and tea sets are the elements that form the ambience for savoring tea。
B：A tranquil，refreshing，comfortable and neat locale is certainly desirable for drinking tea。Chinese gardens are well known in the world and beautiful Chinese landscapes are too numerous to count。
A：Therefore teahouses tucked away in gardens and nestled beside the natural beauty of mountains and rivers are enchanting places of repose for people to rest and recreate themselves。
B：Exactly。Tea is a mysterious but harmonious combination；it is spiritual as well as material，and invigorating as well as pacifying。Its character is flexible in different environments。
A：For example，as tea goes in a different direction，a different tea culture is formed。In Japan，the rigorous tea ceremony reflects the nation's character of making full use of every resource，while tea also represents peace of mind。In the West，tea with sugar and milk may be served with desserts to create a leisurely and romantic atmosphere。
A：中国有一句俗语：开门七件事，柴、米、油、盐、酱、醋、茶。虽然茶排在最后一位，我们依然可以看到茶对我们日常生活的重要性。
B：是的，中文里的粗茶淡饭就是简单的一顿饭，从这个词语里就可以看出茶的重要性，因为简单的一顿饭也需要以茶结束。
A：茶经常被比作人的性格。茶香清淡，低调而持久。君子之交淡如水。手中一杯茶，享受白色瓷杯里的绿色茶叶，你就能感受到宁静，世俗名利的想法早已抛得远远的。茶是优雅的象征。
B：也许那是因为茶被看做是最有禅意的饮料。早在唐朝的时候，一个有名的禅师对三个不同阶层的和尚说了一句“去喝你们的茶吧！”这句话清除了之前和尚之间的不平等。
A：我之前还不知道这个呢。中国人在饮茶的时候非常注重品茶。
B：那就是为什么人们把饮茶看成是一门艺术了。“品茶”不但是鉴别茶的优劣，也带有神思遐想和领略饮茶情趣之意。在百忙之中泡上一壶浓茶，择雅静之处，自斟自饮，可以消除疲劳、涤烦益思、振奋精神。
A：也可以细啜慢饮，达到美的享受，使精神世界升华到高尚的艺术境界。品茶的环境一般由建筑物、园林、摆设、茶具等因素组成。
B：饮茶要求安静、清新、舒适、干净。中国园林世界闻名，山水风景更是不可胜数。
A：利用园林或自然山水间，搭设茶室，让人们小憩，意趣盎然。
B：没错。茶是神秘与和谐的结合；它是承载了精神价值的物质载体，充满活力而又使人清静。茶的特性使它在不同的文化都可以被接受。
A：例如，茶到不同的地方就会形成不同的茶文化。在日本，严格的茶艺表演反映了这个民族充分地利用资源的特点，而茶也代表了平和的心境。在西方，茶加糖或牛奶再配上点心就能营造一种悠闲而浪漫的氛围。
Porcelain n。瓷器
Earthly adj。世俗的，尘世的
Zen n。（佛教的）禅（宗）
Savor v。品味
Kettle n。茶壶
Reverie n。沉思，出神
Sublime adj。庄严的；雄伟的；崇高的，高贵的
Tuck vt。把……塞[挤]进；藏起（in，into）；使隐藏（away）；使蜷曲
Enchanting adj。迷[醉]人的
Invigorating adj。精神充沛的，爽快的
Pacify vt。抚慰；使镇静
Rigorous adj。严格的；严肃的；严厉的
背景知识——中国的茶文化
China is a country with a time-honored civilization and a land of ceremony and decorum。Whenever guests visit，it is necessary to make and serve tea to them。Before serving tea，you may ask them for their preferences as to what kind of tea they fancy and serve them the tea in the most appropriate teacups。In the course of serving tea，the host should take careful note of how much water is remaining in the cups and in the kettle。Usually，if the tea is made in a teacup，boiling water should be added after half of the cup has been consumed；and thus the cup is kept filled so that the tea retains the same bouquet and remains pleasantly warm throughout the entire course of tea-drinking。Snacks，sweets and other dishes may be served at tea time to complement the fragrance of the tea and to allay one's hunger。
中国是文明古国，礼仪之邦，很重礼节。凡来了客人，沏茶、敬茶的礼仪是必不可少的。当有客来访，可征求意见，选用最合来客口味的茶叶和最佳茶具待客。主人在陪伴客人饮茶时，要注意客人杯、壶中的茶水残留量，一般用茶杯泡茶，如已喝去一半，就要添加开水，随喝随添，使茶水浓度基本保持前后一致，水温适宜。在饮茶时也可适当佐以茶食、糖果、菜肴等，达到调节口味和减缓饥饿之功效。