What is water for making tea?
Spring water
Throughout Chinese history, there has been a great emphasis on the water used to make tea, believing that water is the foundation of tea.
(Ming) Zhang Dafu wrote in "Plum Blossom Caotang Bi Tan" that "the nature of tea must come from water. When eight percent of water meets ten percent of tea, the tea is also very good. When eight percent of water is tested, the tea is only eight percent."
Emperor Qianlong once said, "The root of tea drinking must come from water.". Qianlong specially made a silver bucket to test the quality of spring water nationwide. According to the quality of the water, it ranked first in Jinan Baotu Spring, second in Zhongleng Spring, third in Wuxi Huiquan, and fourth in Hangzhou Hupao Spring. (Qianlong: "The First Spring in the World")
Tea Saint Lu Yu is not only a master of tea tasting, but also a master of spring tasting
Spring water types
1. Tianquan
During the Ming Dynasty, literati emphasized the use of Tianshui, and they had different evaluations of Tianquan in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The rain in autumn is the best for tea cooking, followed by the rain in plum rain season, followed by the rain in spring, while the rainstorm in summer is the worst water quality, so it is not recommended to use it for tea cooking. When collecting rainwater, a clean white cloth must be used to collect it in the center of the courtyard. As for the rainwater flowing from the eaves, it cannot be used.
2. Snowy water
The ancients believed that rain was the essence of grains, and it was the most elegant way to make tea. The Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi wrote in his poem: "Taste the snow water tea leisurely.".
3. Dew
Also known as "Heavenly Wine", it is a beverage of ancient immortals. According to the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", "The dew from the immortal hills is often consumed by immortals.". Among the emperors of all dynasties in China, Qianlong was the most particular about dew. Emperor Qianlong often went to Chengde Mountain Resort in summer and liked to collect dew on lotus leaves in Taiping Lake to cook tea. He thought it was better than Yuquan Mountain Spring in Beijing.
4. Diquan
The ranking order of famous springs in various parts of China varies slightly among different dynasties:
Tang Dynasty:
Cold Spring in Yangzijiang Jinshan Temple
Wuxi Huishan Temple Spring
Suzhou Huqiu Temple Spring.
the Ming dynasty
Wuxi Huishan Temple Spring
Cold Spring in Jinshan Temple
Hangzhou Hupaoquan
the Qing dynasty
Beijing Yuquan Mountain
Cold Spring in Yangzijiang Jinshan Temple
Wuxi Huiquan
