Ten, the flavor expected of the best tea is the delicate flavor of "baby's flesh."

 

第十，茶味最上者，应如婴孩身上一般的带着"奶花香"。

In accordance with the Chinese practice of prescribing the proper moment and surrounding for enjoying a thing, Ch'asu, an excellent treatise on tea, reads thus:

据《茶疏》之说，最宜于饮茶的时候和环境是这样：

Proper moments for drinking tea:

饮时：

When one's heart and hands are idle.

心手闲适

Tired after reading poetry.

披咏疲倦

When one's thoughts are disturbed.

意绪券乱

Listening to songs and ditties.

听歌拍曲

When a song is completed.

歌罢曲终

Shut up at one's home on a holiday.

杜门避事

Playing the ch'in and looking over paintings.

鼓琴看画

Engaged in conversation deep at night.

夜深共语

Before a bright window and a clean desk.

明窗净几

With charming friends and slender concubines.

佳客小姬

Returning from a visit with friends.

访友初归

When the day is clear and the breeze is mild.

风日晴和

On a day of light showers.

轻阴微雨

In a painted boat near a small wooden bridge.

小桥画舫

In a forest with tall bamboos.

茂林修竹

In a pavilion overlooking lotus flowers on a summer day.

荷亭避暑

Having lighted incense in a small studio.

小院焚香

After a feast is over and the guests are gone.

酒阑人散

When children are at school.

儿辈斋馆

In a quiet, secluded temple.

清幽寺观

Near famous springs and quaint rocks.

名泉怪石

Moments when one should stop drinking tea:

宜 啜：

At work.

作事

Watching a play.

观剧

Opening letters.

发书柬

During big rain and snow.

大雨雪

At a long wine feast with a big party.

长筵大席

Going through documents.

纬阅卷帙

On busy days.

人事'忙迫

Generally conditions contrary to those enumerated in the above section.

及与上宜饮时相反事

Things to be avoided:

不宜用：

Bad water.

恶水

Bad utensils.

敝器

Brass spoons.

铜匙

Brass kettles.

铜铫

Wooden pails (for water) .

水桶

Wood for fuel ( on account of smoke).

柴薪

Soft charcoal.

麸炭

Coarse servant.

粗童

Bad-tempered maid.

恶婢

Unclean towels.

不洁巾悦

All varieties of incense and medicine.

各色果实香药

Things and places to be kept away from :

不宜近：

Damp rooms. Kitchens. Noisy streets. Crying infants. Hotheaded persons.

Quarreling servants. Hot rooms.