The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was a glorious period in the history of imperial China. During this time, drinking tea became a lifestyle adopted by everyone, thus beginning the golden age of our beloved infusion.
Although the custom of drinking tea originated in southern China, by the middle of the Tang Dynasty it was already consumed throughout the country thanks to the rapid development of the product, particularly in terms of quality and price, as well as how easy it was to obtain at that time, so tea was appreciated by everyone, from royalty and nobles to ordinary people. Everything that had to do with this drink was related to good taste and sophistication.
This context encouraged literary composition on the subject of tea. Thanks to this, one of the great masters called Lu Yu wrote what is considered the first monograph on tea, “The Classic of Tea” (Cha Jing or Cha Chang).
Not surprisingly, countless poems have also been written in praise of this mystical drink. One of the most famous is Yuan Zhen's pagoda poem, which he wrote before his friend Bai Juyi's departure. Pagoda poems are poems that open with a single character as an introduction and gradually increase in characters until the last line (in this case) is composed of fourteen ideograms.
Yuan Zhen of the Tang Dynasty
Tea: Pagoda Poem
TEA
Fragrant leaves, tender shoots
The desire of poets, love of monks
Macerated in white jade and sifted in red gauze
Infused in a cauldron of the color of gold, in a whirlpool, foam of flowers
At night it welcomes the bright moon, at dawn it dissipates the pink mist
Past and present, those who drink it feel invigorated and it soothes hangovers.
This beautiful poem begins by describing the aroma of tea and the small shoots from which the best teas are produced, making it the favorite drink of poets and monks. It then describes the preparation of tea, with details of how the golden color looks like flower pistils. And whether enjoyed in the moonlight or in the early morning dew, tea is a refreshing drink that cleanses and comforts, both in times past and today. It ends by emphasizing its beneficial effect in avoiding or calming the dreaded hangover.
1200-year-old wisdom!
Olivia Medina
Tea Master, EURO TEA
