中国的茶文化和美国的咖啡文化

摘要
茶和咖啡不仅是两种很受欢迎的饮料，还代表着东方和西方不同的文化。

茶对中国中国人的重要性犹如咖啡对美国人的重要性一样。

茶和咖啡有幸同之处也有不同之处。

咖啡在美国人的生活中有着不可取代的地位，而茶在中国人的生活中不仅是一种饮料，更是承载着人情和文化。

茶和咖啡，有着不同的内涵、历史，因此也代表了中美两方文化的差别。

本文首先对中国茶文化和美国咖啡文化进行了简单的介绍，紧接着分析了中国茶文化和美国咖啡文化的相同点和不同点，并探讨了背后的原因。

最后，得出结论，随着经济全球化和文化融合的发展，中国茶出现在了美国，美国咖啡出现在了中国。

本文通过比较中国茶文化和美国咖啡文化，旨在促进对西方文化的了解，以及促进跨文化交流。

关键词：中国茶文化；美国咖啡文化；跨文化交际
Abstract
Tea and coffee are not only two kinds of popular drinks, but also the representatives of two different cultures in the east and the west. The importance of tea to Chinese is what the importance of coffee to Americans. Tea and coffee have similarities and differences. Coffee holds an irreplaceable position in American people’s life, and tea in the Chinese people's life is not just a drink, it is carrying the human and culture. Tea and coffee have a different meaning, history, and therefore represent the difference between the two parties and American culture.
Firstly, the paper gives a brief introduction to Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture. Then it analyzes the similarities and differences of Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture and probes into the causes of similarities and differences. Finally, a conclusion is drawn that with the development of globalization and cultural integration, Chinese tea can be found in America and coffee appears in China.
This thesis makes a comparative study on Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture, aiming to enhance the understanding of western culture and promote intercultural communication.
Key words: Chinese tea culture; American coffee culture; intercultural communication
Contents
摘要 (I)
Abstract ............................................................................................................................ I I Chapter One Introduction . (1)
1.1 Chinese Tea Culture (2)
1.1.1 Brief Introduction of Chinese Tea Culture (2)
1.1.2 History of Chinese Tea Culture (2)
1.2 American Coffee Culture (3)
1.2.1 Brief Introduction of American Coffee Culture (3)
1.2.2 History of American Coffee Culture (3)
Chapter Two Similarities of Chinese Tea Culture and American Coffee Culture (5)
2.1 Cultures with a Long History (5)
2.2 Common Social Functions (5)
2.3 Common Economic Functions (6)
Chapter Three Differences of Chinese Tea Culture and American Coffee Culture (8)
3.1 Origin and Development (8)
3.2 Efficacy (9)
3.3 Drinking Art (9)
Chapter Four Causes of Similarities and Differences Between Chinese Tea Culture and American Coffee Culture (12)
4.1 Geographic and Cultural Reasons (12)
4.2 Historical and Philosophic Reasons (13)
Chapter Five Conclusion (14)
References (15)
Aknowledgements (16)
Chapter One Introduction
As the national drink of Chinese people, tea has a long history in China. There are several varieties of tea. In some ways, Chinese tea represents Chinese culture.
Just like tea in China, coffee also holds an important position in western countries. The word "coffee" comes from the Greek "Kaweh", meaning "strength and passion." Coffee stands for the western culture and the characteristics of the western people.
As the representatives of the east and the west, tea and coffee are not only two kinds of popular drinks, but also symbols of two different cultures. As a Chinese common saying goes, firewood, rice, oil, salt, vinegar and tea are the basic and indispensable necessities in the daily life of Chinese people. There is a counterpart saying in the western people’s mouth that if I’m not in the coffee house, then I will be on the way to the coffee house. This reflects the roles of tea and coffee in the people’s life in China and America respectively.
In the past few years, Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture have developed rapidly. Chinese tea and American coffee play a increasingly important role in Chinese and American people’s life. Tea houses and coffee houses have become a good place to make friends with strangers, promote feelings with family members and friends and do business transactions. As the intercultural communication deepens and tea culture and coffee culture grow, more and more Chinese people develop a passion for coffee and Americans begin to drink tea.
However, there are some similarities and differences between Chinese tea and American coffee culture. Therefore, a study is necessarily carried out to seek for a feasible way for intercultural communication between Chinese and American people.
The growing environment of coffee and tea is very different. Coffee grows in hot Africa, South America, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica and other places. These places have tropical or subtropical climate, which is good for coffee growing. Tea grows in mild and humid climate, such as China's Hangzhou and other places. This hot and mild climate is representative of the main differences between Chinese and American cultures.
This thesis intends to facilitate the intercultural communication between Chinese and American people by probing into the Chinese tea culture and
American coffee culture, especially their similarities and differences. The paper firstly gives some basic information to Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture and then focuses on the similarities and differences between Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture as well as the factors which determine their differences. Finally, a conclusion is given to the whole thesis.
1.1 Chinese Tea Culture
1.1.1 Brief Introduction of Chinese T ea Culture
Chinese tea culture is an important component of Chinese traditional culture. The tea has a long record and it is hard to pinpoint exactly when tea begins in Chinese history. There is evidence to suggest that the drinking habits elsewhere in the world originate directly or indirectly from China. According to the definition in The Grand Dictionary of Chinese Language, culture refers to the material and spiritual wealth created in the practice process of human social history. Thus, tea culture refers to the material wealth and the spiritual wealth related to tea. In a narrow sense, tea culture only refers to the spiritual wealth.
Chinese tea culture mainly consists of the methods of preparing tea, the equipment for making tea and the occasions when tea is drunk in China. Chinese tea has both the embodiment of Chinese spiritual civilization and the extension of the ideological form. Consequently, it contributes to enriching the cultural wealth and aesthetic appreciations of Chinese people.
Tea has an extensive and profound influence on the development of Chinese culture. Tea culture raises the standards of cultural atmosphere. With the development of globalization, Chinese tea culture will have more impacts on other parts of the world in the future.
1.1.2 History of Chinese Tea Culture
The story of tea begins in China in this way. In 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nong was sitting under a tree while the servants were boiling drinking water. Suddenly, some leaves fell into the boiling water. Shen Nong, a herbalist, decided on trying the infusion of water and leaves that is created accidentally by his servants. The drink mixing water and leaves is called tea. Since Shen Nong found tea, tea has remained in China for a long time. As a kind of popular drink, tea was accepted and loved by millions of families.
China is the homeland of tea. It is believed that tea-shrubs appeared in China as early as five to six years ago and the cultivation of tea plants has a history of two thousand years. Chinese tea, as well as Chinese silk and porcelain, is an outstanding contribution to the world’s material and spiritual civilization.
Since the foundation of Chinese People Republic in 1949, the annual production of tea has increased rapidly from 7500 tons to over 60 million tons. In 1982, the first unity “home of tawny man”was set up with the purpose of developing Chinese tea culture. And then in 1998, Chinese international peace tea culture communication house was launched. With the development of tea culture, more and more cities began to hold “the festival of tea”like Yunnan’s Pu-erh tea festival and Fujian Wuyi tea festival.
1.2 American Coffee Culture
1.2.1 Brief Introduction of American Coffee Culture
Coffee tea culture refers to the diffusion and adoption of coffee as a widely consumed stimulant by a culture. Some social atmospheres or social behaviors rely heavily on coffee. In the United States, September 29th is celebrated as “National Coffee Day”, from which we can see the importance of coffee in people’s daily life.
1.2.2 History of American Coffee Culture
The history of coffee dates back to the 9th century. Firstly, found in Ethiopia, coffee beans were taken to the Middle East by Arab traders, spreading to Y e man, Egypt, Persia, Turkey and North Africa in the 15th century. Muslin merchants brought the beans to the port city of V enice and then coffee spread across Europe and eventually arrived in America.
The origin of coffee involves varied legends, two of which are widely accepted, that is, the shepherd’s story and Arab monks story.
According to the story, a shepherd in Ethiopia named Kaldi noticed one day that the sheep that had eaten the red cherries from a kind of plant suddenly became hyperactive, jumping on the mountain. The shepherd tried some of them and soon became overactive like his herbs. Afterwards, he gave them to the monks to eat and they felt refreshing after eating. Finally, the fruit is used as a refreshing medicine. The fruit is today’s coffee.
According to Arab monks story, the snow Chloe marr was banished for a crime for the reason that he had fallen in love with the king’s daughter. Due to desperate starvation, he plucked the fruit from an unknown plant, cooked them and ate. After eating, he became comfortable and refreshed. Therefore, he took a lot of the marvelous fruits with himself. On the way, when he met sick people, he would give them the marvelous fruits. Thanks to his kindness, the king forgave him and let him returned home. The cure medicine was called coffee.
Tea and coffee, as two popular drinks in the east and the west, play an important role in people’s daily life. With the development of the society and the improvement of people’s living conditions, China and America have formed tea culture and coffee culture with their own characteristics.
Chapter Two Similarities of Chinese Tea Culture and
American Coffee Culture
Although tea and coffee have different origins and history, they share some similarities. On the one hand, they both have a long history. With the globalization of politics, economy and culture, tea appears in the Western countries and coffee also appears in China.On the other hand, tea and coffee have some common functions socially and economically.
2.1 Cultures with a Long History
Both tea and coffee have a long history and legendary past. Chinese tea has a long history about five thousand years and coffee dates back to one thousand years. They have become the representatives of the east and the west respectively.
As tea and coffee spread widely, numerous tea houses and coffee houses emerge continuously. Just as coffee has become an important part of people’s daily life in the west, tea becomes a part of people’s daily life in China.
2.2 Common Social Functions
Tea and coffee are more than daily drinks. Even though they grow in different places, they share common social functions. Their social function is unique and enormous. Nowadays, more and more like relaxing themselves with family members and friends over a cup of coffee or tea.
With the development of the society and the improvement of people’s living, more and more people go to tea houses or coffee houses for a cup of tea or coffee instead of at home to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.
In China, when a guest or a visitor arrives home, the host usually make a cup tea for him to show friendliness and respect. People are always very modest. Even though they offer the guest the best tea at home, they will say they have no good tea to treat the guests. Then they will chat with each other as they drink tea. Drinking tea can cultivate people’s morality, edify appeal and achieve spiritual enjoyment.
There are some special cases where tea is provided and consumed. For example, in order to show respect to the elders, the younger generation will offer a cup of tea. Family members sometimes get together in a tea house for a family reunion or meeting. What’s more, children’s serving tea to their parents is regarded as a sign of regret, submission and apology. In addition, in Chinese traditional marriage ceremony,
the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve tea to them to show their gratitude and respect.
Just like tea, coffee also plays an important role in the society. Coffee houses serve as centers for social interaction and places in which people can chat, relax, exchange ideas and enhance mutual understanding. It concentrates on the relaxation of life and the reception of guests as well. Living in such a fast-developing world, people sometimes desire to find a relaxing environment to enjoy delicious food and refresh themselves. Drinking coffee is not a bad choice. Taking a sip of coffee and recalling the past is the shadow of life.
In a word, both tea and coffee has the function of alleviating the mental fatigue and refreshing body and mind. Also, tea and coffee play a significant role in promoting friendship, maintaining personal relationship, activating inspiration and relaxing mind.
2.3 Common Economic Functions
In the past several decades, Chinese tea industry has developed rapidly. The tea export quantity amount repeatedly broke the record in the past consecutive years. The price of tea rises by 6.66% year by year. Tea is the widely consumed beverage, which can quench their thirst, build character and cure diseases. Tea carries forward the traditional virtues of cultural and artistic shows, self-cultivation and promotes national unity, economic performance and social progress and development of trade. Traditional virtues are accumulated over thousands of years by the ancient people of the good moral respected, embodying national spirit and social habits. Traditional tea culture mainly manifests selfless dedication, perseverance, humility courtesy, diligence and thrift. A prosperous development of the tea industry is going on. China is the only one of the largest tea countries that produces all kinds of tea in the world. The economic value of tea lies in its great contribution to the overall economic development of China.
Coffee is also one of the main economic goods in the world trade. Just behind petroleum, coffee is the second most traded product in the world and 7million metric tons of coffee has been produced annually since 2010. According to the statistics, an American worker spends about 20 dollars on coffee every week. In spite of the slow economic growth of the USA, the demand for coffee is still on the increase and coffee still holds a stable and powerful position in the consumption.
Chinese tea and American coffee have created GDP to China and America
respectively. With the development of globalization, the improvement of living conditions and the change of life style, the business of tea and coffee will play increasingly powerful role in boosting the economy.
Chapter Three Differences of Chinese Tea Culture and
American Coffee Culture
Despite the fact that there exist some similarities between Chinese tea and American coffee, they differ dramatically from each other in terms of origin, efficacy and drinking art.
3.1 Origin and Development
Cultivated in different places, tea and coffee have distinctive origins and developments.Culture is a delicate thing, at first glance nothing be refined, but penetration in people's daily lives, such as tea, such as coffee.
The appearance of tea is said to begin in ancient China more than 5,000 years ago. Shen Nong, an emperor discovered tea leaves and invented the drinking of tea. As the story goes, Shen Nong stopped to have a rest on a visit to remote place and his servants were boiling water to sever the emperor when the leaves from the tree fell into the pot, making a brown drink. Out of curiosity, the emperor tried to sip it and unexpectedly found it refreshing. Later, it became the national wide drink of China, called tea.
As the Chinese tea spreads widely, it was firstly introduced to the Arabian and then in the early seventeenth century, it was exported to Europe, from which it spread to the whole world rapidly. Chinese tea, just like Chinese silk and china, has become the symbol of China.
The origin of coffee is also intriguing and interesting. According to the story of a shepherd, he observed that his sheep became overactive after eating the red cherries of a certain plant and then he tried some by himself and became hyperactive like his herb. Since then, coffee has been in existence in people’s daily life. Another legend goes that an Arabian was banished to the desert and he and his followers boiled and ate the fruit from the unknown plant due to starvation. The unknown fruit saved them. The fruit is today’s coffee.
Coffee beans was first discovered in Ethiopia as a kind of food rather than a drink. Later it was brought to the Middle East and was spread to Egypt, Turkey, Y emen, Persia and North Africa in the 15th century. And then coffee was much popularized by the British India Trade Company in England, from which time coffee has spread across Europe and America.
Chinese tea and American coffee have different origins and developing roads and
eventually form different cultures and customs.
3.2 Efficacy
As popular beverages, Chinese tea and American coffee not only can relax people but also they have unique efficacy.
People believe that tea is a healthy drink and a drink of the soul. As to efficacy, tea works effectively against cancer according to scientific studies. It is scientifically confirmed that tea contains a great deal of biochemical ingredients which are beneficial to people’s health. Not only can tea cultivate taste and refresh the spirit., but also cure some common diseases, such as cancer. Additionally, tea helps to fight against harmful bacteria and virus, promote blood circulation and improve the function of the digestive system. It is obvious that tea have many pharmacological effects that are irreplaceable by other drinks.
As for coffee, it is found out that coffee can effectively prevent the recurrence of gout. Containing vitamin B, coffee is good for the skin. And it can hold people in high spirit and remove fatigue effectively. However, drinking too much coffee will make people overexcited and cause anxiety and sleep disorder.
Tea and coffee enrich people’s life and contribute to their body. Generally speaking, it is better to drink tea than drink coffee because coffee contains too much caffeine, which will on the one hand help people keep a clear head and refresh them and on the other hand stimulate people’s nerves and make them sleepless, causing health risk.
3.3 Drinking Art
Drinking tea and coffee is more than to quench thirst. It is also a kind of art, a kind of spirit enjoyment. The drinking art of tea and coffee includes the methods of preparing, the equipment used to boil them and the way to drink.
The drinking art of tea is complicated and particular. It is a complex procedure from the growth of tea to the time tea is enjoyed by people. The following four elements in regard to tea art should be paid much attention to.
(1)The art of tea leaves: The quality of tea is largely determined by the quality of the prepared tea leaves. Chinese people thought of many good ways to preserve tea leaves so as to keep the original flavor of tea.
(2)The art of tea sets: The tool of making tea and the utensil of drinking tea are called tea sets. Tea sets came into being in the slave society and began to change from
Ming Dynasty. The shape, color and style of tea sets have experienced a series of changes. The changes in the styles and patterns of tea sets show the development of tea culture
(3)The art of water: Water is the foremost element for making good tea. Fresh and clear water is the primary choice. The temperature of water is also very crucial. The optimal temperature of water should be controlled between 80。

C and 90。

C. Otherwise, the nutritional value of tea will be reduced.
(4)The art of making tea: The tea making process consists of four stages: frying tea, cooking tea, brewing tea and making tea. In making tea, people have to obey some rules. Selecting tea leaves, cleaning tea sets, brewing tea, serving tea, tasting tea and adding water are all obligatory steps. Normally, the level of the water should be three-fourths of the whole cup and the water temperature must be appropriate.
(5)The art of drinking tea: Good tea places great emphasis on color, smell and flavor. In drinking tea, Chinese people like savoring tea to distinguish good tea from ordinary and enjoy the delight in drinking tea. There are some procedures to follow in drinking tea, just as a saying goes “it is bitter for the first time, sweet for the second time and the third time is the aftertaste”. The choices for the places to drink tea are also special. People tend to find a comfortable, neat, peaceful and refreshing location for a cup of tea.
Chinese tea culture is a combination of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Tea makes people calm in mind, cultivates sentiment, removes fatigue and strengthens bodies. Chinese tea culture is also a combination of material culture and spiritual culture.
The art of drinking coffee is as rich as that of drinking tea. Small cups are often used to drink coffee. The correct way of holding coffee cups is using thumbs and forefingers to hold the ear of the cup and raise it up. If people need some sugar, they will use the coffee spoon to put the sugar in. The cups and dishes for coffee should be placed on the right or in front of people. While drinking coffee, people usually hold the cup by the right hand and use the left hand to hold the coffee disc, moving coffee to the mouth and enjoying it. It is considered impolite to make a sound while drinking coffee or take the coffee cup off the coffee dish.
The amount of coffee is strict. People shouldn’t drink three or four cups continuously like drinking other beverages. A normal cup of coffee is just right. If people want to drink more, they can add some milk or hot water. It is necessary to
drink coffee while it is still hot. The water temperature is crucial for making good coffee. The appropriate temperature should be 95。

C. If the temperature is too low, the coffee taste can not be completely released. If the the temperature is too high, the nutritional ingredients of coffee will lose.
To summarize, tea is a drink which requires some time to prepare and taste. At the same time Coffee and tea contains the affection; tea itself contains the Chinese people's feelings of others. The tea culture is slow, calm and peaceful. In contrast, the coffee culture is fast and frantic. Drinking tea can make people calm, relaxed and refreshed. The taste of coffee is mellow and rich in fragrance, along with its unique bitter taste.
Chapter Four Causes of Similarities and Differences Between Chinese Tea Culture and American Coffee Culture Similarities and differences between Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture result from geographic, cultural, historical and philosophic influences.
4.1 Geographic and Cultural Reasons
In ancient times, because of the poor transportation, it is hard and even impossible for the people to communicate with people in other countries. People in different countries learnt so little from each other that they created and formed their own living habits, including diet culture.
Due to the gradual frequent cultural exchanges, tea also appeared in American life and coffee becomes a daily beverage of Chinese people. The difference between Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture reflect the cultural differences. Westerners like an easy life and Chinese people are willing to confer any thing certain meaning and significance.
Culture is a delicate thing, penetrating in people's daily lives, such as tea and coffee. As a representative of Chinese tea culture, tea carries colorful Chinese culture for thousands of years and also has their own tea culture. Chinese tea culture manifests Chinese people’s implicitly tactful way of communication. With the development of globalization, China's tea culture is inevitably affected by the impact and challenges of western coffee culture.
Located in eastern Asia, China is surrounded by seas in the east and south and by continents in the west and north. Originated in the Y ellow River basin, Chinese civilization maintained stability and historical continuity due to the geographical environment secluding China from the outside world. The unique cultural tradition and social mentality are attributable to the unique natural environment of China. Confucian ethics, born in an enclosed continental natural environment, made the Chinese people have conservative minds and behaviors. Their awareness of openness, risk competition and progress is poor. In contrast, the western people have strong sense of competition and keen desire of progress. Upholding individuality and freedom, the westerners are more open and less anxious than Chinese people. Because of cultural orientation, Chinese people are particular about the tea pot, cups, water and the environment while drinking tea. They like to choose some meaningful and profound topics to talk about over a cup of tea, for they think drinking tea is an
elegant behavior.
The western culture originated in Ancient Greece and Rome, all parts of which face the sea. Well-developed maritime transportation and thriving maritime trade form an open society. The frequent interpersonal exchanges formed people’s openness and their cultural characters. The westerners advocate hard work, self-improvement, and entrepreneurship. The unique cultural tradition in the west develops the westerners’extrovertive personality. Thus, while drinking coffee, the western people like to drink fast and they pay less attention to the pot, cups and environment than Chinese people. They only want to relax themselves and enjoy the delight of drinking coffee.
4.2 Historical and Philosophic Reasons
Ancient China depended on agriculture for a long time. Chinese people respected and relied heavily on nature, for the traditional philosophy was based on the agricultural civilization. It is believed that man is a part of nature and people must follow the law of nature. Man and nature must be in harmony with each other. Ancient people believed that only in this way they could stay healthy and live a good life. Tea comes from nature. Therefore, while drinking tea, people emphasizes the harmony of human and nature.
Coffee culture was originated in the European continents. In ancient times, some countries are conquered. People in the conquered countries believed that only fight could hold on to their living lands and became the ruler. Western people place more emphasis on individualism and self-reliance and work hard to get what they want. So while drinking coffee, western people are less particular about the process than Chinese people. They just enjoy the leisure time and the delight in drinking coffee in a fast way.
Chapter Five Conclusion
As the representatives of Chinese culture and American culture, studying and knowing more about Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture is essential for intercultural communication between the east and the west.
As the fruit of Chinese history, Chinese tea culture is not only Chinese people’s wisdom but also a part of the world non-material cultural heritage. Chinese tea culture will promote the development of Chinese culture and the world culture. Likewise, with its distinctive culture, American coffee will also make outstanding contributions to the development of the world culture.
With the development of globalization and intercultural communication, cultures of different countries integrate with and influence each other constantly in various ways, including Chinese tea culture and American coffee culture. Coffee will become increasingly popular in the USA and at the same time more and more Americans will enjoy drinking Chinese tea. Coffee houses can be easily found everywhere in China and tea houses will spread every corner of America. Tea houses and coffee houses are not only places for drinking and enjoyment but representatives of culture.
In the future, Chinese tea and American coffee will certainly play a more and more important part in many aspects, including the development of culture, economic development and the promotion of intercultural communication.。