All around the world, people drink tea. But tea does not mean the same thing to everyone. In different countries people have very different ideas about drinking tea. In China, for example, tea is always served when people get together. The Chinese drink it at any time of the day at home or in teahouse. They prefer their tea plain with nothing else in it. Tea is very important in Japan. The Japanese have a special way of serving tea call a tea ceremony. It is very old and full of meaning. Everything must be done in a special way in the ceremony. There is even a special room for it in Japanese homes. Another tea-drinking country is England, the late afternoon is called “ teatime ”. Almost everyone has a cup of tea then. The English usually make tea in a teapot and drink it with cream and sugar. They also eat cakes, cookies and little sandwiches at teatime. In the United States people drink tea mostly for breakfast or after meals. Americans usually use tea bags to make their tea. Tea bags are faster and easier than making tea in teapots. In summer, many Americans drink “ iced tea ”. Sometimes they drink “ iced tea ” from cans, like soda.

全世界所有的人都喝茶。但是，茶对每个人的意义却不尽相同。在不同的国家，人们对喝茶的看法有很大区别。例如，在中国，每当人们聚在一起的时候，都要上茶。在一天的任何时候，在家抑或在茶馆，中国人都会喝茶。他们喜欢喝不加任何东西的素茶。茶在日本也很重要。日本人用一种特殊的方式来上茶，被称为“茶道”。它历史悠久，意义深远。在“茶道”中，每一件事都被做以与众不同的方式。甚至，在日本人的家里，还有专门为此准备的房间。另外一个喝茶的国家是英国。傍晚时分被称为“茶时”。在这个时间，几乎每一个人都会喝一杯茶。英国人通常在茶壶里泡茶，并配以奶糖和奶酪来饮用。他们在“茶时”还吃一些糕点，饼干和小三明治。在美国，人们主要是在早餐时或饭后喝茶。美国人通常用茶袋来泡茶。这比在茶壶泡茶更快，更容易。在夏季，好多美国人喝“冰茶”。有时候，他们和罐装的“冰茶”，就像苏打一样。