【原文】你要茶还是要咖啡？是用餐人常被问到的题目，许多西方人会选咖啡，而中国人会选茶。相传，中国的一位帝王于五千年前发现了茶，并用来治病。在明清（the Ming and Qing Dynasties）期间，茶馆遍布全国，饮茶在六世纪传到日本，但直到十七、十八世纪才传到欧美。如今，茶是世界上最流行的饮料（beverage）之一，茶是中国的民族饮品，也是中国传统文化的重要组成部分。

　　【译文】

　　Tea or coffee? Diners are frequently asked this question. Western people may choose coffee, while Chinese may prefer tea. It is said that 5,000 years ago, an emperor in China discovered tea and used it to cure disease. In the Ming and Qing Dynasty, tea houses could be found all over the country. Tea-drinking was introduced to Japan in the sixth century, but was not introduced to Europe and America until the 17th and 18th century. Up to now, tea has become one of the most popular beverages in the world. It is the national drink of China and an important part of Chinese traditional culture.