Abstract: China is the birthplace of tea. Tea in China has a long history and consists of an essential part of China culture. Coffee is to westerners what tea is to Chinese. The drinking of the two beverages have already risen to a culture phenomena. The interaction between the two cultures demonstrates a state of collision and fusion. This paper respectively explores the history of Chinese tea culture and western coffee culture as well as  their social and economical values. It then summarizes their differences and similarities and tentatively points out the tendency of fusion of the different cultural practices. The paper concludes that seeking common grounds while reserving differences between distinctive cultures provide a new approach to cross-cultural communication. Meanwhile, it is the author’s hope that the paper could provide some guidance for foreign language learners.

Key words: tea culture; coffee culture; similarities; differences

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Chinese Tea Culture .1

  2.1 Brief Introduction of Chinese Tea Culture

2.2 History of Chinese Tea Culture

3. Western Coffee Culture .2

3.1 Brief Introduction of Western Coffee Culture

3.2 History of Western Coffee Culture

4. The Trend of Chinese Tea Culture and Western Coffee Culture3

4.1 Differences Between Chinese Tea Culture and Western Coffee Culture

 4.1.1 Different Classification

（i）Tea Classification

（ii）Coffee Classification

 4.1.2 Different Drinking Arts

（i）The Art of Drinking Tea

（ii）The Art of Drinking Coffee

  4.1.3 Moderation in Tea Culture and Rationalism in Coffee Culture

  4.2 Similarities Between Chinese Tea Culture and Western Coffee Culture

  4.2.1 Common Health Function

  4.2.2 Common Social Function

  4.2.3 Common Economic Function

4.3 The Fusion of Chinese Tea Culture and Western Coffee Culture

4.3.1 The Popularity of Tea in the West

4.3.2 The Popularity of Coffee in China

5. Conclusion10

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements12