白露（White Dew）

白露（White Dew）是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第十五个节气。白露过后，一年中闷热的时段就基本结束了，往后便迎来了秋高气爽。

中国古代的《诗经》中有这样一句话：“蒹葭苍苍，白露为霜”，意思是：河边芦苇青苍苍，秋深露水结成霜。

白露的到来预示着凉爽的秋日开始了。这段时间，温度逐渐降低，空气中的水汽在夜晚凝成白露，滴落在青草上，树枝间。

White Dew indicates the real beginning of cool autumn. The temperature declines gradually and vapors in the air often condense into white dew on the grass and trees at night.

白露节气习俗

白露饮秋茶

White Dew Tea

民间有“春茶苦，夏茶涩，要喝茶，秋白露”的说法，经过夏季的酷热，白露前后正是茶树生长的极好时期。

白露茶不同于春茶的柔嫩、不经泡；也不同于夏茶的干涩、味苦。相反，它的味道甘甜醇美。

White Dew tea is different from spring tea, which is usually too tender and cannot be brewed for a long time. It is also different from summer tea, which is dry and has a bitter flavor. Instead, White Dew tea tastes sweet and fresh.

葡萄正当季

Eating grapes 

葡萄是白露时节的应季水果，且具有润肺的效果，很适合在干燥的秋季里食用。

白露时节，正赶上葡萄大批上市。秋天吃葡萄有助于祛热排毒。

White Dew season comes right when grapes become widely available for sale. Eating grapes in autumn can help dispel one's internal heat and expel toxins.

龙眼汁水甜

Eating Longan

白露时的龙眼硕大、甘甜、口感上佳。因其滋养身体的功效，福建历来便有“白露必吃龙眼”的传统。

据说一颗龙眼的营养价值和一枚鸡蛋一样高。虽然这个说法听起来有些夸张，但龙眼的确具有养脾、补血、安神和美容的功效。

It is said that one longan is as nutritious as an egg. Although this sounds exaggerated, longan does reinforce the spleen, nourish the blood, calm the nerves and improve one's looks.

佳酿自此成

White Dew Wine

江浙地区有在秋季酿制“白露米酒”的传统。米酒富含多种维生素和氨基酸，有活血化瘀、促进新陈代谢的作用。

这种酒由糯米、高粱等谷物酿制成，尝起来有点甜。在过去，苏浙乡下地区的人都会自制米酒，招待上门的客人。

The wine is made of cereals, such as polished glutinous rice and gaoliang (a specific type of sorghum) and tastes a little sweet. In the past, country people in those regions all made the wine and served it to guests when entertaining.

红薯甜如蜜

Eating sweet potatoes

农谚里有“白露起，红薯生”的说法。白露是红薯收获的季节，又因红薯有防秋燥，益气力的作用，此时也是食用红薯的好时节。

不少人认为，红薯是白露时节最好的食物。过去，农民有白露当天吃红薯的习俗。据中医介绍，红薯有养脾的作用。它还可以延年益寿，降低患病的风险。

Many Chinese believe that the best food during White Dew is sweet potatoes. In the old days, peasants had the custom of eating sweet potatoes on the day of White Dew. According to traditional Chinese medicine, sweet potatoes can nourish the spleen. It can prolong life and reduce the risks of diseases.

药膳“十样白”

Ten "white" herbal medicines

中国人吃东西讲究应时应季，白露时节采集“十样白”入菜，有润燥的作用。“十样白”指十种名字中含 “白”的草药，比如白木槿、白茯苓、白山药等。

浙江温州地区的人们有在白露当天采集“十样白”草药的传统。人们认为，用乌骨鸡或鸭子一同炖煮这些草药，能够滋润身体，治疗关节炎。

People in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, have a tradition of gathering 10 herbal medicines on the day of White Dew. People believe that stewing these herbal medicines with black-bone chicken or duck can nourish the human body and treat arthritis.