揭秘六堡茶英文名LlU PAO TEA的由来与外贸传奇
为什么六堡茶的英文名是"LlU PAO TEA"？这个独特的拼写背后隐藏着一段鲜为人知的外贸历史。
Why is the English name of Liubao Tea spelled as "LlU PAO TEA"? This unique spelling conceals a little-known chapter of export history.
在19世纪末，六堡茶开始大规模出口。当时马来西亚处于英国殖民统治下，主要经营六堡茶的是说粤语的香港商人。他们在报关时，按照粤语发音将"六堡茶"写成"Liu Pao Tea"，就像"Black Tea"（红茶）一样，这个习惯一直沿用至今。
In the late 19th century, Liubao tea began to be exported on a large scale. At that time, Malaysia was under British colonial rule, and the main traders of Liubao tea were Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong merchants. When declaring customs, they wrote "六堡茶" as "Liu Pao Tea" according to Cantonese pronunciation, just like "Black Tea". This custom has been maintained to this day.
六堡茶不仅是一种饮品，更承载着百年华工下南洋的历史记忆。最初因其能调理肠胃、适应东南亚湿热气候而在当地矿场流行。随着福建、广东人带去的"叹茶"文化在马来西亚、新加坡落地生根，六堡茶在当地茶楼也广受欢迎。
Liubao tea is not just a beverage, but also carries the historical memory of Chinese laborers going to Southeast Asia a century ago. It first became popular in local mines because it could regulate the digestive system and adapt to the hot and humid climate of Southeast Asia. With the "tea appreciation" culture brought by Fujian and Guangdong people taking root in Malaysia and Singapore, Liubao tea also became popular in local tea houses.
当时矿老板大量采购六堡茶，后来因马来西亚矿业衰退，许多未使用的六堡茶留存至今，成为珍贵的百年陈茶。如今，六堡茶已成为东南亚华人对故乡的文化记忆。
At that time, mine owners purchased Liubao tea in large quantities. Later, due to the decline of Malaysia's mining industry, many unused Liubao teas were preserved to this day, becoming precious century-old aged teas. Today, Liubao tea has become a cultural memory of their homeland for overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.
除了其温和茶性和保健功效外，六堡茶还承载着粤语文化认同。LlU PAO TEA维系着海外粤语背景华工群体的身份认同，成为他们与故乡联系的重要纽带。这也使六堡茶远销香港、澳门、日本和东南亚等地，一度成为中国出口量最大的外销茶。
In addition to its mild tea properties and health benefits, Liubao tea also carries Cantonese cultural identity. LlU PAO TEA maintains the identity of overseas Cantonese-speaking Chinese laborers and has become an important link to their homeland. This also made Liubao tea sell well in Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and Southeast Asia, once becoming China's largest exported tea.
