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Thesis
The common mistake is to lift “末之上者其屑如细米末之下者其屑如菱角” out of its sentence and turn it into an absolute rule.
Text
“The finest powder is fine as rice-grains; the inferior is coarse as water-chestnuts.”
Context
末：碾成的茶末。屑如细米：细如米粒。屑如菱角：粗如菱角。
Evidence
- Collation: 各本一致。吴觉农注：唐代用碾碾茶，末之粗细直接关系茶汤溶出。
- Existing readings: 吴觉农指出茶末粗细决定出味速度：细末快出易苦，粗末慢出味淡——陆羽"细米为上"的标准，与今人"碎茶不耐泡"的经验完全一致。
Analysis
The usual misreading extracts “末之上者其屑如细米末之下者其屑如菱角” as a slogan. 各本一致。吴觉农注：唐代用碾碾茶，末之粗细直接关系茶汤溶出。 In fact every judgment in the chapter carries a limit of place, season and use.
Conclusion
The section does not give a universal rule. It demonstrates a method: read the text, the annotation and the Tang context together before making a modern claim.
Source: The Classic of Tea, Chapter V · The Brewing, section 6; the original is in the public domain.
When lost, brew a cup first.