Tea History, terroirs, varieties

Tea has been a hallmark of civilization for millennia, having originated in China and spread across the globe. Throughout the years, a rich art and a complex science have developed around the cultivation and consumption of tea. Drawing on the collective experience of the four tea connoisseurs of Montreal's Camellia Sinensis Tea House, this remarkably detailed guide examines the history and culture of tea, regional varieties, cultivation techniques, and myriad flavor profiles. Also included are interviews with experts throughout the tea industry, from Darjeeling heritage gardens to the great cafes. Replete with beautiful photographs, recipes, and charts detailing everything from tea's medicinal benefits to the Gong Fu Cha drinking ceremony, a more thorough guide would be hard to find. Tea-drinkers and die-hard coffee fans alike will appreciate the subtleties and traditions of this dynamic drink. The authors make a compelling case for tea truly being "the ultimate universal beverage." (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Foreword Tea is the ultimate universal beverage. Whether in a Mongolian yurt, a Berber encampment in the middle of the Sahara, a house in Azerbaijan, admiring a verdant Irish landscape or in the heart of the mountains of New Zealand, it is tea that warms us when we are cold and cools us when we are hot. It welcomes the arriving guest and is a promise from the departing guest to return. From China, where it originated, tea has crossed all the borders of the world. It is known and respected for its virtues and appreciated for its taste. Celebrated by poets and adored by emperors, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world today and forms an integral part of the diet of millions at all levels of society. With its history that spans several millennia, a wealth of cultures that have influenced it and traditions that have raised it to its noble stature, the world of tea is so vast that it can never be completely known. Whether it comes from the precious first harvests of spring, the sacred mountains of China or the highest gardens of Darjeeling, every cup of tea tells a story, reveals knowledge and conjures up a landscape. If we add in the expertise of master craftspeople who have passed on these traditions over several centuries we have a vast diversity of unique and exotic products. For many years now, our approach as tasters and importers has led us to discover the terroirs of tea, the way in which it is grown and processed, the role each plays within its own culture and the economy of the country where it is produced, the evolution of the rituals that accompany its serving, and the reasons it came to be considered such a noble beverage. These discoveries have enriched our enjoyment of tea as well as our knowledge of it. This book reflects a progression that we hope will accompany you on your future taste travels. What we offer you here is naturally a Western approach to tea, but we attribute as much importance to the plant and the places where it grows as to the master producers who devote their lives to its cultivation. For we must not forget that, just like wine, tea represents one of humanity's most fabulous achievements, using precious knowledge inherited over generations and taking advantage of the most distinct properties of its specific growing environment. -- Hugo, Jasmin, François, Kevin and the team at Camellia Sinensis Tea House Excerpted from Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, Francois Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais, Hugo Americi All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.