Tea: A Global History (Reaktion Books - Edible)
As English grandmothers say, a good cuppa tea puts the world to right. The English, of course, are not the only tea consumers in the world; in fact, as the subtitle of this handy, informative little survey indicates, tea is enjoyed the world over and ranks, globally, as the second-most-popular beverage after water. Botantical details about the tea plant and a discussion of the six types of tea (determined by the method for treating the leaves for consumption) leads the author to a fuller examination of the history of tea cultivation and usage in Asia and in the Western world. Reader interest will be more closely focused on tea preferences and customs in England and the U.S. For instance, how the tradition of afternoon tea was born in England will delight public-library tea drinkers, and those with a historical bent will be interested in how the story of the Boston Tea Party is placed here into the general history of Americans’ fondness for tea. The author concludes with optimism over tea’s continued popularity. --Brad Hooper