Tea Culture: History, Traditions, Celebrations, Recipes & More - Softcover

Dubrin, Beverly

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1936140705 ISBN 13: 9781936140701

Publisher: Imagine, 2012

Synopsis

Pour a cup, open the covers....this is your cup of tea! Tea for two, tea for three...tea for more! Hot or cold, sweetened or black, alcoholic or herbal, caffeinated or decaf: the drink may be ancient, but tea culture is trendy. More and more people are discovering the elegance, versatility, downright good taste, and even the health benefits of this delicious beverage. And they want to find out even more: the different flavors, the best methods of preparation, and the fun ways to enjoy a cup at home, with others at a party, shower, or any other special occasion. Every page of this book is infused with answers to these tea-related questions.

About this title

About the Author

Beverly Dubrin is a food journalist and tea-lover. For over 20 years, she published her private newsletter, Beverly Dubrin's Where-To-Guide, about food, shopping, and travel, and now authors Beverly Dubrin's Where-To-Guide blog. A graduate of Brown University, she previously handled Information Technology for several large American computer manufacturing companies. Beverly lives in Walnut Creek, California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

My first tea memory is of my Russian-born grandmother sitting at her kitchen table, sipping a glass of hot tea. As I was growing up, I remember my mother chatting with friends in the living room, while eating cookies and sipping tea from bone china cups. My mother so treasured her cup and saucer collection that, for birthdays and other special occasions, my father and I would shop for yet another set for her. I cherish what remains of Mother’s bone china, using it when friends come for special visits.

It was not until I went away to college that tea became an essential part of my life. Every afternoon my dormitory housemother would brew a pot of orange and sweet, spice-flavored black tea and open her apartment door, inviting us to stop in for a visit and a cup of tea. The aroma of the tea was so intoxicating that I couldn’t resist taking a few minutes for a cup, almost every day. These regular visits provided me with the opportunity to relax and to build a trusting friendship with my housemother and classmates, who also welcomed the brief respite from academic stress. To this day,
I associate this fragrant tea with cozy surroundings and special friendships. I always have a box of it on my tea shelf.

Today, tea is a part of my daily routine. I start my workday with a steaming cup of citrus green tea, which I sip slowly as I work at my computer. As my day progresses, I consume several more cups of tea, selecting different types and flavors to suit my mood, the weather, and the time of day. My day ends with an after-dinner cup of herbal infusion or decaffeinated tea. When a friend or associate stops by, the first thing I ask is, “Would you like a cup of tea?” A simple cup of tea sets the stage for a leisurely visit.

Edition details

• Publisher: Imagine
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1936140705
• ISBN 13: 9781936140701
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 144