Puer tea has been grown for centuries in the “Six Great Tea Mountains” of Yunnan Province, and in imperial China it was a prized commodity, traded to Tibet by horse or mule caravan via the so-called Tea Horse Road and presented as tribute to the emperor in Beijing. In the 1990s, as the tea’s noble lineage and unique process of aging and fermentation were rediscovered, it achieved cult status both in China and internationally. The tea became a favorite among urban connoisseurs who analyzed it in language comparable to that used in wine appreciation and paid skyrocketing prices. In 2007, however, local events and the international economic crisis caused the Puer market to collapse. Puer Tea traces the rise, climax, and crash of this phenomenon. With ethnographic attention to the spaces in which Puer tea is harvested, processed, traded, and consumed, anthropologist Jinghong Zhang constructs a vivid account of the transformation of a cottage handicraft into a major industry—with predictable risks and unexpected consequences. Watch the associated videos at https://archive.org/details/PUERTEADVD1.

Tea lovers will want to curl up - a pot of their favorite variety at hand - and linger over every informative page of this comprehensive account of tea's history and qualities. Chow and Kramer focus on Chinese teas and tea practices; their wonderfully detailed discussions leave no stone unturned in bringing to light all facets of tea as a plant, drink and institution. Two particularly interesting chapters center on tea's health benefits (which seem to be wide ranging and consequential) and how to make a good cup of tea (no easy task, to which any tea drinker can attest).

A thrilling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa See explores the lives of a Chinese mother and her daughter who has been adopted by an American couple. Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. There is ritual and routine, and it has been ever thus for generations. Then one day a jeep appears at the village gate—the first automobile any of them have seen—and a stranger arrives. In this remote Yunnan village, the stranger finds the rare tea he has been seeking and a reticent Akha people. In her biggest seller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, See introduced the Yao people to her readers. Here she shares the customs of another Chinese ethnic minority, the Akha, whose world will soon change. Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, translates for the stranger and is among the first to reject the rules that have shaped her existence. When she has a baby outside of wedlock, rather than stand by tradition, she wraps her daughter in a blanket, with a tea cake hidden in her swaddling, and abandons her in the nearest city. After mother and daughter have gone their separate ways, Li-yan slowly emerges from the security and insularity of her village to encounter modern life while Haley grows up a privileged and well-loved California girl. Despite Haley’s happy home life, she wonders about her origins; and Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. They both search for and find answers in the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for generations. A powerful story about a family, separated by circumstances, culture, and distance, Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane paints an unforgettable portrait of a little known region and its people and celebrates the bond that connects mothers and daughters.

From tea guru Sebastian Beckwith and New York Times bestsellers Caroline Paul and Wendy MacNaughton comes the essential guide to exploring and enjoying the vast world of tea. Tea, the most popular beverage in the world after water, has brought nations to war, defined cultures, bankrupted coffers, and toppled kings. And yet in many ways this fragrantly comforting and storied brew remains elusive, even to its devotees. As down-to-earth yet stylishly refined as the drink itself, A Little Tea Book submerges readers into tea, exploring its varieties, subtleties, and pleasures right down to the process of selecting and brewing the perfect cup. From orange pekoe to pu-erh, tea expert Sebastian Beckwith provides surprising tips, fun facts, and flavorful recipes to launch dabblers and connoisseurs alike on a journey of taste and appreciation. Along with writer and fellow tea-enthusiast Caroline Paul, Beckwith walks us through the cultural and political history of the elixir that has touched every corner of the world. Featuring featuring charming, colorful charts, graphs, and illustrations by bestselling illustrator Wendy MacNaughton and Beckwith's sumptuous photographs, A Little Tea Book is a friendly, handsome, and illuminating primer with a dash of sass and sophistication. Cheers!

A comprehensive collection of lifestyle information, including tips on eating, exercising, and fashion.

The past decade has seen considerable interest and progress in unraveling the beneficial health effects of tea, particularly its polyphenolic components and its antioxidant activity. Understanding the science behind the claims will help in the production and marketing of teas and tea products. Pulling together recent research and presenting it in an organized format, Tea and Tea Products discusses the manufacturing and chemistry of various teas including green, black, Pu-erh, white, and GABA teas. Emphasizing black and green teas equally, the book presents comprehensive and up-to-date reviews and perspectives on the chemistry of tea components and the molecular biology of green tea catechins and black tea theaflavins. It covers the analysis, formation mechanisms, and bioavailability of tea polyphenols and discusses bioactivities of teas including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anti diabetes. Increased awareness of the many health benefits of tea has fueled an increase in the market for ready to drink teas and tea products in general that will continue to grow. This expanding market requires a resource that provides the evidence. The editors of this volume have more than 100 research publications in tea, and experience in editing more than 50 books between them. Under their expertise and editorial guidance, the contributors present chapters that explore the science behind the health claims of teas.

William Ukers classic book on the history and lore of tea has been required reading since first published in 1936 by Alfred Knaupf. Now updated and annotated by America's tea sage James Norwood Pratt, this treasure book of tea recounts how the whole world learned to love drinking tea.

Written by one of the country's leading tea professionals, this work is an illuminating resource for tea drinkers interested in developing and refining their palate as well as their understanding of the complex agricultural, historical, and cultural significance of tea.

An introduction to the world's teas and their healing qualities! A relaxing cup of tea is a soothing way to improve your health, lighten your mood, increase your metabolism, or boost your energy. Tea has so many health benefits, from preventing cardiovascular disease to burning calories, it's no wonder so many people are choosing this classic beverage over coffee and carbonated soft drinks. If you'd like to experience the benefits and healing properties of drinking tea, here's all you need to know about: The many different types of tea, including green, black, white, oolong, and pu'erh teas. Herbal teas, kombucha, and other infusions. The use of tea as medicine throughout history. Buying and brewing the most healthful teas. Developing your own de-stressing tea traditions. Using tea in cooking and creating natural beauty products. With essential advice on brewing the perfect cup and storing your tea, The Everything Healthy Tea Book will be your go-to reference for all things tea!