The captivating history of the world’s most adaptable beverage

Tea is sipped, whisked, boiled, iced, flavoured, spiced, mixed with milk and sugar, or enjoyed with salt and butter across various geographies. It is an essential element of both ceremony and leisure in various cultures – a universal symbol of harmony and hospitality.

But do not be deceived by its unassuming appearances, food historian Helen Saberi warns us – tea has a rich and vivid history steeped in ritual and religion, adventure and enterprise, smuggling and revolution, literature and social change. From its legendary beginnings in China to the role of India in bringing this prized plant to the world; how it came to symbolize the American pursuit for independence, and finally, the myriad varieties of tea being cultivated everywhere from Argentina to Zimbabwe today – tea has truly established itself as a binding global cultural force.

This concise volume maps the evolution of tea-drinking and hospitality, tracing the history of its trade along ancient caravan routes, its arrival in the West aboard clipper ships, the various traditions around tea gardens, teahouses, tea dances and the British afternoon tea, the invention of tea bags and iced tea, and the newest addition to this marvellous legacy – the bubble tea. With vivid illustrations and recipes from around the world, Tea is a rejuvenating treat for curious minds.