"Thirty years ago it felt like being knighted for M.F.K. Fisher to praise my writing in her introduction to The Tea Lover's Treasury. This book is a descendant of that distant ancestor. Because I am a better writer than before, it is better organized, better written, and shorter. Because I know vastly more than before about a vastly greater array of teas, it is more useful and interesting. I return to the subject like a simple, healthful habit I enjoy and enjoy sharing the language and lore of an age-old global trade that links tea producers, dealers and consumers in a single world-wide community. And because I do not hope to return again to this subject, my hope is you will make The Ultimate Tea Lover's Treasury your starting point and carry on."

    The most complete guide to the history and pleasures of one of the world's most popular beverages.

    The tradition of tea time has long been a cherished one, bringing tranquil settings to the mind, delicate refreshments to the palate, and warm conversation with good friends to the heart.