VOYAGES AUX SOURCES DU THE - C.BOURZAT - L.MOUTON

From the Indian Ocean to the China Sea, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the slopes of Fujiyama, from family-run tea estates to high-tech factories, Catherine Bourzat and Laurence Mouton have journeyed through the tea gardens of Asia following the fortunes of tea.

The two explorers spent three years travelling thousands of miles and returned with travel journals packed with anecdotes, original recipes, pressed plants and comments from tea connoisseurs and experts, providing an insight into the fascinating world of tea.

A wonderful book with photographic illustrations.
Editions du Chêne, 519 pages. In french

THE TEA DRINKER’S HANDBOOK

Here is the American Version of The Tea Lover’s Guide.

An essential reference work for all those who are interested in tea.
Having spent 20 years scouring plantations in search of the rarest teas, the creators of Le Palais des Thés are unveiling the innumerable secrets learned over the course of their travels.
An impressive source of information, wonderfully clear and educational, this guide takes you on a journey to the tea gardens to meet those who dedicate their talents, with passion and patience, to the pleasure of tea enthusiasts throughout the world.
Every year, François-Xavier Delmas and Mathias Minet use their expertise to judge thousands of teas. Here, they reveal the keys to the art of tea tasting with essential tips for preparing infusions and a selection of fifty teas that they rate as the world’s finest.

By François-Xavier Delmas, Mathias Minet, and Christine Barbaste.
210 illustrations and photos in full color.
Abbeville Press, 240 pages / Size: 6 1/4" x 10 1/4"

THE TEA LOVER’S GUIDE - F-X. DELMAS, M. MINET

An essential reference for all those interested in tea.

Having spent 20 years scouring plantations in search of the rarest teas, the creators of Le Palais des Thés are unveiling the innumerable secrets learned over the course of their travels.

An impressive source of clear and educational information, this guide takes you on a journey to the tea gardens to meet the people who passionately and patiently dedicate their talents to bringing enjoyment to tea enthusiasts throughout the world.

Each year, François-Xavier Delmas and Mathias Minet use their expertise to judge thousands of teas. Here, they reveal the keys to the art of tea tasting with essential tips on preparing infusions and a selection of 50 teas that they consider the world's finest.

Les Editions du Chêne, 240 pages, including 210 photographs and illustrations.

In English.

LE GUIDE DE DEGUSTATION DE L’AMATEUR DE THE - F-X. DELMAS, M. MINET

An essential reference work for all those who are interested in tea.

Having spent 20 years scouring plantations in search of the rarest teas, the creators of Le Palais des Thés are unveiling the innumerable secrets learned over the course of their travels.

An impressive source of information, wonderfully clear and educational, this guide takes you on a journey to the tea gardens to meet those who dedicate their talents, with passion and patience, to the pleasure of tea enthusiasts throughout the world.

Every year, François-Xavier Delmas and Mathias Minet use their expertise to judge thousands of teas. Here, they reveal the keys to the art of tea tasting with essential tips for preparing infusions and a selection of fifty teas that they rate as the world’s finest.

Les Editions du Chêne, 240 pages, including 210 photographs and illustrations.

In French.

LA CUISINE AU THE

The fruit of 5 years collaboration between Carine Baudry and Sylvain Sendra, chef at the Itinéraires restaurant, in Paris. This work is a collection of the best recipes using tea created in the context of The Tea School. Each recipe is supplemented with a dish/tea combination.
65 recipes

Les Editions Agnès Viénot
Size: 21cm x 27cm
192 pages
50 photographs of recipes and 150 photographs from reports
In French only

LE LIVRE DE L’AMATEUR DE THE - S. YI, J. JUMEAU-LAFOND, M. WALSH

"A beverage of the gods and of men, of hot countries and cold lands, a friend of the loner and enjoyed at social ceremonies, tea knows no boundaries and today reveals its true nature: universality.
But this was not initially apparent, and tea has travelled on a long journey, from its legendary beginnings in China in the third millennium B.C. to the bags that people toss into their cups today without a second thought. We want to lead the reader along this ‘path of tea’. It will take us on European shipping routes, of course, but also on the purely inner journey of the wise men of the East."

Editions Robert Laffont, 239 pages. In French.

HISTOIRE DU THE - P. BUTEL

The story of tea goes back to Asia's most distant past, when legend and history mingle to tell of its origins in China more than 2,000 years B.C.
Gradually, the preparation and the ceremonies associated with tea became refined into rituals that found their ideal place in Chinese Taoism. Next, Japan made tea an essential part of its culture.
It was not until the seventeenth century that Europe discovered tea, when the East India Company's ships brought the precious commodity back from the Far East.

Paul Butel is professor of modern history at the University of Bordeaux III and specialises in colonial history.

Editions Desjonquères, 255 pages. In French.

LE MAITRE DE THE - Y. INOUE

In 1591, Rikyu, a master of the tea ceremony, receives the order to commit hara-kiri. After his death, an old monk and disciple of the master wonders why Rikyu did not request a pardon, as it likely would have been granted. In his journal, the old man recounts his meetings with the great masters of the tea ceremony, and reflects on the days he spent with Rikyu. In a long, imaginary conversation with his former master, he discovers the answer to his question ... (in French)

THE ET TAO, L’ART CHINOIS DU THE - J. BLOFELD

Although it does not adhere to any set of rules or ceremony, unlike in Japan, a Chinese art of tea-drinking does exist. This ch'a-shu is presented here by John Blofeld, who brings to life a chapter in China's cultural and spiritual history through a collection of colourful characters. (in French)

LA ROUTE DU THE ET DES FLEURS - R. FORTUNE

The Scottish botanist Robert Fortune (1813-1880) did not set out to lead an adventurous life. But at the end of the 1840s, the East India Company sent him on an urgent mission to unearth the secrets of China tea. He was asked to sneak into China as a spy, discover the whereabouts of the best tea varieties and study the techniques used to prepare the leaves.

What makes Fortune’s story so delightful, in addition to the accounts of successive adventures, is his hungry curiosity: any sense of danger he had was forgotten in his amazement at the glories of the land he discovered.

Petite Bibliothèque Payot, 233 pages. In French.