Spirit of Tea Making

After years of travelling through Asia, Margaret Ledoux shares her experience of tea tasting.Taiwan, home to the finest quality oolong teas. Often known as 'grand cru' these teas are savoured and prized as if they were the best of wines.Margaret travelled extensively throughout Asia and has lived for extended periods in South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines.It is in Taiwan that she discovered the delicate oolongs and grew to appreciate both their aroma and taste while realizing an accompanying sense of greater well being.An unmissable guide for all tea lovers.EXCERPTIn both Britain and France, where I grew up, tea is a classic drink taken black or with milk and sugar or infused with different herbal flavours. An unforgettable four years in Taiwan introduced me to a different approach to tea and tea drinking that I would like to share with you.The tea ceremony of Japan is well known and appreciated for its precision and beauty of setting and movements-a far cry one might think from the more down-to-earth approach of the British cup of tea or the French herbal infusion. Yet the English, too, developed tea drinking as an important practice either to start the day well, or to calm the nerves after an upsetting experience, or to enjoy socialising in a relaxed and happy environment. In France, in my experience, tea is also considered more relaxing than coffee, to be preferred whenever a soothing beverage is more appropriate.REVIEWS'This is a treasure of a book and like... the tea tasting, is infused with grace, clarity, strength and beauty.' - Mary Chua, tea aficionado'I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Spirit of Tea Making. It made me want to board a plane for Taipei just to taste these wonderful teas that the author so obviously loves.' - Reni Singer, Publisher of Tahanan Books 'Written with warmth and grace this little guide unites tea lovers across the globe in the simple enjoyment of Taiwan's finest oolongs. A delightful read for all tea lovers.' - CD Hsu, Bao Cha Tea Boutique, Taipei, Taiwan.