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Tales of the Tea Trade: The secret to sourcing and enjoying the world's favourite drink
Tales of the Tea Trade looks at the world of tea from a completely new perspective. Taking the reader on a fascinating journey directly into the lives of those who plant, pluck and process tea; going beyond the standard story of leaf to cup; this book offers readers a unique first-hand insight into the culture, ceremony, opportunities and threats surrounding an ancient art. Closer to home, Michelle and Rob Comins offer their perspectives on how Eastern tea rituals can find a place in our increasingly busy Western lives. Beyond this, the book explores the key ingredients that separate a ‘good’ from a ‘great’ tea, covers ethical sourcing and shows how readers can translate and recreate tea ceremonies at home. Chapters include The Story of Tea, The Tea Plant, The Main Types of Tea, The International Tea Industry, Tea and Health and Time for Tea. This book stands alone in addressing tea from multiple expert perspectives, from tea farmers to ceramacists. Through sharing the stories and insights others have shared with them Michelle and Rob Comins hope to connect the reader with the world of tea and excite them to think of and buy tea in much the same way they do coffee and fine wine, making loose leaf tea a simple, everyday pleasure.
- GenresTeaNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2019
9 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 12, 2020
It always pays to browse the shelves at the library. I found Tales of the Tea Trade in the tea section and immediately picked it up, especially since Infused by Henrietta Lovell was such a good read and I was eager to read more about the tea industry. Tales of the Tea Trade turned out to have a slightly different slant and I enjoyed it very much.
While Tales of the Tea Trade is written by Michelle and Rob and contains their accounts of the places that they’ve been to, the best part of the book, for me, is the accounts of the farmers themselves. During the section on the International Tea Industry, the largest section of the book, Michelle and Rob interview tea farmers and teaware artisans to get their stories. It’s this diversity of stories, from places such as Malawi (featuring the Satemwa tea estates whose teas I’ve been enjoying), China, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, and more! Each chapter also comes with gorgeous photos of the farms and pottery.
The book ends with a section on how to prepare tea. The Comins go through the ways of brewing with a gaiwan, yixing pot, kyusu, as well as cover brewing recommendations for different types of tea such as Korean tea and matcha. Coupled with an introduction to tea and you have a pretty in-depth overview of the whole subject.
I happen to be reading The Tale of Tea right now so I’m a little picky – for example to present the myth of Shennong without putting it in the context of how the first mention of Shennong discovering tea was raised by Lu Yu does seem like a perpetuation of the myth – but to be honest if I wasn’t learning so much from The Tale of Tea, all these details wouldn’t have bothered me.
If you’d like to get the tea in the book and you’re based in the UK, the Comins have two tea shops – one in Bath and one in Dorset. It’s a pity that I didn’t discover this book before I went to Bath but there’s always next time!
Overall, I found this a fascinating and pretty in-depth look at the tea industry in various industries. I don’t know if it’s suitable for complete beginners, given the level of detail it goes into farms, but it’s definitely a book about tea that I’d recommend to people who are looking to go beyond the basics.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
While Tales of the Tea Trade is written by Michelle and Rob and contains their accounts of the places that they’ve been to, the best part of the book, for me, is the accounts of the farmers themselves. During the section on the International Tea Industry, the largest section of the book, Michelle and Rob interview tea farmers and teaware artisans to get their stories. It’s this diversity of stories, from places such as Malawi (featuring the Satemwa tea estates whose teas I’ve been enjoying), China, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, and more! Each chapter also comes with gorgeous photos of the farms and pottery.
The book ends with a section on how to prepare tea. The Comins go through the ways of brewing with a gaiwan, yixing pot, kyusu, as well as cover brewing recommendations for different types of tea such as Korean tea and matcha. Coupled with an introduction to tea and you have a pretty in-depth overview of the whole subject.
I happen to be reading The Tale of Tea right now so I’m a little picky – for example to present the myth of Shennong without putting it in the context of how the first mention of Shennong discovering tea was raised by Lu Yu does seem like a perpetuation of the myth – but to be honest if I wasn’t learning so much from The Tale of Tea, all these details wouldn’t have bothered me.
If you’d like to get the tea in the book and you’re based in the UK, the Comins have two tea shops – one in Bath and one in Dorset. It’s a pity that I didn’t discover this book before I went to Bath but there’s always next time!
Overall, I found this a fascinating and pretty in-depth look at the tea industry in various industries. I don’t know if it’s suitable for complete beginners, given the level of detail it goes into farms, but it’s definitely a book about tea that I’d recommend to people who are looking to go beyond the basics.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
December 14, 2019
Borrowed the book on a whim as I saw it was available at the library and enjoy books about tea. The Cominses are a couple who have their own tea shop and travel the world sourcing tea for their business. They talk about their business, the history of tea, types of tea, how to drink tea, how tea is grown and harvested, etc.
It was dull. I thought the book was actually about the tea trade itself, as in the history and how it became the drink that is consumed today. I wasn't particularly interested in their story and had never heard of their shop.
I also have to say that I'm not really sure what the book was trying to do. Tell their specific story? Talk about the history of tea? Discuss the tea trade, as the cover says? It felt very run of the mill and a book that is perhaps super specific to their patrons but not necessarily useful for others.
Luckily I borrowed this from the library. Would recommend that as the best way to read this book but I wouldn't go to the effort to reading it unless you're really dying to.
It was dull. I thought the book was actually about the tea trade itself, as in the history and how it became the drink that is consumed today. I wasn't particularly interested in their story and had never heard of their shop.
I also have to say that I'm not really sure what the book was trying to do. Tell their specific story? Talk about the history of tea? Discuss the tea trade, as the cover says? It felt very run of the mill and a book that is perhaps super specific to their patrons but not necessarily useful for others.
Luckily I borrowed this from the library. Would recommend that as the best way to read this book but I wouldn't go to the effort to reading it unless you're really dying to.
October 23, 2020
My favortie thing about this book were the personal stories - it's obvious the authors feel strongly about the people producing the tea, what their traditions and history are, and how they live today. It made me rethink all my current tea buying practices and want to learn more about where what I consume everyday comes from.
March 27, 2020
am huge fan of tea, borrowing this book based on its title was a must. little did i know it was largely based on this couples journey around tea. there’s facts in there, which was what i was reading for, otherwise alot of storytelling which i skipped quite a lot of.
February 23, 2022
Interesting look at tea around the world; this couple travels around the world to study and experience tea. Interesting.
February 6, 2023
The Comins own a tea business which sources tea from several different countries. They tell about tea and tea growers in these countries, but not from others. Rather amusingly, the chapter titled “Modern-day tea in the west”refers to Britain and Britain only. It is an interesting book, but NOT reader- friendly. It is written in fine print with long lines and narrow margins. There are nice photos but the legends are hidden at the end of the book, under Picture credits. Why? The text is partly just transcriptions of interviews with different tea growers.
I have to admit that I was disappointed in the book, but don’t regret buying and reading it. And I do look forward to visiting one of their shops!
I have to admit that I was disappointed in the book, but don’t regret buying and reading it. And I do look forward to visiting one of their shops!
May 7, 2019
Great book. Nice to see what goes into making a great cup of tea without being patronising in the slightest. Would highly recommend.
December 20, 2025
It was ok, I enjoyed the little history facts the most.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews