Tea Wisdom: Inspirational Quotes and Quips About the World's Most Celebrated Beverage

by Aaron Fisher

This book is a beautiful collection of quotes, pictures, and illustrations on the topic of tea.

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you."-- Gladstone

Some of life's greatest pleasures can be found in the simple things, and there is nothing more basic, yet wonderful than enjoying a steaming cup of tea on a damp, rainy day. Tea Wisdom is a masterful book of tea and a wonderful collection of tea quotes, drawn from different centuries and parts of the world, celebrating the ability of tea to calm the nerves, enliven the mind and strengthen the spirit. Covering the full range of a tea lover's appreciation for this most celebrated of beverages, Tea Wisdom makes for a lovely treat.

Included in Tea Wisdom are: Tea aficionados will find this book to be an indispensable part of their collection. Compact enough to fit easily on a table or in a handbag, but extensive enough to provide hours of enjoyment, Tea Wisdom is will soon have you reaching for another cup of tea.

Genres: Tea, Nonfiction, Cultural, Food

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2009

Reviews

[Pamela Hamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nicely researched collection of quotes about tea and organized by several categories including "good living," "good health," "good spirits," "good company," "traditions," "reviving yourself," and "reflections and meditations." Despite these categories, I found myself not caring so much for the classification and finding that the classifications did not add much to the enjoyment of pieces of tea wisdom shared.

I think reading these quotes in a collection like this would be best appreciated after having developed some context for the history of tea in traditional Chinese and Japanese cultures as well as its place in world history. Without understanding the context for ancient and modern characters like Sen no Rikyu, Kakuzo Okakura, and others, the importance and context of their words may be lost. For that alone, I would recommend this book for full enjoyment after having read several other history and culture texts on tea.

[Anton Koval · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well done, illustrated, nice to flick through book.
Just keep in mind that it is indeed very China/Japan centered with majority of quotations by (or about) Chan/Zen masters giving their thoughts on meditation, contemplation, spiritual aspects of tea ceremony etc. And it's not that surprising giving that author has traveled all around Far East and now resides in Taiwan.
Still the book doesn't show much of a light-hearted western side of beverage, and we all can enjoy a laid-back tea time chating with friends, giving away our best witty remarques without all ceremonial seriousness. It doesn't have to always be a purely meditative process.
The book have some of such quotes too but they are clearly in minority, that's why I'd love to see another augmented editon.


Overall

[John Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mine must be a very abridged version of this -only a few pages. A sweet and lovely appreciation of my favourite tipple. Some curious facts too.

Favourite quote:

"If you are cold, tea will warm you -
If you are heated, it will cool you -
If you are depressed it will cheer you -
If you are excited, it will calm you".

W. E. Gladsone

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely way to slow down a few minutes each day. Best with a cup of tea.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only big complaint is that on page 205 he quoted someone as saying that tea was introduced to India in the year 500AD by Siddhartha (Buddha). He actually lived about 1000 years before that in approximately 563 and 483 BC!! Didn't he proofread or fact check?

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this little book by accident and am so happy I did! My favorite way to read through the book is to periodically open it up to a quote/thought while drinking a cup of tea (versus reading it all the way through in one sitting).

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and interesting selection of quotes about tea. Perfect for the tea-drinker and reader.