⋙ Libro Liquid Jade The Story of Tea from East to West Beatrice Hohenegger 9780312333287 Books

Liquid Jade The Story of Tea from East to West Beatrice Hohenegger 9780312333287 Books

Download As PDF : Liquid Jade The Story of Tea from East to West Beatrice Hohenegger 9780312333287 Books

Liquid Jade The Story of Tea from East to West Beatrice Hohenegger 9780312333287 Books

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Liquid Jade" (2006) by Beatrice Hohenegger. It is an extremely well-researched and well-written book. It chronicles the cultural history of tea, and its impacts, both positive and negative, on the east, the west, the indigenous peoples at the lower end of tea production, those persons and corporations at the upper end of its production who profit (financially) the most, and of course, those of us who benefit the most by consuming the liquid jade on a daily and ritualistic basis for its taste, health benefits, mental benefits, and spiritual centeredness that it has to offer.

Perhaps the book's strongest point is bringing to light the often dark social history of tea's foundation in the western world. For example, the chapters entitled "The Opium Factor" and "China Pried Open" (pages 128-144) present detailed and upsetting historical information surrounding the infamous opium wars which is brillantly narrated in an often heart-rending fashion.

Each chapter heading is subscripted with insightful poetry and prose from other historical sources from Laozi to Abraham Lincoln to Sen no Rikyu. My personal favorite quotation by Chinese reform leader Liang Qichao (1873-1929) is presented under the chapter title "The Tea Spy Who Came from the West", which states: "Eastern learning has spirit as its point of departure; Western learning has matter as its point of departure" (page 145).

The chapter entitled "Where the Birds Sing" is a heartfelt plea that encourages the use of organic and sustainable agricultural practices (pages 254-261). It speaks profoundly and offers hope to the environmentalist heart of this sensitive reader.

The book is filled with much more well-narrated information about the history and other important aspects of tea, the "Liquid Jade", for which the book is aptly titled. As such, it is highly recommended, not only for the tea connoisseur's library, but for anyone interested in the fields of anthropology and sociology.


Tags : Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West [Beatrice Hohenegger] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <div><div>Traveling from East to West over thousands of years, tea has played a variety of roles on the world scene - in medicine,Beatrice Hohenegger,Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West,St. Martin's Press,0312333285,Modern - General,Tea trade;History.,Tea;History.,Tea;Social aspects.,Beverages - Coffee & Tea,BeveragesCoffee & Tea,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY Modern General,History,History - General History,History Social History,HistoryWorld,History: World,Non-Fiction,Social aspects,Tea,Tea trade,United States,World - General

Liquid Jade The Story of Tea from East to West Beatrice Hohenegger 9780312333287 Books Reviews

I found this book through Seven Cups Fine Chinese Teas' blog entry on their website.This book makes history fun and interesting. I learned so many things about tea that I never even imagined. I think this book is essential for any tea lover. It doesn't read like a textbook and it really makes you appreciate what you're drinking even more.
This book is simply a must for anyone even considering going up to Darjeeling or to other Tea Plantation towns in northern West Bengal. To be a more knowledgeable traveler, read this book. Among other things, it will help you understand the current political unrest that surfaces from time to time in this region.

A good companion read for the Darjeeling traveler is "The Inheritance of Loss", a Booker Award winner. It's fiction but will bring into focus all the history described in Liquid Jade.
Beatrice Hohenegger has written history of the tea trade between Asia and the West that is well researched and scholarly, but reads, at times, like an adventure novel complete with a Scottish spy. She goes to the roots of what we now call globalization, and exposes it's truly dark practices, as the East India Company establishes the first global corporate business model. What she is able to do, quite effectively, is move the history, that most of people view in a detached, it happen long time ago way, and place in squarely in our 21st century tea cabinets. She reminds us that before there was oil dominating geopolitical dynamics, there was tea and opium. Still, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world next to water and be with use long after the oil drys up.

It is clear to see that she has discovered the sense of wonder and adventure that has entranced tea devotees for thousands of years, inspired great philosophers and poets, motivated great crimes and wars, and helped to shape the scope history of the world for the last five hundred years. She does a good job of passing that on to the reader. She passes on the roots of tragedy, fueled by hubris and greed, that brought down the last Chinese Dynasty, and created the sundown for the British Empire, all for a cup of tea.

She also offers some solutions that point us to a future of global sustainability, in the case of tea, fair trade, organics, quality, and business integrity. It would seem that in her discovery of tea, she has also come to care for and be an advocate for the poor country people that have suffered and continue to suffer from the tea trades bitter cruelty. She does so with a writing skill that keeps you turning pages, without becoming heavy handed or preachy .

It is surprising that most people of have such limited understanding of the historical significance of tea, but that will surely change after reading Liquid Jade. I have often been frustrated by the lack of good tea literature about tea in English, but we can hope that Beatrice Hohenegger's hard work will raise the standards for future books on tea and tea culture. Reading her book may start that tea adventure for you, or if you already on that road add to your experience.

Austin Hodge
President
Seven Cups Tea
[...]
I finished this book, but only through sheer determination because I am very interested in the subject. The information is definitely there--in one very simple declarative sentence after another. It reads more like bullet points than a narrative. No ramblings or musings here; just the facts presented in bare bones fashion by someone who does very little writing and does not know how to bring history to life. I much preferred "For All the Tea in China" by Sarah Rose. That book covered only a tiny piece of the history presented in "Liquid Jade" but it has a strong narrative drive that left me wanting to know more. That is why I ordered Liquid Jade and was very excited to read it, but that didn't last long. Perhaps the entire history of tea is just too much to cover in one book without making it dreadfully dry.

 For All the Tea in China How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink and Changed History
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Liquid Jade" (2006) by Beatrice Hohenegger. It is an extremely well-researched and well-written book. It chronicles the cultural history of tea, and its impacts, both positive and negative, on the east, the west, the indigenous peoples at the lower end of tea production, those persons and corporations at the upper end of its production who profit (financially) the most, and of course, those of us who benefit the most by consuming the liquid jade on a daily and ritualistic basis for its taste, health benefits, mental benefits, and spiritual centeredness that it has to offer.

Perhaps the book's strongest point is bringing to light the often dark social history of tea's foundation in the western world. For example, the chapters entitled "The Opium Factor" and "China Pried Open" (pages 128-144) present detailed and upsetting historical information surrounding the infamous opium wars which is brillantly narrated in an often heart-rending fashion.

Each chapter heading is subscripted with insightful poetry and prose from other historical sources from Laozi to Abraham Lincoln to Sen no Rikyu. My personal favorite quotation by Chinese reform leader Liang Qichao (1873-1929) is presented under the chapter title "The Tea Spy Who Came from the West", which states "Eastern learning has spirit as its point of departure; Western learning has matter as its point of departure" (page 145).

The chapter entitled "Where the Birds Sing" is a heartfelt plea that encourages the use of organic and sustainable agricultural practices (pages 254-261). It speaks profoundly and offers hope to the environmentalist heart of this sensitive reader.

The book is filled with much more well-narrated information about the history and other important aspects of tea, the "Liquid Jade", for which the book is aptly titled. As such, it is highly recommended, not only for the tea connoisseur's library, but for anyone interested in the fields of anthropology and sociology.