Tea, Not Just A Drink
I have a confession to make: I am not a tea connoisseur. While this may not rank as one of the most startling confessions ever, it is certainly one of the motivations for my wanting to write for this fine blog. I am hoping to learn as much as I can about this precious drink.
I am happy to say that in the past few years my tea-drinking horizons have broadened dramatically. Certainly the Internet has been an invaluable source of information about tea. But recently I discovered a print publication that is an excellent resource both for the serious tea drinker and for those of us who are relatively new to the tea world.
Tea, A Magazine, is a quarterly publication that celebrates one of the world’s most popular beverages. The magazine features a wealth of information about tea. Topics range from stories about tea retailers, accessories to go with the perfect cup of tea and issues of importance affecting the tea trade, as well as recipes and book reviews.
The 2006 Winter issue of Tea has a series of interesting features. The story that really caught my eye was a feature about growing tea in England. You read that correctly. Tea is being grown successfully in England, specifically in Cornwall. Not only is it being grown, it is being sold by the venerable British retailer, Fortnum & Mason.
While the idea of tea grown in England was a bit surprising, the article, written by Tea’s editor Pearl Dexter, deftly explains that a favourable climate and enough rain have resulted in the right setting for Camellia sinensis (the plant from which tea is made) to grow and thrive.
This is just one of the many interesting pieces in the Winter edition of Tea. Well-written and photographed, Tea offers something for everyone. I will be eagarly scanning the magazine rack for the Spring issue.
For more information about Tea, A Magazine, visit the website at TeaMag
