A Nice Cuppa

Tea authority Sebastian Beckwith, founder of In Pursuit of Tea, is featured along with Winnie Yu, founder of Teance, in the category of “Adventures in the Tea Trade”.  It feels a bit like the Oscars for tea. I have a funny feeling this issue of Kyoto journal will be touted as the holiest of holy from the galaxy of tea. It covers the elite of the elite, from the appreciation of aged Pu-er teas from Yunnan Province to Uji Japanese green teas fluttering like feathery leaves.

Photographer Matthew London, aficionado of the East, who has also fallen in love with tea is listed as a contributor. He sent me a few snaps while he was on his travels. We met back in the 1980’s when he was knee deep in black rice and making his movie about Myanmar’s favorite sport called “Mystic Ball”.  Another contributor is Kevin Gascoyne, an expert on Darjeelings.  This provides a rare treat to get acquainted with my personal favorite tea. The best kept secrets are out, except for Greg Glancy of Norbu Teas.  He specializes in “diamond grade” everything tea and more surprisingly, is out of Texas. You will have to hunt him down on your own here. You will be getting quite a hankering for pure tea. You’ll see, mark my words. Kyoto journal as the title implies is based in Kyoto keeps our consciousness alert with ever so subtly with beautiful art and words. You can order copies of this limited edition and check out some of Sebastian’s hand discovered tea leaves at In Pursuit of Tea.

Don’t miss this issue if you want to get into that Umami state of mind.