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The Tea History Podcast
Ep. 21 | Series Recap and Announcements!
As Porky Pig used to say, "That's all folks". But only for this Chinese tea history series. There's more coming rest assured.
Ep. 20 | Famous China Teas (Part 2)
We continue on with a tour of the provinces, looking at some of the more renowned teas each place has to offer, such as Dancong, Tieguanyin, Jinjunmei, and Da Hong Pao.
Ep. 19 | Famous China Teas (Part 1)
Today's THP episode will go from province to province and look at a variety of famous teas such as Longjing, Gunpowder, Huangshan. and more.
Ep. 18 | Pu-Erh Tea
In this episode, we focus on the category of tea that is most admired by many tea experts the world over, Pu-Erh tea!
Ep. 17 | The Secret Gets Out
After enjoying a monopoly that lasted for 45 centuries, China's secrets of how they turned Camellia sinensis leaves into tea are shared with the world.
Ep. 16 | The Breakthrough
In this episode, we see how Robert Fortune went into China, scored plants and tea seeds, and got everything safely transported to India.
Ep. 15 | A Fortune for the East India Company
The mid 19th Century brought a sea change to the tea industry. Demand continued to grow all over Europe.
Ep. 14 | Tea and Opium
Midway through the Qing Dynasty trouble is brewing along with the tens of millions of pounds of tea being imported into Britain.
Ep. 13 | Don’t Tax My Tea
The tea trade transforms into an entire industry and becomes the most important traded commodity of the British East India Company
Ep. 12 | Tea-mania Takes Europe by Storm
Tea started off with the royals and aristocrats, but once prices came down and the haves and have-nots got to enjoy it, the demand will become insatiable.
Ep. 11 | Europeans Discover Tea
During the late 16th century, the Jesuit Fathers become the first Europeans to drink tea. Soon afterward the Portuguese and Dutch traders start poking their noses around China and Japan.
Ep. 10 | Yixing Teaware and the Gongfu Tea Ceremony
More Ming Dynasty tea history this time as further innovations from China's tea artisans further improves the taste and experience of tea.
Ep. 9 | The Ming Dynasty Tea Revolution
In this episode, tea starts to become more familiar to us after the Hongwu Emperor demands all future tribute teas must be sent in loose-leaf form.
Ep. 8 | Ladies and Gentlemen, Oolong Tea
Buddhism continues to embrace tea even further during the Song Dynasty giving rise to the term 茶禪一味, “Tea and Chan Buddhism are one taste.”
Ep. 7 | Tea During the Song Dynasty
Royals, officials, scholars, and common people are enjoying tea and writing poems inspired by this beverage that has taken China by storm.
Ep. 6 | Camellia Sinensis, Superstar
In the post-Lu Yu world, tea starts to take off like a rocket. It will take a little longer for tea to get the needed traction in Japan but during the Tang, they get to see it and appreciate it up close.
Ep. 5 | The Classic of Tea
This time, we give a once-over to his masterpiece, The Cha Jing or Classic of Tea.
Ep. 4 | The Sage of Tea: Lu Yu
In this episode, we finally introduce the Tea Saint. What Elvis was to rock n' roll, Lu Yu was to the popularity of tea in Chinese society.
Ep. 3 | Tea Hits the Big Time (The Sui, Tang, and Tibet)
Tea's rise during the Sui and Tang are introduced this time, and we’ll look at the important role tea played in Tibet and other border regions.
Ep. 2 | A Bitter Brew in Bronze Age China
Tea's progress as an enjoyable beverage starts to make some headway since Shen Nong's time. But it's still one bitter brew during the Bronze Age centuries.