Tea - stories of an ancient drink

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Tea - Stories of a Millennial Drink, Guimet Museum (October 3, 2012 to January 7, 2013).

Legend has it that Emperor Shen Nong, the "Divine Ploughman," inventor of agriculture, a consummate expert in medicinal plants, and a tireless taster of all that nature provides, once chewed an unknown herb that made his head feel heavy. Sitting against a tree to rest, he is said to have tasted a leaf that had fallen to the ground, appreciated its fragrant flavor, and quickly recovered.

Shen Nong had just discovered tea. That was three thousand years before our era. Like Buddhism, tea is intrinsically linked to Asia. A friend to meditation, it keeps the heart peaceful and gives wings to the imagination. A symbol of identity and a unifying force throughout the Far East, it has enjoyed extraordinary spread over the centuries, to the point of being, after water, the most consumed beverage in the world today.

This book tells the story of tea through the ages and the history of the utensils and rituals essential to its preparation. The pieces come from the most prestigious collections, from museums in Taipei, Berlin, and Paris.

Number of pages: 64 pages
Publisher: RMN
Publication date: 17/10/2012
Weight: 0.22 kg
Dimensions: 16.6cm × 24.2cm × 0.7cm