It's BEEN USED as a medicine and a meditation tool；as money and as amotivation for war.

How has this simple beverage made such a profound impact on ourworld…Whether we drink it or not?Tea：The Drink That Changed the YForldoffers us fascinating and unexpected answers. By exploring and explaining thespread of tea throughout Asia and the world, Tea illuminates its intricate, compelling history.

For more than two thousand years, tea hascalmed us and awoken us, fascinated us anddriven us．It is the second most popular drink inthe World—after water．

How has this simple brew made such a profound impact...whether we drink it or not?

In the third century CE, raw tea leaves werebrewed to make a harsh, bitter concoction used asmedicine．But that was only the beginning．Tea hasalso served as a meditation tool, a form of currency,and a motivation for political change．And on itsway to today's tearooms and homes, tea has had anunusual—and dramatic—influence on aspects ofmodern life, like globalization, the opium industry；and the scarcity of the Asian elephant．

Tea has touched our lives like no other bever—age, connecting us all...from the Mongols to themonks, Dom the pluckers to the emperors, to theharried modern—day person looking for a momentof calm．

Engaging and offbeat, the story of this drink'srise to global power will entertain and enlightenyou．Tea：The Drink That Changed the lforldtakes you on an eye—opening iourney．

INTRODUCTION

1 From Shrub to Cup：An Overview

2 History and Legend

3 Tea in Ancient China and Korea

4 Tea in Ancient Japan

5 The Japanese Tea Ceremony

6 Tea in the Ming Dynasty

7 Tea Spreads Throughout the Word

8 The British in India, China, and Ceylon

9 Tea in England and the United States

10 Today and Tomorrow

APPENDICES

 TEA—GROWING COUNTRIES

 THE PROFESSIONALS’TERMS FOR DESCRIBING TEA

 CHOICE TEAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

 TISANES，OR HERBAL“TEAS”

 TEA WITH FOOD

 BEST TIMES OF DAY FOR SIPPING VARIOUS TEAS

 HOW TO BREW A PERFECT CUP OF TEA

 COOKING WITH TEA：THE POSSIBILITIES

 TEA AND HEALTH

UsEFUL WEB SITES

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY