Man has been drinking tea for over five thousand years. In this time, tea has been the drink of emperors, the cause of wars (remember the Boston tea party), and the basis of the East India Company, the most influential company the world has ever known (it founded Hong Kong, Singapore, and was the reason for British involvement in India). Tea has been blessed as the drink of the gods and cursed as the root of dissipation: Percy Bysshe Shelley referred to it as "the liquid doctors rail at, and that I will quaff in spite of them".

This guide gives fascinating details on all aspects of tea, from the history of tea through the ages to information on the best-known tea-growing areas in India and Kenya, not forgetting lesser-known producers such as Indonesia and Vietnam. It also provides information on the essential stages of tea production, from the role played by the climate to the process of fermentation, and introduces the serious tea-drinker to the finest varieties and different aromas available, a procedure as serious as any wine-tasting. The Little Book of Te

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Flammarion presents its series of informative, richly illustrated guides, covering lifestyle and cultural topics. Find out everything you want to know about your favorite subject in one handy volume.

• Unique thematic treatment with extensive use of key words and cross-referencing
• Over 70 alphabetically organized bite-sized entries in every title
• Attractive slimline format
• 100 color illustrations
• Summaries of key facts and dates in easy-reference tables
• Exclusive buyer's guide or list of useful addresses to find out more

Kitti Cha Sangmanee is an expert tea master and president of Mariage Frères Teas, Paris.

Catherine Donzel is a historian.

Stéphane Melchior-Durand is an art historian.

Alain Stella is a writer.