Welcome to Litsy!

Gives a good overview of how the British via Robert Fortune managed to obtain the valuable tea seedlings from the wuyi mountains in China to improve on the tea plantations in their other territories and therefore eat into the Chinese monopoly on good tea.

This beautiful little NF book was a Christmas gift. It‘s a piece of 1800‘s English/Chinese/Indian history made more interesting if one is like me and drinks hot tea, all day, everyday. There‘s a couple quirky things in the writing, but overall I learned a lot about The East India Company, Robert Fortune and his part in moving the tea trade from China to India.

Feeling inspired to brew up a cuppa after reading this book.

Completed for the “something from another country” category—and to complete the board for #nonfiction2019! Subtitled “How England Stole the World‘s Favorite Drink and Changed History,” it‘s a quick read about the East India Company‘s successful plan to infiltrate China‘s tea industry.

@Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Figured it was appropriate to start this one during my evening cuppa.
#bookandtea

Stuck at Toronto airport with multiple delays. Too stressed to read. Let‘s play! My answer depends on the tea, but I‘m going to choose 5a. #perfectcuppa @mrsmarch

PS read the tagged book 👍🏻

Pick with reservations. The information is fascinating, and the story of Robert Fortune‘s work to bring tea plants and industry to India is interesting.

But the style is disruptive to the story. I charge the author with gross abuse of a thesaurus. Also, the discrepancies I noted in an earlier post were very distracting. And lack of dates (some are unknown, but some are simply omitted) and sudden jumps make sections confusing.

While I‘m finding this book very interesting and enjoying the information, there are stylistic and editing things that are driving me bonkers. Inconsistencies in naming companies (is it Dent, Beale, and Co or just Dent and Co?), explaining background for the same person multiple times or not the first time he‘s mentioned, etc. Then there‘s this - pretty sure we‘re just talking direction, rather than “the West.” It‘s distracting.

“What the world has sought when it sips a cup of tea is a mild effect, a high with neither lift nor letdown, a calming alertness, a drink of moods.”

Man, I miss real tea. I had to give up caffeine years ago, and now I can barely stand even a decaf black tea. This book makes me so wistful.

It‘s time for #24B4Monday, and I‘m raring to go! I hope to finish the tagged book, then it‘s Polaris Rising (been waiting over a year!), HP, Mercy, Nancy, and make a little progress in the Rand. Some Sherlock Holmes for palate cleansing quick reads. No Black History Month tie-ins, as I finished March to get it back to the library.

Apparently I can‘t tag anyone. Is Litsy acting up for anyone else today?

Well, that‘s certainly one way of dealing with it. I guess you could say the British were full of...night soil.

Botanists as swashbucklers...interesting.

Up next. Darn library, always tempting me away from my own books.

Thank you for the chance to try Harney teas! I love tea but have never been able to try any from Harney. I'm always on the lookout for new teas to try but I avoid anything lemon, mint, or containing nuts. I love Bigelow's French Vanilla black tea! @umbrellagirl #harneyteagiveaway

Repost for @umbrellagirl (cpl more days!):
I've seen kindred spirits posting about Harney: They are a local business & my favourite tea.

I'd love to share some tea so I am hosting a giveaway. You won‘t get my actual tea, but I‘ll pick one just for you.

To enter: between now & 24th Dec, repost this photo, tag me, use the hashtag, & tell me have you tried any of their teas? What tea do you like? Continental US only. #harneyteagiveaway #giveaway

#Harneyteagiveaway
@umbrellagirl is hosting a tea giveaway! I have tried Harney & Sons teas and they are wonderful! I‘ve tried a lot of the cinnamon teas, but would love to try something with the chocolate or black currant or Jane‘s tea. They all sound amazing! Thanks for this giveaway- it‘s wonderful!

This sounds so fun @umbrellagirl !! Thanks for doing this! I have never tried there but I love trying all sorts of new tea! I like all teas except green tea...just not a fan of that! #harneyteagiveaway

Thanks to @umbrellagirl for her super sweet giveaway. HT it‘s my favorite! Hot Cinnamon Spice is my favorite flavor pictured, but I‘ve never tried chocolate coconut or chocolate mint. I‘m intrigued. #harneyteagiveaway

Thanks @umbrellagirl for the chance to win in this great #harneyteagiveaway!! Hot Cinnamon Spice is my favorite, but I love all kinds of tea! 🍵

@umbrellagirl thanks for hosting the #harneyteagiveaway!

I have not tried their teas, but I do enjoy tea. I usually like to get lemon grass tea, green tea, and chai tea. Which tea is your favorite?

@umbrellagirl thank you so much for hosting this giveaway. I love Tea and have never tried Harney and Sons. I am looking for a new place to buy tea and all of these look fantastic! #harneyteagiveaway

I have seen a few kindred spirits posting about Harney tea. They are a local business and my favourite tea.

I would love to share some tea so I am hosting a giveaway. Don‘t worry, you won‘t get my actual tea, but I‘ll pick one just for you.

To enter: between now and 24th Dec, repost this photo, tag me, use the hashtag, and tell me have you tried any of their teas? What tea do you like? Continental US only. #harneyteagiveaway #giveaway

1. Daisy, I know it's a bit obvious but it is my favorite.
2. Cucumber & tomato
3. Yes, I have a small garden of my own with tomatoes & peppers, and I help with the larger ones of family members. I also have a handful of house plants.
4. Tagged book is all about tea and how the British stole Chinese tea plants to start their own plantations in India. I also really enjoyed The Drunken Botanist which I've already seen mentioned.

#GardenParty

1. Tea bags as I cannot find my infuser
2. Bring on the caffeine
3. Ordinary Tetley, Earl Grey, Harney & Son Paris
4. Anything with mint or strange flavours

#muglove #teaquestions

Today's Amazon delivery! A couple of new books plus things to do when I'm not reading. 😉 Always trying to keep both mind and body active!

A fun and very informative read. This book focuses on how tea was stolen from China and grown in other parts of the world to meet the growing western demand for this beverage. I highly recommend this book which is full of adventure, intrigue, labor issues, and a hint of mystery.