T Ching Contributing Writer
James Norwood Pratt published his first book on tea in 1982 and is widely acknowledged as an instigator and prophet of America’s present tea renaissance. With numerous columns, articles and interviews in overseas tea periodicals and books which have been translated into French, German, Czech and Chinese, he is perhaps the world’s most widely read author on the subject today.
He was made Honorary Director of America’s first traditional Chinese tea house, was instrumental in creating APTI (precursor of the current Specialty Tea Institute), has been editor-in-chief of two tea magazines, and leads tea tours to China and India. In 2005 he was chosen International Juror in India’s first-ever tea competition. His entertaining talks and tea classes reach growing audiences each year and James Norwood Pratt’s “New Tea Lover’s Treasury” — his now classic “bible of tea” — remains the most comprehensive compendium on tea in English. Besides his “International Tea Dictionary” for the tea trade, his works in progress include “All About Black Tea: For those who’ve given tea a thought but not a try.” T Ching has previewed selected excerpts.
Posts by James Norwood Pratt
- The Beginning of Tea; From the Ancient World to Lu Yu (9/14/2022)
- Darjeeling Teas (7/11/2022)
- The Adventures of Robert Fortune, Esq. (6/14/2022)
- Modernizing Tea Production; Invention of Tea Processing Machines (5/18/2022)
- A Dissertation on Making Tea (11/12/2021)
- James Norwood Pratt: the Origin of U.S. Tea Festivals (10/25/2021)
- Earl Grey and Other Famous Names In Tea History (9/27/2021)
- The Green Tea Ritual; How To Use A Guywan To Brew Green Tea (9/1/2021)
- Tuesdays With Norwood, Re-Steeped: The Green Tea Ritual (4/21/2020)
- Back Seven: Meet Rajah Banerjee (9/26/2014)
- Anna the Duchess of Bedford and the Japanese tea ceremony (Part 1 of 4) (11/17/2009)
- Steeping Time (9/15/2009)
- O’Clock, Proprietary, and Royal Teas (7/28/2009)
- Teas of the Americas, Australia, and Elsewhere (6/30/2009)
- Teas of Africa (6/9/2009)
- Teas of Indonesia (6/2/2009)
- Sri Lanka (Ceylon) (4/28/2009)
- India’s Other Teas (4/21/2009)
- Nilgiri (4/14/2009)
- Teas of India – A Word on Those Initials in Tea Names (3/10/2009)
- Teas of India (3/3/2009)
- Formosa Oolong (2/24/2009)
- Jade and Amber Oolong (2/17/2009)
- Teas of Taiwan (2/10/2009)
- Bancha, Kukicha, Hojicha and Genmaicha (2/3/2009)
- Teas of Japan (1/13/2009)
- Scented Teas – Part 2 (1/6/2009)
- Scented Teas – Part 1 (12/30/2008)
- Pu-Er (12/23/2008)
- Keemun – Splendor of Flavor and Perfume (12/9/2008)
- China Black (12/2/2008)
- Bai-cha (10/14/2008)
- Tuesdays With Norwood: Porcelain Ballast – Part 4 (7/24/2007)