A Social History of Tea

British writer and tea historian Jane Pettigrew has joined forces again with American tea writer Bruce Richardson to chronicle the fascinating story of tea’s influence on British and American culture, commerce and community spanning nearly four centuries. These two leading tea professionals have seen first-hand the current tea renaissance sweeping modern culture and have written over two dozen books on the subject of tea, including The New Tea Companion. No beverage has shaped Western civilization more than the ancient elixir - tea.

Follow tea's amazing journey from Canton to London, Boston and beyond as these two leaders of today's tea renaissance weave a fascinating story detailing how the leaves of a simple Asian plant shaped the culture and politics of both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Jane Pettigrew

London tea master Jane Pettigrew speaks at international tea events, teaches Tea Masterclasses, and serves as a consultant to the world tea industry.  Jane has developed signature teas for Wedgwood and trained  tea staffs around the world for Langham Hotels. She is the author of sixteen books on tea, including A Social History of Tea, The New Tea Companion and Design for Tea.  In 2016, Queen Elizabeth awarded Jane with a British Empire Medallion for her contributions to the British Tea Trade.

Bruce Richardson

Bruce Richardson is a tea blender and writer who has been active in America's tea renaissance for over two decades. He is the owner of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas headquartered in Danville, Kentucky. Bruce serves as Tea Master for the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Contributing Editor for TeaTime and Tea Journey magazines. Bruce has authored fourteen books on tea, icluding The Great Tea Rooms of Britain, Tea & Etiquette, and The Book of Tea. He is a frequent guest speaker at tea events across the United States.