07.03.08
ancient tea horse road - adventures in tea
posted by Regena Rafelson | 3 comments
The Ancient Tea Horse Road: Travels with the Last of the Himalayan Muleteers
Jeff Fuchs. Toronto: Viking Canada, Penguin Group. 2008.
“Of all the items that I might part with, the dried unattractive lump of fermented Puer tea was the one I was least likely to give up.” With this, the author, Jeff Fuchs, seals his good favor with the tea drinker/adventurer reading The Ancient Tea Horse Road, his journey from Shangri-La to Kalimpong over one of the most ancient and treacherous of trade routes.
Some of it now paved over, the thirteen hundred mile journey still traverses gorges, glaciers and gigantic mountain ranges. Along the way, we learn the history, the culture, the tea traditions, and the strength of the people living along the path. Central is tea -as a commodity, a medicine, a recreation, and a livelihood. It is a fun and satisfying read - a fine adventure steeped in tea! Available at Amazon.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:23 am
This is the route I keep talking about. Kalimpong still has that large shed where all these mule trains were “parked” after the exhausting journey - full of chinese teas and tibetian wool.
An interesting link to follow would be:
http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/newsletter/2004vol2num1/tea.htm
Rajiv Lochan
http://www.doketea.com
July 8th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Mr. Lochan, off subject but are you still or were you ever associated with the Teapresso machine and the chain in Canada? Any updates on its acceptance by the tea shops? There is also a machine with the same basic ‘format’ called the Affinitea. Have you ever heard of it?
September 16th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Hi Team,
Hi Ankit - missed you at this years WTE. Did you attend?
The Teapresso count in Canada is up to 5 units in operation with two more coming on line in the next few months. There is one in Toronto in the Teaopia store in downtown Toronto and another new one in a tea bar in Victoria, BC. Montreal and Sudbury are the next two cities that will have a Teapresso operating in a tea lounge.
So far, since the first one was installed just over two years ago at Chai Baba Teahouse in Kelowna, there have been little to no problems with the unit. Klub has been most helpful with support and technical questions regarding the machine.
All is looking good for the future of the Teapresso in Canada!
Take Care,
Brendan