As I have said here before, I enjoy podcasts. I listen to them while walking, driving, cleaning, or even while puttering around the house. My new favorite podcast series is A Taste of the Past which is put out by the Heritage Radio Network. I am enjoying this podcast series because it focuses on history and culture as seen through the lens of food. So imagine my delight when I discovered two episodes of this podcast focusing on the topic of tea.
The earlier of the two episodes, EPISODE 267, which aired in April of 2017, features an interview with famous tea sommelier Elizabeth Knight. In this podcast episode, Ms. Knight talks about the development of afternoon tea as a custom - and distinguishes it from the different custom called "high tea." She shares an entertaining story of how she became tea sommelier for the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. And she gives an interesting take on the three-tiered server so ubiquitous at American afternoon teas. In Britain, using this three-tiered server is considered a "commercial" presentation.
The next episode of this podcast series focusing primarily on tea is EPISODE 282. This episode aired in October of 2017. Episode 282 features an interview with Dr. Erika Rappaport, author of the 2017 book, A Thirst for Empire: How Tea Shaped the Modern World. I have not yet read this book, but based on this fascinating podcast interview I have added it to my book wish list. Dr. Rappaport is an academic historian, but the podcast interview is anything but dry. One interesting tidbit I came away with is that people in Britain did not initially have a taste for Indian-grown tea. Drinking this tea produced in the British colony was initially promoted as being patriotic. Eventually, as history shows, the populace developed a taste for Indian-grown tea.
As I listen to podcasts regularly, one leads to another. I am always discovering a new podcast or podcast series - and sometimes have the good fortune of finding a show or series focused on tea and its history. Do you have a favorite tea-related podcast? If so, share it with us in the comments here!
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