n nBritish writer and tea historian Jane Pettigrew has joined forces again with American tea writer Bruce Richardson to chronicle the fascinating story of teas 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.n nFollow teas amazing journey from Canton to London, Boston and beyond as these two leaders of todays 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.n nCHAPTER HIGHLIGHTSn nTHE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY: First Tea in England * East India Company * Americas Thirst for Tea * Tea Jars & Caddiesn nTHE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: Teas for Sale * Tea Smuggling * Tea Etiquette * Liberty Tea * Boston Tea Partyn nTHE NINETEENTH CENTURY: An Empire Built on Tea * Jane Austens Tea Things * Afternoon Tea * Glasgow Tea Movement * Tea & Suffragen nTHE TWENTIETH CENTURY: Teabags * The Tea Room Movement * Wartime Tea * Rise of American Tea Brands * Tea Dances * Specialty Tea THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY The American Teasmith * Tea & Health * The Starbucks Effect * Culinary Tean