Laszlo Montgomery's award-winning podcasts on Chinese history have swept the world and gained many thousands of fans, including people who want to learn about Chinese history and those who want to improve their English. Each book in this series contains transcripts from Laszlo's Podcasts for you to follow as you listen. This volume covers the mythical and ancient beginnings of tea and how it evolved from a bitter tasting medicinal brew to a beverage fit for an emperor. The life and times of the Tea Saint, Lu Yu, will also be introduced, along with the profound impact he and the book he wrote had on tea culture in China and elsewhere in East Asia. Riding on the coattails of mass acceptance of tea as a daily beverage, the book explores how, particularly in the Song Dynasty, a new culture sprang forth from the popular and enthusiastic enjoyment of this beverage. Delivered in Laszlo's easy-to-understand style, each installment provides stories and information from China's long and rich
