A book collection by The Taste Storyteller
Curious Unknown Histories
The myths, trade routes and forgotten stories behind the foods and drinks you consume every day.
Book One, coming soon
The Curious Unknown History of Tea
A cultural, mythical and historical journey through the world’s most consumed drink. Fifteen chapters of curious stories, forgotten episodes and surprising connections, for anyone who has ever wondered what is behind their cup.
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Curious stories from the world of tea
Why half the world says “tea” and the other half says “chai”
One plant, two words. The split happened centuries ago, and it has everything to do with whether the leaf traveled by sea or by land.
All tea comes from the same plant
Black, green, white, oolong. One leaf, radically different cups.
Why the British drink tea instead of coffee
It was not love at first sip. It was politics, taxes and a queen from Portugal.
Afternoon tea vs high tea
One was a light aristocratic snack. The other was dinner. Most hotels have them backward.
Why matcha is not just green tea
Shade grown, stone ground, whisked into foam, and priced accordingly.
What does “tea terroir” mean?
The same leaf on two different mountains will taste entirely different.
Is herbal tea actually tea?
The short answer is no. The long answer involves a single plant and a lot of habit.
Or read everything at once: the full guide to tea, from the plant to the pot.
Next in the collection
The Curious Unknown History of Chocolate
The next journey begins with a bean. While the book is in production, the guide to chocolate covers cacao varieties, growing regions and what happens between bean and bar.
Stay curious
New stories, book news and research notes, sent now and then. Each new book is announced here first.
The author
The Taste Storyteller
More than 35 countries. Five continents. Years spent in markets, farms and kitchens around the world, driven by the same question: where did this come from?
Some people travel to see landscapes. Others travel to explore cultures. The Taste Storyteller does both, with a particular curiosity for local customs, traditions and gastronomy. More about the author.
See the full plan for the series: the books of Curious Unknown Histories.