2022-05-24
A leading voice in the tea industry recounts the experiences that shaped his passion for the beverage in this debut memoir.
Schwartz had a privileged upbringing. He was raised in Westlake Village, California; attended private school; and went on vacations that “sometimes involved limos and Hawaii.” His life dramatically changed after the age of 12, when his parents entered into an ugly divorce. After finishing high school, the author received the news of his mother’s cancer diagnosis, and he spent 10 months giving her end-of-life care. The experience made him interested in alternative medicine and led him to enroll at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. So began a voyage of learning that would see him visit herbal apothecaries in Israel and majestic tea fields in Japan. Schwartz discusses his desire to become a tea purveyor, founding Art of Tea, “a one-stop shop from leaf to cup.” The memoir is split into two parts; the second half, titled “Understanding the Art of Tea,” offers an impressive range of information, such as advice on how to become an expert and a collection of recipes. Schwartz’s writing is characterized by its precise, vivid explanations. The author astutely compares the medicinal use of herbs with a computer keyboard: “Hit any individual key, and all it does is display that specific letter, number, or symbol on your screen. But combine those keystrokes in the correct sequence, and you can enter in a password that opens up powerful tools.” Such compelling analogies will stick in readers’ memories. Schwartz also includes some intriguing tips that may alter readers’ approach to tea drinking: “Pu-erh is best enjoyed when slurped. This exposes the tea to air, which activates the pu-erh’s diverse flavors.” The author’s language occasionally strays too far into a full-blown corporate sales pitch, although given his passion, this can be excused: “I’ve seen firsthand how more and more people are excited about and intrigued by tea. Yes, this is good for business, but that shift makes me happy for so many reasons.” Schwartz’s life story is an absorbing one that’s punctuated by travel and discovery. But in creating an enlightening book that touches on every aspect of the subject, he could very well have created a tea lover’s bible.
A smart, impassioned, and far-reaching study of tea.
