This modern classic invites the reader to discover a unique tradition that has come to symbolize the wisdom, beauty and the elegant simplicity of Asian culture. The author celebrates the Way of Tea from its ancient origins in Chinese Taoism to its culmination in the Zen discipline known as the Japanese tea ceremony, an enchanting practice bringing together such arts as architecture, pottery, and flower arranging to create a n experience that delights the senses, calms the mind, and refreshes the spirit. The Book of Tea describes the rich aesthetic of Asian culture through the history, philosophy and practice of brewing and drinking tea.

This edition contains an introduction by Sam Hamill that provides historical insight into the significance of the tea ceremony within Zen Buddhism.