Details of the lecture

A Passion for Tea

A Passion for Tea

A Passion for Tea: Ceremonies, Fashion & Styles, from East to West, culminating in the Great British Cuppa
In 1660 Samuel Pepys made a diary entry ‘I did send for a cup of tea – a China drink – of which I had never drunk before’. But the story of tea drinking had started in China over a thousand years earlier, and by the 13th century the famous rituals of tea, ‘cha no yu’ were established in Japan. By the 18th century tea was the fashionable drink throughout Europe – subject to crippling taxes and still only available from China, frequently adulterated along the way.
Differences between green and black teas, blends, additions of sugar, milk or lemon, smuggling, British rituals – even opium – all form background to the great British Cuppa.

Lecturer: Mrs Amanda Herries

NADFAS Directory Day, Amanda Herries, 22.3.17, ©Richard Eaton
Amanda Herries, by Richard Eaton, theartssociety.org

Amanda Herries read Archaeology & Anthropology at Cambridge. 1978-1988 Curator at Museum of London specialising in the decorative arts 1718 to present day, exhibitions, lectures, booklets, broadcasts. 1988-1995 moved with family to Japan, lecturing and writing on Oriental / Western cross-cultural and artistic influences. 1995 returned to UK, fundraising for arts companies, writing, lecturing and guiding tours to Japan. Most recent publications on Japanese plant and garden influences in the West.
I’m delighted to spend a few days in a part of the country giving talks (not necessarily on the same subject) to more than one society, which helps to defray travel costs. Please talk to me, and your neighbouring societies.
I have a rich collection of images for all lectures and would be happy to supply supporting images for lectures if you get in touch.