Alex_fred said

Who has read Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic by Jinghong Zhan?

I’ve seen this book recommended numerous times and am wondering how worth it tracking down a copy would be. Anyone have an opinion on the book or where they got a copy?

12 Replies

I would 1000% percent recommend this book. You can find it on Amazon pretty easily. That’s where I got my copy.

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AJ said

Same. It’s a good book, and I’d definitely recommend it. I’m just lucky enough to have memberships at two very good libraries, so that’s where I got it. Both Amazon and Abebooks usually have good prices.

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Dr Jim said

It’s a little heavy (think doctoral thesis) but very readable. I absolutely loved it. I learned a ton about puerh. There is also a set of videos referenced in the back that you should view. Best book on tea that I have read (and I’ve read a bunch).

andresito said

what is the second best book on tea that you’ve read?

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Rob said

I got it recently and am about 40% through it. I got the physcial book (rather than Kindle) assuming it would have colour photos, but they are black and white. Had I known I would have got the Kindle version, as that’s my preference. Good book so far and I intend to finish it.

It very much reads like a thesis. Was this a thesis does anyone know ? There are some videos that accompany it https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL45YCbaBqem78gVjWzx8cg

AJ said

Yes. I believe it was her doctoral thesis which was adapted into a book.

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AllanK said

I have read it. Very interesting look into the culture of puerh tea, not the sort of book that tells you where to find the best puerh or how to brew it but very good.

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Have read, can recommend. I got it via inter-library loan.

It is not so much a tea book as a sociology book, but has some fascinating historical information and much first-person fluent-in-Chinese trained-observer reporting on how people actually “do” puer tea.

Alex_fred said

That’s what I’ve been looking into doing, but can’t even find a library near by that has a copy. I was hoping to not have to buy a copy off Amazon if I could rent it, but oh well. It’s not like it’s crazy expensive or anything.

Interlibrary loan is what you do when there isn’t a copy in a nearby library. You get your library to borrow one, perhaps from far away. But more likely from some in-State University.

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Rasseru said

Yes, I just read it. Really enjoyed it :)

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t-curious said

I just finished the book this afternoon:) A fascinating look at the history, culture and politics surrounding puer. I just wish the story continued up until the present. :)

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