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PODCAST

The China History Podcast

Laszlo Montgomery

Since 2010, The China History Podcast, presented by Laszlo Montgomery, has brought you hundreds of episodes of curated historical topics from China"s antiquity to modern times.

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All Episodes

23:22

Ep. 140-12 | Tea-mania Takes Europe By Storm

The China History Podcast ·

2015/01/21

As tea did everywhere it was introduced to, Europeans were no less enthusiastic than anyone else. It started off with the royals and aristocrats. But once prices came down and the haves and have-nots both got to enjoy it, the demand will become insatiable. The Russian tea caravans are also explored in this episode. Though their tea culture was different from the ways of the Europeans, Russian people loved their tea no less. During the Qing Dynasty, tea just kept getting better. We look at the

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24:33

Ep. 140-11 | Europeans Discover Tea

The China History Podcast ·

2015/01/20

During the late 16th century, the Jesuit Fathers become the first Europeans to drink tea. Soon afterward the Portuguese and Dutch traders start poking their noses around China and Japan. They too learn of this amazing beverage and see excellent prospects in their home markets. By the early 17th century The Dutch and British East India Companies are engaging in tea commerce. Though the Chinese at first wouldn't be caught dead drinking black tea, this too is discovered by the European traders and the

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20:49

Ep. 140-10 | Yixing Teaware and the Gongfu Tea Ceremony

The China History Podcast ·

2015/01/19

More Ming Dynasty tea history this time. Innovations from China's tea artisans further improved the taste and experience of tea. The famous "zisha" 紫砂 clay teapots and tea ware from Yixing 宜兴 are introduced as well as their role in the Gongfu Tea Ceremony. As the second half of the Ming Dynasty starts to wind down in the late 16th-early 17th century, the Europeans will soon be knocking on China's door. They too will discover the goodness and greatness of tea with historic consequences. Learn more

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26:55

Ep. 140-9 | The Ming Dynasty Tea Revolution

The China History Podcast ·

2015/01/18

Tea's epic story continues on the heels of the advances made in tea production and tea culture during the Song. After surviving the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Camellia sinensis experiences a sea change of improvements beginning with Ming Dynasty founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. Now tea starts to become more familiar to us after this Hongwu Emperor demands that all future tribute teas must be sent in loose-leaf form. With the introduction of loose-leaf tea came greater demands for tea-ware. The history of

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24:17

Ep. 140-8 | Ladies and Gentlemen, Oolong Tea

The China History Podcast ·

2015/01/17

The loving embrace of tea given by those of the Buddhist faith continues on into the Song Dynasty. Some Chan Buddhist master came up with the term "Tea and Chan Buddhism are one taste" 茶禪一味. There's also more about sad Emperor Huizong, the birth of white tea, and Japan's great Buddhist monk Myōan Eisai. We'll end this eighth installment of the history of tea with an intro to Wulong (Oolong) Tea and the emergence of the Wuyi Mountains 武夷山 in northern Fujian province as a tea powerhouse. Learn more

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25:36

Ep. 140-7 | Tea During the Song Dynasty

The China History Podcast ·

2015/01/05

The once bitter brew sharing a Chinese character with the one used for a bitter vegetable is now long a thing of the past. Starting around a thousand or more years ago, royals, officials, scholars, and common people are now enjoying tea. The literati of the day (and there were quite a few) write poems and paint paintings, inspired by this beverage that has taken China by storm. We also look at one of the greatest royal patrons of tea in Chinese history, the Northern Song Dynasty Emperor Huizong 宋徽宗

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23:53

Ep. 140-6 | Camellia sinensis, Superstar

The China History Podcast ·

2014/12/28

In the post-Lu Yu world, tea starts to take off like a rocket. It will take a little longer for tea to get the needed traction in Japan but during the Tang, Japanese get to see it and appreciate it up close. We'll also look at one of the early "Tea Persons", the poet and recluse Lu Tong, as well as one of his most famous tea poems, "Seven Bowls of Tea". Now that tea had caught on in society, people needed the various tea accouterment. This is where teaware starts to evolve and we'll look at Yue ware

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23:04

Ep. 140-5 | The Classic of Tea

The China History Podcast ·

2014/12/20

We looked at Lu Yu last time and all that he did to popularize the merits of tea in the Tang Dynasty. This time, we give a once-over to his masterpiece, The Cha Jing 茶经 or Classic of Tea. The national popularity of tea in China really catches fire after Lu Yu shows everyone how to enjoy it and enjoy life at the same time. As far as the popularity and necessity of tea in the life of people acquainted with the beverage, it's never the same after this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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19:04

Ep. 140-4 | The Sage of Tea

The China History Podcast ·

2014/12/13

Thank you for your patience. In this fourth installment of the history of tea, we finally make it to the immortal Tea Saint. Lu Yu 陆羽. What Elvis was to rock n' roll, Lu Yu was to the popularity of tea in Chinese society. Here we'll look at his interesting life and his work, "The Classic of Tea" 茶经. From here on out, tea 茶 is no longer tú 荼, and neither is it bitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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24:26

Ep. 140-3 | Tea Hits the Big Time

The China History Podcast ·

2014/12/06

After centuries of trial and error, tea starts to transform from a bitter medicinal brew into something worthy of presenting to the emperor as tribute. Tea's development during the 326 years of the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 AD) is introduced this time. Not only do the people of China embrace tea. Those people who surrounded China to the north and to the west also took a quick liking to this drink. The important role tea played in Tibet and other border regions is also discussed, as well as the

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22:20

Ep. 140-2 | Tea, A bitter brew in Bronze Age China

The China History Podcast ·

2014/11/30

Tea might not have tasted so great in Shen Nong's time and for a thousand years thereafter. But progress was being made and tea's evolution starts to make some headway in China's Bronze Age that began around 2000 BC. But tea remained one bitter brew during these earliest centuries. It remained a work in progress but showed tremendous promise (as we'll see in future episodes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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24:02

Ep. 140-1 | Tea's Ancient Beginnings

The China History Podcast ·

2014/11/21

In this first episode, we'll explore tea's humble beginnings in the Ba 巴国 and Shu 蜀国 States in today's Sichuan province. We'll also look at the mythical story of the discovery of tea by the Divine Farmer, Shen Nong. We have a long way to go as far as tea's history is concerned. The teas we love and enjoy today, a few millennia ago in Shen Nong's time, also, still had a long way to go. Over the next twenty episodes, we'll look at the history of Chinese tea and as it transforms into a beverage that

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232 results

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