Tea Blog

As a tea aficionado devoted to knowing more about this beverage that is becoming an increasingly important part of my life, I am taking a look at some of the people who have been in the “tea trenches” for many years. Their dedication to the Camellia Sinensis plant (the tea bush) and to processing it for a variety of tastes contributes daily to the enjoyment of tea by people the world over. In a way, they are unsung heroes, veterans in the world of tea.

I’m starting with a look at a well-known figure, someone who could be called the “Martha Stewart of the Tea World”: Jane Pettigrew.

In virtually every photo, Pettigrew is smiling broadly, a smile that most certainly comes from deep within. A sure sign that the idea of tea leading to happiness is reality, not myth. (Well, that’s what I’m choosing to believe at any rate!) In the space of fewer than three decades, she went from being the average British tea drinker to being a widely recognized tea consultant and author. The key: She switched from teaching (English to non-native speakers as well as French) and communications training to pursuing a career in tea, including being the author, co-author, and editor of numerous books about tea.

Small wonder that she smiles so sincerely and warmly. It’s happiness coming from deep within her, a happiness that comes when someone pursues his or her passion. In this case, tea.

More and more I see people turning from careers in other fields to tea, not always with the same passion and drive as Pettigrew did, but often with the same result. They become happier and more fulfilled. Certainly, she appears to be, whether she’s visiting a tea room, conducting a tea masterclass, drinking tea at a neighborhood tea house in China with Asako Steward of Infuse Tea, standing in a tea garden with the morning mists rising around her, attending the World Tea Expo, or visiting friends Bruce and Shelley Richardson at Elmwood Inn.

There are several lessons to learn from the story of Pettigrew’s life:

• It’s possible to redirect your life from a career that may not be all you want it to be to something much more fulfilling.
• You can make your passion for something into your life’s work.
• Learning is an exciting journey and sharing the knowledge you gain as you learn can be very rewarding.
• Just because you write a bunch of books on a particular subject, you’re not necessarily an expert. They have to be good, authoritative, and appealing, as Pettigrew’s are, which explains why some are in their 3rd edition, others have been translated into other languages, and a foreword written by her helps sell a book.

Most of all, I can tell from the multitude of books Pettigrew has authored, co-authored, and edited, that she knows what you and I also know: tea is not just a beverage, it’s a way of life! Her books range from the first one about tea published in 1986 to teatime treat recipe books to books about life, love, and lifestyle such as From Grandmother With Love: A Life Recalled For My Grandchild.

Oh, by the way, no, she’s not related to Peter Pettigrew, the rat-like minion of Lord Valdemort in the Harry Potter books. Thought I’d better clarify things just in case there was any confusion out there!

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