Laatst bijgewerkt op: 16/10/2026
How can you choose, brew, and taste tea more mindfully? In *The World of Tea*, tea sommelier Renate Heru Utomo takes both novice and curious tea drinkers on a journey from pu-erh to matcha. She looks beyond the leaves themselves, exploring production techniques, flavor, philosophy, and the colonial history of tea. We asked her five questions about the new book.
Heru Utomo works as a tea sommelier and advises restaurants and companies on tea. She also teaches university courses on the subject. Richard Schukkink of the ITC Academy wrote the technical sections for the book.
“The idea came about during a conversation at the publishing house Atlas Contact. We were talking about tea, and the enthusiastic editor there suggested an accessible book that would introduce novice tea drinkers to that vast world.”
“That tea can hold so many beautiful stories and insights. Take storing tea, for example. We have all kinds of guidelines for that these days. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, those guidelines weren’t yet followed in the Netherlands, and yet the appreciation for tea back then was unprecedentedly high. They even built special tea domes for it.”
“It shows that ‘the best’ according to our current rules isn’t always the only way to enjoy tea. In that way, I also explore the philosophical side of tea in *The World of Tea*.”
“That tea is all about tranquility and beautiful ceremonies. Tea has also fueled conflicts. Think of the Boston Tea Party and the Opium Wars. Behind such a peaceful cup of tea sometimes lies a rather turbulent history.”
“Because you can’t tell the history of tea without talking about colonialism, trade, and power. As a sinologist and history enthusiast, I find that context important. It shows just how much world history is actually contained in our cup.”
“With the tea they already drink, but brewed differently. Do you usually use a tea bag and boiling water? Try putting that same familiar bag in cold water in the fridge overnight—you’ll be surprised!”
*The World of Tea: Choosing, Brewing, and Tasting with Greater Awareness* will be published on October 23, 2026, by Atlas Contact. The hardcover book has 256 pages, an ISBN of 9789045052915, and a suggested retail price of €24.99. It will also be available as an e-book. When you order the book through our online store, koffietcacao.com receives a small commission on the sale.
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