An Homage to Green Tea

An illustrated work of lyric poetry and prose on drinking green tea as a meditation.

An Homage to Green Tea is an illustrated collection of poetry and prose on the beneficence of green tea, and ways to experience its beneficence. It compiles two works of classical Korean literature into a single volume.

A Poem for Green Tea is a long poem comprising short-short stories, legends, anecdotes, other related poems, excerpts from reference books about green tea, religious and spiritual (Buddhist/Taoist) writings, and Ch'oi's notes. As a whole, the poem seeks to validate the value of Korean green tea relative to Chinese green tea in a pleasing, aesthetic fashion. It concludes with an epilogue poem in praise of Ch'oi's unparalleled green tea.

The Divine Life of Tea provides a collection of instructions on achieving the finest cup of green tea. It starts with choosing superb locations for cultivating green tea, determining the ideal time to pick the leaves, and guidance on preparing and storing leaves. It also covers the ideal types of water, grades of boiling water, utensils to use in preparation, and the type of company one should keep—though the list is by no means comprehensive. The Divine Life of Tea concludes with an epilogue by Ch'oi, elucidating his purpose and efforts in writing the manuscript.