James Norwood Pratt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Norwood Pratt
Born	Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Nationality	American
Education	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	Author
Spouse(s)	Valerie Turner Pratt
Awards	Lifetime Achievement Award, World Tea Expo (2015) Best New Publication, World Tea Expo (2010)

James Norwood Pratt, born on March 27, 1942, is an American author and teacher. He is famous for his knowledge about wine and especially tea. Many people call him "America's Tea Sage." He is probably the most well-known expert on tea and its history around the world.

Early Life and Education

James Norwood Pratt was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He grew up in Forsyth County, North Carolina.

His mother, Helen Davis Pratt, went to Salem College. This is one of the oldest colleges for women in the United States. She studied Latin and English and later taught these subjects in high school. His father, Eugene C. Pratt, was an actor and musician. He later became a businessman and farmer.

Pratt attended Richard J. Reynolds High School. He then went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also studied in Europe. In 1960, he traveled to Europe on the ship RMS Queen Mary. On his way back, on the ship RMS Queen Elizabeth, he met Valerie Turner, who later became his wife.

Since 1965, he has mostly lived in San Francisco, California.

Books and Writings

In California, James Norwood Pratt wrote his first book, The Wine Bibber's Bible, in 1971. This book sold half a million copies. It became a very important guide to the best wines from California. Many reviewers praised it. For example, the San Francisco Chronicle said it was a "delightful book."

He is most famous for his books about tea. These include James Norwood Pratt's Tea Lover's Treasury (1982) and The Tea Lover's Companion (1995). He also wrote Reading Tea Leaves (1996) under the name "by a Highland Seer."

The famous American food writer, M.F.K. Fisher, wrote the introduction for James Norwood Pratt's Tea Lover's Treasury. She mentioned that Pratt's book was written with great skill and love. She believed it would make readers happy even after their tea got cold.

In 2000, he released James Norwood Pratt's NEW Tea Lover's Treasury. This was a completely updated version of his earlier tea book. Many tea businesses in the United States use this book for training. It has also been translated into German.

From 2007 to 2014, James Norwood Pratt wrote articles for a tea blog called T Ching. He published over 25 articles about special teas and the history of tea.

In 2010, he wrote James Norwood Pratt's Tea Dictionary. The World Tea Expo named it the Best New Publication that year. This dictionary was made to help people in the international tea trade. However, it was also easy for all tea lovers to understand. It includes terms for growing, making, tasting, and selling tea.

In 2017, he added notes to and re-released The Romance of Tea. This book was originally written by William Ukers in 1936. It talks about the true and legendary beginnings of tea. It also describes how tea became popular and the exciting trade that grew around it. The New York Times called The Romance of Tea a "truly delightful history."

In March 2024, Pratt published "The Tea Lover's Treasury - 40th Anniversary Edition." For the first time, an audiobook version of his classic tea book was also released.

Contributions to the Tea World

James Norwood Pratt is an Honorary Director of the Imperial Tea Court. This is a traditional Chinese teahouse in San Francisco. He has helped share information about Chinese tea and tea customs in America. For example, he helped popularize the Chinese covered cup, calling it a "gaiwan" or "guywan." Both spellings are now used in English, French, and German.

He is also a popular speaker and teacher. He has given talks in places like Zurich, Switzerland, London's Kew Gardens, and Hangzhou in China. In 2005, he was a judge at India's first tea competition in Coonoor, India. He has also worked as a helper, teacher, and taster for several tea companies.

In 1999, Fresh Cup magazine called him "The Renaissance man of the tea industry." Michelle Williams wrote that he is a historian, expert, and world traveler. She said he has become the perfect spokesperson for tea drinkers in the U.S. His humor and dedication have helped many people learn about tea.

In 2007, he helped organize a Festival of Tea. This was for the Santa Fe Opera's new show called "Tea: A Mirror of Soul." This show was created by Chinese composer Tan Dun. Pratt was also interviewed a lot for the 2009 book, The Meaning of Tea: A Tea Inspired Journey. He also appeared in Scott Chamberlin Hoyt's 2008 documentary film with the same name.

Famous Sayings

James Norwood Pratt has many famous quotes about tea. Here are a couple:

• "America's new tea lovers are the people who have forced the tea trade to wake up. Elsewhere, tea has meant a certain way, a certain tradition, for centuries, but this is America! The American tea lover is heir to all the world's tea drinking traditions, from Japanese tea ceremonies to Russian samovars to English scones in the afternoon. India chai, China green, you name it and we can claim it and make it ours. And that's just what we are doing. In this respect, ours is the most innovative and exciting tea scene anywhere."
• "Taking tea is a moment of windless calm, amid the bluster of daily events has always been one of humanity's favorite pleasures. But beyond pleasure, tea can always provide glimpses of the ultimate reality, usually when we least expect any."

Famous Quotes

James Norwood Pratt has many famous quotes about tea:

• "America's new tea lovers are the people who have forced the tea trade to wake up. Elsewhere, tea has meant a certain way, a certain tradition, for centuries, but this is America! The American tea lover is heir to all the world's tea drinking traditions, from Japanese tea ceremonies to Russian samovars to English scones in the afternoon. India chai, China green, you name it and we can claim it and make it ours. And that's just what we are doing. In this respect, ours is the most innovative and exciting tea scene anywhere."
• "Taking tea is a moment of windless calm, amid the bluster of daily events has always been one of humanity's favorite pleasures. But beyond pleasure, tea can always provide glimpses of the ultimate reality, usually when we least expect any."