Tea consumption in the United States has increased three hundred percent since 1990. With the growth of specialized coffee and teas, American consumers have become intrigued with the access they have to rare experiences. All In This Tea presents a documentary about David Lee Hoffman and his travels to China to purchase and learn more about tea produced by local farmers using ancient methods handed down from one generation to another.

This film was shot on a hand-held digital camera. The sixty-nine minute film has a real world feel as the viewer (and several Chinese Tea Brokers) follow Hoffman up and down the hills of China in search of the perfect tea. Hoffman works hard against traditional selling methods and entrenched bureaucracy to negotiate tea sales on the spot. Hoffman seeks to find the tea he wants to purchase and be permitted to take home that exact tea. The corporate tea brokers want to find a like tea that can be mass produced and shipped.

Hoffman was first introduced to tea culture when he spent four years in Tibet. During that time he developed a friendship with the Dali Lama and even had a tent created by the Dali Lama's artist using various materials. While visiting these monks, Hoffman learned legends about the origins of tea which are used regularly in religious rituals. The history lesson is broken down for the viewer. Both the legend passed down by the monks how the tea plant first sprung from the ground at a location where an ancient monk cast his severed eyelids. The history of the production of tea in China is also covered. The use of pesticides and chemicals altered the way tea was produced beginning around eighty years ago.

Among the lessons we learn from this movie is that tea is subject to many factors before it ends up in a drink. It begins with the plant and the age of the leaves of that plant when they are picked. The buds are carefully selected and removed to avoid damaging the leaves. There are many roasting processes which represents the artisan aspect of tea. These processes have been handed down from generation to generation. Mass produced tea can not come close to the careful attention given to the leaves by an artist. They use a wok to roast the leaves, tossing them carefully by hand until the exact texture, aroma and color indicate that the perfect tea has been produced. Even the quality of the water is a factor in the final product. Hoffman's search leads him to ancient roasters whose organic leaves produce a tea quality unlike anything experienced by most of America.

Among the suggestions that Hoffman makes to the Chinese tea brokers is that they move away from chemical fertilizers, opting instead for organic options. There is a language barrier that confuses his hosts. It is interesting to watch Hoffman as he tries to find the words to explain worm excrement, the fertilizer he wants them to use. Hoffman offers to pay for all of the fertilizer in exchange for tea. The fact that the locally grown tea does not use chemicals or pesticides gives a purity to the tea that Hoffman especially covets. It is amazing to watch him smell the tea and easily discern which tea has been treated and which is organic.

A bonus in this movie is the cultural aspect that comes through the hand held camera with an intimacy. The people are simple and genuine. The bartering process amongst the local tea pickers is interesting to see. In addition to the people, the beautiful scenery is breath taking. The film was primarily produced in the mountains giving us amazing panorama's of the Chinese landscape. The film was given a soundtrack that is filled with interesting Chinese music that give the viewer a feeling of being transported to view the events first hand.

Americans will pay for quality. People that can afford a delicacy will indulge themselves freely. I happen to be a coffee addict and will pay more for quality beans. It is easy to see that someone would pay a premium for an organic tea that has taste qualities unlike anything available commercially. Hoffman's endeavors have opened up the organic Chinese Tea Market, breaking down many of the barriers that once existed between the growers and the brokers. This film provides an exceptional first hand view of the process that took place to bring good tea to America. I would give All In This Tea five stars out of a possible five.

Based on the fact that this documentary is about the pursuit of Fair Trade like Organic Tea, and attempts to introduce natural fertilizers into Chinese farming, I am contributing this review as part of Pambo's Earth Day Write Off.

Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4