If you’ve crossed the line from casual tea drinker to connoisseur, you’ll understand that a truly great tea can inspire equally intense passion.
At times, this passion can even border on obsession. For proof, look no further than David Lee Hoffman, the subject of the engaging documentary All In This Tea documentary about tea sourcing and Chinese tea culture.
In his early life, Hoffman traveled extensively throughout Asia, developing a deep appreciation for tea. That passion eventually turned into a lifelong pursuit, as captured in the film, which follows his journey across China in search of exceptional, traditionally produced teas.
The documentary began production in 1997 and premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2007. It was co-directed by Les Blank, known for works such as Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers documentary on food culture, a film that explores garlic production in Northern California.
Several well-known figures in the tea world also appear, including James Norwood Pratt, who shares his own enthusiasm for tea; Winnie W. Yu, owner of the Berkeley-based tea shop Teance; and Gaetano Kazuo Maida, executive director of the Tea Arts Institute.
Hoffman remains the film’s central figure, bringing energy and personality to every scene. Not only does he travel through remote tea-growing regions, but he also advocates for fair trade practices and organic cultivation. His dedication even extends to building a cave to properly store his extensive collection of pu-erh tea.
Other highlights include glimpses of traditional tea production, such as an oolong tea processing and sorting techniques and coverage of an oolong tea competition.
To explore more about this fascinating film, visit the official All In This Tea documentary website.
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