"Wars have been waged, royal marriages arranged, companies formed, and world problems solved over a perfect cup of tea. It's neither inebriating, expensive, nor fattening, and yet there's nothing quite so effective for regaining one's equilibrium and perspective--or simply relaxing."

Who could argue with that?

In this beautiful book, Lady Patricia Farmer--whose mother introduced her to the ritual of afternoon tea at the Plaza Hotel's Palm Court when she was just seven years old--offers us the last word on the subject. Patty discusses the fascinating history of tea, the nuances which accompany tea's many varieties, effective preparation techniques which will give you the very best cup, delicious tea recipes, and so much more!

Featuring commentary by a host of experts and dozens of fun facts and entertaining anecdotes, Tea Under the Palms is meant to be savored and revisited--like the ritual it so joyously celebrates.

Lady Patricia Farmer is a historian, best-selling author, businesswoman, and former model. She's been fascinated with the glamour, magic, and history of New York City's quintessential Plaza Hotel ever since the day her mother introduced her to the ritual of afternoon tea at the hotel's Palm Court when she was just seven years old. She continues her in-depth research uncovering all the secrets and history this mythical, landmark hotel holds.

Lady Patricia has followed the entertainment industry as an insider, and archivist all her life. Her work draws upon a lifetime of close friendships and socializing among personalities and celebrities around the world and has spent the last decade writing about some of our most significant cultural institutions. In her book Playboy Swings, she chronicles--through hundreds of personal interviews--the careers and personalities of the country's leading jazz artists. Terry Teachout, in a review for the Wall Street Journal, said, "Playboy Swings is a well-researched, fascinatingly detailed new book by Patty Farmer. It goes a long way toward answering the question of how Jazz acquired its cultural cachet."