The Tea Enthusiast's Handbook: A Guide to the World's Best Teas

Mary Lou Heiss · Robert J. Heiss

Jan 2012 · Sold by Ten Speed Press

About this ebook

AROUND THE WORLD IN A TEACUP
Did you know that tea is the most widely consumed beverage on the planet after water? Or that all of the world’s tea originates from only three varieties of a single plant? While a cup of tea may be a simple pleasure for most of us, there are a dizzying number of tastes from which to choose. And every tea, whether a delicately sweet green tea from Japan or a bracing, brisk Darjeeling black, tells a story in the cup about the land that nurtured it and the tea-making skills that transformed it.
 
In this authoritative guide, veteran tea professionals Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss provide decades of expertise on understanding tea and its origins, the many ways to buy tea, and how to explore and enjoy the six classes of tea (green, yellow, white, oolong, black, and Pu-erh). Additional advice on steeping the perfect cup and storing tea at home, alongside a gallery of more than thirty-fi ve individual teas with tasting notes and descriptions make The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook a singular source of both practical information and rich detail about this fascinating beverage.

Ratings and reviews

This book was a great education for an industry hands on opinion of the different tea variety characteristics, producing countries and impacts of terroir. To get this type of information you typically need to know someone in the business who is willing to teach you. This book is unique in the fact that you can get reasonably in depth practical information. The other tea books I have found are much more superficial. Focused thoughtful analysis and descriptors is the point. This book helps guide a tea drinker in their quest to grow their knowledge and palate. I learned a lot and refer back to it regularly as a reference. If you are hungry for more practical tea knowledge, this is a great book.

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About the author

MARY LOU HEISS AND ROBERT J. HEISS have been premium tea retailers since 1974. They are adventurous tea trekkers and food and travel writers, and they also present popular educational tea workshops and tastings around the country. They are coauthors of The Story of Tea and Hot Drinks. When not traveling to source tea for their shop Tea Trekker, the Heisses make their home in western Massachusetts.