 | "A comprehensive look at practically all aspects of tea and tea industry... more of a reference work than a coherent narrative, but still an indispensable tool for all tea lovers."
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The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide
By Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss
Ten Speed Press, 2007. 417p.
This is a beautifully-produced book, chock-full of over 150 photographs of tea leaves, tea farms, tea production, tea ceremonies, and just about anything else tea-related. The authors are tea-shop owners from Connecticut who have been in the business some thirty years.
The book is split into 10 main sections:
1. A Brief History of Tea
2. The Life of a Tea Bush
3. Manufacture: From Fresh Leaves to Distinctive Tea
4. Journeying along the Tea Trail
5. An Encyclopedia of Tea
6. Brewing the Perfect Cup
7. Tea Customs and Culture
8. The Health Benefits of Tea
9. Ethics in the Tea Trade
10. Cooking with Tea
I enjoyed most sections of this book, but I have to point out that it reads very much like a textbook, and not the more leisurely narrative look at the world of tea that I had anticipated. The writing style is fine, and the authors do interject some personal stories and light-hearted comments here and there, but the majority of the text has a no-nonsense approach to it that can be a bit tedious at times. So if you’re looking for a compelling and entertaining read, you might want to try a different title.
That said, I’m still very glad to have this on my shelves, as I’m finding it an extremely useful reference tool whenever I sample a new type of tea, or read about a new blend on an online retailer’s web site - and this is where the true strength of The Story of Tea lies. It contains a wealth of information on all the main (and many obscure) tea-producing regions of the world, including the various specialty blends that each produces. There’s also a “Tea Encyclopedia” that contains photographs, background information and brewing suggestions on several dozen different blends. These are the two major sections I’ve found myself referencing again and again, as well as their terms glossary at the back, but others may also find use for their tea recipes (Chapter 10) as well as their chapter on tea customs from around the world.
I would have no problem recommending this book to any tea lover, with the one caveat that its much more of a reference textbook than it may seem at first glance. True tea lovers who want to deepen their understanding of the drink and learn more about the qualities of special tea blends and tea-producers would almost certainly find this to be an indispensable guide.
— To purchase The Story of Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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