Synopses & Reviews
AROUND THE WORLD IN A TEACUPDid 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.
Synopsis
How do you like your tea? In
How to Make Tea, tea experts Brian Keating and Kim Long will teach you everything you need to know to make your desired cup. Weandrsquo;ve been drinking tea for thousands of years, yet few of us realize that all tea typesandmdash;from elegant lapsang to pungent pu-erhandmdash;come from the same plant. But how are there so many different styles? It comes down to science: geography, biology, chemistry, and physics; the application of heat and pressure; and the magic of time and enzymes.
and#160;
How to Make Tea breaks down these elements and lays out the techniques, tools, and methods needed to brew at home. With this guide, tea lovers of all stripes will become experts on the art and science of tea. Learn to extract the best from every cup.
About the Author
Brian R. Keating has been a pioneer in tea research working with chefs, beverage scientists, and shop owners for over thirty-five years. He is the founder of Sage Groupandreg;, a Seattle-based natural products consultancy and tea think-tank. As its first tea buyer and blend-master, Keating guided the worldandrsquo;s largest natural foods retailer, Whole Foods Market, in establishing its own tea division and brands. His editorial contributions have appeared in
World Tea News,
The Economist, and many other food, beverage, and healthy lifestyle periodicals. Brian also owned a successful retail tea shop.
Kim Long is a writer, researcher, graphic artist, and photographer based in Denver. Together, Long and Brian Keating have contributed to various business publications focused on the specialty tea industry, including multiple editions of the Specialty Tea Is Hot Reportandreg;.
Table of Contents
“a map to have in your grasp as you head down the dozens of intricate, interconnected paths that define the landscape of the world’s best teas.”
—Fresh Cup magazine, December 2010
“Excellent, concise advice about tea. The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook, a charming guide small enough to fit in a large pocket, brims with enthusiasm. ...The information is essential to appreciation; almost every word bears on taste. The Heisses write with impressive accuracy, having researched and lived the subject extensively.... All tea styles...are given equal attention and value, which is rarely the case in tea literature. ...All is laid out with succint clarity and precision.”
—Kevin Gascoyne, The Art of Eating, 7/1/10
"This book is like a mini encyclopedia dedicated to all things Camellia sinensis."
—Imbibe Magazine, March 2010
"The Heisses have written a valuable guide."
—Library Journal, 3/15/10
"All pertinent tea-making questions are answered in knowledgeable, buoyant prose in this handy guide."
—Booklist, 2/15/10
"Rich detail on how to buy, brew, and enjoy the six classes of tea. Questions...are answered with unparalleled passion."
—Tea A Magazine, February 2010
“This delightful, pocket-sized edition offers virtually everything one needs to know about selecting, brewing and enjoying the most consumed (after water) beverage on earth.”
—Gourmet Retailer