The Tea Enthusiast's Handbook

March 15, 2010
Tea is the new wineaccording to the Heisses ("The Story of Tea"), owners of a tea shop in Massachusetts. Focusing on pure, premium teas from Asia, the authors discuss how geographic setting, cultivation, plucking, and processing contribute to the distinctive flavor of a tea. Details on purchasing, steeping, and enjoying the six different classes of teas, with information on specific kinds, such as sencha, are provided as well as a select buyer's guide of retail and online sources. For Fisher (editor in chief, "The Leaf"), tea is more than just a beverageit is a way of life. Applying the philosophy of the Tao, Fisher discusses how preparing and drinking tea can provide opportunities for inner enlightenment and personal harmony. He explores the history of tea and how the drink's rich cultural and philosophical heritage can represent the formula for a well-balanced life today. VERDICT The Lipton tea bag crowd may not understand what all the fuss is about, but those who take their "Camellia sinensis" seriously will find that the Heisses have written a valuable guide. Heavy thinkers rather than just heavy tea drinkers will best relate to Fisher's literary meditation on the calming role of tea in today's hectic world.John Charles, Scottsdale P.L., AZ

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2010
Making the perfect cuppa is not as easy as it may sound. How hot should the water be? How long should the tea steep? What kind of tea should be used in the first place? All pertinent tea-making questions are answered in knowlegeable, bouyant prose in this handy guide. The authors take readers along as they explore the world of premium tea; premium tea, once unknown in the West, is now very popular in the U.S. (Tea, by the way, is the most widely consumed beverage on the planet after water and still proudly maintains its title as the worlds oldest beverage.) Guidance is extended to purchasing and steeping tea, but the in-depth discussions of the properties and particular pleasures of the six classes of tea dominate most of the books pleasurable pages. Information on tea storage and a glossary round out this excellent introduction to a special world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)