“The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook”
I have already written about “The Story of Tea” by tea importers and retailers Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, a fantastic book that takes the reader along on a tour of the great tea locations throughout the world. Now, they have published a handy guide for any tea lover called “ The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook ” (Ten Speed Press, $16.99). 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. With over 35 years experience retailing premium teas, the authors are the perfect guides to lead you through the labyrinth of the tea world. They begin with a concise overview of tea — where it comes from and how it is grown, harvested, and processed. Individual chapters are devoted to purchasing, steeping and learning about the six classes of tea: green, yellow, white, oolong, black and pu-erh varieties. Finally, they give detailed instructions on storing tea, offer a glossary of tea terminology and a buyer’s guide for places to buy or drink tea. I’m glad to see as much attention paid to tea as to wine and coffee, since it is easily as complex as those beverages, if not more. For more information, go to www.tenspeed.com
