Since the discovery of tea as a beverage nearly 5,000 years ago, hundreds of different brews have been perfected, and tea lovers have flourished in nearly every country on Earth. This book is the ultimate connoisseur's guide to tea types, histories, legends, and lore, tea brands throughout the world, retail and mail-order tea companies, and more. Photos, many in color.

Tea is an international drink, both in terms of its origins and popularity, and has a colorful and fascinating story to tell. This handsome illustrated reference is a guide to all the major varieties of tea--favorites such as Darjeeling, Assam, and Earl Grey, as well as the more acquired tastes of Lapsang Souchong, Keemun, and Nilgiri. The main part of the book is a directory of teas grouped by country of production, and subdivided by region, then by tea type. There is a brief introduction to each tea-producing area, accompanied by maps for each. The countries covered are China, Japan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Georgia, Kenya, and Malawi. Each individual tea is illustrated by close-up photography of the dry leaf, wet leaf and infusion, with an accompanying description of characteristics and brewing tips to enjoy the variety at its best.

This pocket-sized handbook to all things tea is the perfect gift for tea connoisseurs, tea newbies, and anyone who appreciates a good cuppa. Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world—second only to water. And there's so much to learn and try beyond the colorful boxes in the grocery store. Like wine and beer, each tea variety has its own distinct history, source, and flavor profile, from Darjeeling to matcha to Silver Needle. Tea is also embedded in the traditions of many cultures around the world and is shared with others through distinctive ceremonies that include unique customs, foods, and accessories. Within the pages of this pocket-sized guide, you’ll find information, how-tos, and trivia for tea lovers of all levels. Experts and newbies alike will learn about • Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf • Anatomy of a Tea Plant • How to Prepare Tea • Tea Families and Common Varieties • Types of Teapots and How to Use Them • Tea Traditions Across the World Plus an illustrated guide to tea accessories, terms every tea lover should know, highlights from tea history, a tea tasting guide, tips for throwing tea parties, and much more!

Where does tea come from? With DK's The Tea Book, learn where in the world tea is cultivated and how to drink each variety at its best, with steeping notes and step-by-step recipes. Visit tea plantations from India to Kenya, recreate a Japanese tea ceremony, discover the benefits of green tea, or learn how to make the increasingly popular Chai tea. Exploring the spectrum of herbal, plant, and fruit infusions, as well as tea leaves, this is a comprehensive guide for all tea lovers.

More and more people are turning to tea as their primary hot beverage, and connoisseurs are discovering the wondrous range of flavors to be found in different varieties from around the globe—some of which command fantastic prices and are in great demand. This comprehensive, authoritative guide to understanding, purchasing, and serving the world's finest teas is beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs of a variety of tea leaves and herbs, as well as their countries of origin. Learn how to store tea so its aromas last, brew it properly for fullest enjoyment, and appreciate the many nuances of flavor to be found in this extraordinary drink.

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.