For the tea lover who is always curious, a good book is a gift that keeps on giving. Whether it’s a book to dip into over an afternoon brew or one to treasure for years, these thoughtful reads make wonderful companions to the season.
World Atlas of Tea | Krisi Smith
A strong choice for the visually minded tea enthusiast, exploring the world’s major tea-growing regions, their distinctive teas, processing traditions and flavour profiles.
In World Atlas of Tea, tea expert Krisi Smith takes readers on an illustrated journey through the world’s great tea-growing regions, exploring the origins, varieties and traditions behind one of the world’s most beloved beverages. From China, Japan and Taiwan to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Africa, the book reveals how geography, climate, cultivation and craftsmanship shape the character of tea. Maps, photographs and regional profiles bring these diverse tea landscapes to life. Beyond its geographical exploration, the book offers an engaging introduction to the journey from leaf to cup, covering tea cultivation, processing, brewing, tasting and blending. Whether discovering the distinctive characteristics of different tea regions or experimenting with new ways to enjoy tea, readers will find plenty to explore. Beautifully illustrated and informative without being overwhelming, it makes a thoughtful gift for both curious newcomers and seasoned tea enthusiasts.
£23.63 | www.amazon.co.uk
101 Teas to Steep Before You Die
The Ultimate Bucket List for the World’s Most Popular Beverage
How Does One Choose What Tea to Drink? The answer is both simple and profound. 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die is far more than a bucket list compiled by four respected tea experts with impeccable credentials. In 256 pages, the book distills a millennium of tea heritage into 101 unforgettable cups. It is both a love letter to Camellia sinensis and a practical guide to brewing and enjoying every style of tea. Each profiled tea is chosen for its flavor, story, and cultural significance. The authors invite us as trusted companions to rediscover familiar favorites, explore rare treasures, and understand how tea connects culture, science, ethics, and pleasure in a single cup.
Authors Nigel Melican, James Norwood Pratt, Maria Uspenski, and Shabnam Weber are among the world’s foremost tea authorities. Melican is a global tea scientist and innovator living in Ireland; Pratt, who authored the Tea Lover’s Treasury in 1982, is the beloved tea historian and “America’s Tea Sage”; Maria Uspenski, founder of The Tea Spot in Denver, Colo., is the author of Cancer Hates Tea; and Shabnam Weber, President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada, headquartered in Toronto, is an accomplished retailer and tea educator who created the Tea Sommelier® program. Each tea profile highlights what makes it remarkable, with clear steeping instructions, expert buying tips, and detailed tasting notes. Plus, with 12 creative recipes for tea-infused mocktails, cocktails, lattes, and more, this guide equips you to embark on your own sensory adventure through the vibrant world of tea.
Listen to an interview with the authors.
USD $16.38 | 256 pages | www.amazon.com
Infused – Adventures in Tea | Henrietta Lovell
A tea book unlike most, this is the very personal story of Henrietta’s adventures with tea, in tea, and all-around tea. With her first fledgling sips out of dainty China Cups at her childhood home, we are taken along on a ride of reminiscence. From trips to far-flung tea fields swathed in mist punctuated by the odd lightning strike or two, we zip off to tea tastings with chefs at some of the best restaurants in the world and strange meetings on trains. Henrietta journeys to all her adventures accompanied by her little yellow suitcase. This is the ideal choice for the person who likes essays and philosophical approaches to tea drinking.
£20 | www.rareteacompany.com
Tea: Wine’s Sober Sibling | Mariëlla Erkens |
Reviewed by Kyle Whittington | TeaBookClub (published February 13, 2023).
Read and listen to the Full Review.
One of the best things about this book is Mariëlla’s consideration for the reader, ensuring the best possible experience. Indeed, she advises on how to use the book to suit your tea-pairing path. This book culminates in a decade of research, tasting, and testing countless teas and dishes to understand how they work together. But more than that, this is a book designed for us. For you. For the chef or restaurateur. Whichever angle one comes to the tea service and pairing from, this book has something for you.
$50 | www.accartbooks.com | www.barnesandnoble.com |
The Book of Tea | Okakura Kakuzo
For those who admire all things Japanese, The Book of Tea is considered the definitive work on Japanese tea culture and its relationship to Zen Buddhism, poetry, life, and art. First published in 1906, it has gone through several editions. The current one contains an excellent introduction and an extra chapter on America’s obsession with Japanese tea, written by Bruce Richardson. Okakura Kakuzo was a fascinating character who traveled the world and influenced many creative thinkers at the dawn of the twentieth century, and continues to do so today through his writings.
$26.95 | www.amazon.com
A Social History of Tea | Jane Pettigrew
Acclaimed writer and tea historian Jane Pettigrew teamed up with American tea expert Bruce Richardson to chronicle the fascinating way tea has influenced British and American culture, community, and commerce. Pettigrew and Richardson take the reader on a remarkable journey spanning centuries and crossing the globe from Canton to London, Boston, and beyond. Perfect for the person who loves history and tea.
The author is a tea specialist, historian, writer, and consultant. Since 1983, she has been working worldwide to explain and share the fascinating world. Jane has written 17 books on tea’s many and varied aspects, its production, history, and culture, and she writes for tea-related magazines and journals.
GBP £16.82 | www.janepettigrew.com
Tea: A Nerd’s Eye View | Virginia Utermohlen
This is the perfect pick for the tea lover who revels in the science behind their favorite brews. Virginia Utermohlen Lovelace is a medical doctor who explains how the tongue perceives classic tastes, how aroma and flavor are linked, and many other intriguing processes of human flavor perception. This title was revised and expanded in October 2020.
$30.00 | www.amazon.com
Tea Under the Palms | Lady Patricia Farmer
If you or your friends have ever fantasized about being invited to tea at Downton Abbey (or Buckingham Palace), this book is for you. Lady Patricia Farmer has described the lush world of formal teas, in the style of the British upper classes, as exemplified by afternoon tea at her cherished Plaza Hotel in New York. This is not a book where tea evokes a sense of serenity and meditation. It is a book about luxuriating in tea and food. The ultimate gift for Afternoon Tea enthusiasts.
$29.99 | www.amazon.com
Tea for Dummies | Lisa McDonald & Jill Rheinheimer
Tea for Dummies is the ideal gift for tea novices. Written in a simple and easy-to-understand style, TFD demystifies the intimidating world of tea. It covers topics ranging from the history of tea to the different kinds of tea and regions, as well as how to drink tea like a professional. There are even bonus sections on cooking with tea and tea cocktail recipes. This book will help any beginner develop a deep knowledge of tea and enhance their enjoyment of it.
$19.99 | www.dummies.com
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