The Green Tea User's Manual (Hardcover)

by Helen Gustafson (Author) "Thou, great Anna, whom three realms obey, Dost sometimes counsel take-and sometimes tea..." (more)
Key Phrases: infusion basket, peach tea, remove the strainer, Chez Panisse, Dragon Well, Fish Eyes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Serious aficionados of green tea will welcome The Green Tea User's Manual from Helen Gustafson, tea buyer for Alice Waters' famous Chez Panisse restaurant. Short though this book may be, it thoroughly covers a subject not well understood in America: the uniqueness of green tea and its distinction from quotidian black tea. Gustafson has researched the best methods for bringing out green tea's essences, and she recommends a lower water temperature than commonly used for brewing black tea. Moreover, she notes that different green teas require different brewing methods. She also offers advice on teapot selection. Gustafson catalogs some of the best teas available, and she is not so snobbish as to completely shun the oft-despised tea bag. A few thoughtful recipes using tea as a flavoring close out the book. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
With its own aromas and delights, as well as a host of health bene?ts, including enhancing immune system function and lessening damage from free radicals, green tea continues to grow more popular in American diets. Yet because it is brewed differently, and many varieties of green tea are available, there is more to know about making a good cup of green tea than how to boil water.

The Green Tea User’s Manual leaves no leaf unturned, introducing 16 of the most popular types of green tea, including Dragon Well, Sencha, Jasmine, and the Japanese tea Gen Mai Cha. It describes the three stages of bubbles to look for when boiling water and the various vessels in which to brew, from pots to small covered cups known as guywans. Lovely line drawings, original recipes, anecdotes, lore, and related green tea tips help to make this irresistible little book a perfect gift for anyone with a penchant for tea.


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Product Details

• Hardcover: 111 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (December 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 060960824X
• ISBN-13: 978-0609608241
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #572,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For tea enthusists interested in venturing into green teas~, June 24, 2002

By	Mary Clement Hill (Corvallis, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wish that more things in life came with a nice, compact, informative manual. :-) I recommend this book to those just beginning their adventure into green teas and also for those who enjoy green tea but don't really know much about finer greens. It starts out by covering the absolute basics like what tea is, how to appreciate it, potential health benefits, brewing basics, etc. I really liked her descriptions of how to brew in a cup/mug, teapot and guywan. Also, she's spot on with infusion baskets. Tea balls or clamp spoons are terrible and she doesn't mind saying so! She then moves on to explore some of the world's most enjoyed green teas from "Gen Mai Cha" to "Yin Hao". She does an excellent job of explaining what to look for in each tea, how to brew them and infuses her personal experiences to further broaden understanding. And, not one to leave it at that, she also talks about tea bags, what to do with spent leaves and liquor, using tea as dye and tosses in some green tea recipes that sound fantastic. I put this book on the shelf right alongside the classic "Tea Companion" by Pettigrew and "The Book of Green Tea" by Rosen. Happy tea drinking!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Green Tea Made Easy, January 16, 2002

By A Customer

I love this little book! Green tea is all the rage, and I keep seeing articles on its health benefits. But it's also a bit of mystery - how to brew it, how to buy it, even what it is (as opposed to black tea). This small but mighty guide explains those mysteries one by one. There's a lot packed in here. The author is an expert - a "tea sommelier" (who knew such a thing existed?). But her tone is unpretentious, encouraging, charming and fun. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in exploring green tea but doesn't really know where to start.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you ever wanted to know about green tea, May 7, 2002

By	Queen of Tea "queenoftea" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

Good, practical advice. Helen even lists green tea by brand name and tells you how to brew each one differently so that each tea's finest qualities are brought out. Read this book and you will be a "green tea expert" in no time.