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The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide
 
 
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The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Robert J. Heiss (Author)
Key Phrases: mao cha, hairy crab, leaf white tea, Fujian Province, Sri Lanka, United States (more...)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
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The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide + Tea + The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea
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  • This item: The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide by Mary Lou Heiss

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Purveyors of fine tea, the Heisses' documentary dexterously weaves through the wars, economic upheavals and embargoes surrounding what was once considered the elixir of immortality. Though tea usage may predate written history, evidence suggests that Camellia sinensis's invigorating leaves were first cultivated centuries ago in the tea gardens of indigenous minorities in Northwestern China and along the Indian, Myanmar and Tibetan borders. Chinese monks recognized the energizing effects and medicinal value of this evergreen plant and, by touting its benefits, ignited a thirst for tea that quickly spread west via oceangoing tea clippers and along the Silk Road. The famed East India Company flourished, teatime became social tradition, and cream and sugar were found to balance tea's astringency. In this guide, the Heisses outline at length the production process from tea bush to tea cup, along with the nuances of regional varietals like China's sweet green tea and India's Darjeeling. An engaging historical and cultural study, this guide is geared toward both novice and consummate consumers intrigued by the world's 2,000-year-old tea habit. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Review

"I knew it was extraordinary...No other book, to my knowledge, has contained as much fascinating and detailed information." -- spicesoflife.com, September 18, 2007
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Ten Speed Press (October 1, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1580087450
  • ISBN-13: 978-1580087452
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.8 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,301 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #10 in  Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Coffee & Tea
    #63 in  Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Gastronomy > History

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More About the Author

Mary Lou Heiss
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› Visit Amazon's Mary Lou Heiss Page
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
mao cha, hairy crab, leaf white tea, tea bush cuttings, orthodox leaf, orthodox black tea, distinctive tea, spring green teas, bush tea plants, beeng cha, chemical withering, indigenous tea trees, zao bei, steamed green tea, tea artisans, physical withering, zisha teapots, cooking with tea, withering room, tea kaiseki, freshly plucked leaf, orthodox tea, porcelain teawares, primary tea, tribute teas
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Fujian Province, Sri Lanka, United States, Lapsang Souchong, Yunnan Province, Wuyi Shan, Anhui Province, China Manufacture, Sichuan Province, Sen Rikyu, Nuwara Eliya, Tung Ting, Hong Kong, Earl Grey, Zhejiang Province, Jiangxi Province, Southeast Asia, Bai Hao Yin Zhen, Huang Shan, Way of Tea, Zhen Shan Xiao Zhong, Tai Ping Hou Kui, Fenghuang Dan Cong, Bamboo Tips, European Union
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide
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The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide 4.7 out of 5 stars (20)
$21.45
The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea
13% buy
The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea 4.5 out of 5 stars (6)
$17.13
Tea
11% buy
Tea 4.9 out of 5 stars (8)
$26.40
The Tea Companion (Connoisseur's Guides)
7% buy
The Tea Companion (Connoisseur's Guides) 4.5 out of 5 stars (19)
$12.89
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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
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 (15)
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 (3)
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 (2)
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Ten star must read, October 24, 2007
WOW..... Ever have a book come across your desk that leaves you in awe? This is what happened when The Story of Tea landed in my mailbox. What first catches your eye is the crisp clean design of the book and its cover. A sturdy book that has a sensual soothing feel. If the eyes are the gateway to the stomach, then this book was one that would make me want to drink tea. And I have never been a tea or coffee drinker, so this is an important point.

So I sat and ran my hand over the book and looked at the zen style teapot pouring a hot serving of tea, in the cover photo. Then I opened the book and an hour later when the sun had begun to set and I realized I needed to turn on a light, I realized how mesmerized I had become. To the point I reread areas because I was on the path to becoming a tea lover.

The photos are stunning and informative, which is rare in most books. I was intrigued about all the various cultures where tea is not only drunk, but used as an ingredient in medicine, cooking and baking. The Life of a Tea Bush one reads of the different types of tea bushes, their needs be it water, deeply rich soil, mountains or valleys. On page 51 one learns of the 8 elements of tea productions.

On page 257 one begins to read the encyclopedia of teas, from White, Yellow, Green, Oolong, Black, Pu-erh, Scented, Artisan, Presentation, or Display Tea. And then Brewing The Perfect Cup. No tea bags here thankfully. Then Storing tea, the best water, temperatures etc.

Tea Customs and Culture covers China, Japan, Europe, and other countries like north Africa and Arabia, teapots and cups, as well as Wagashi or what is called sweets that one can serve with various teas.

Like tea itself, this book is soothing and nice. And would make a GREAT gift for anyone who loves history, food, is a teacup or teapot collector, is living in a cabin or on Park Avenue. Have homeschooling friends and family whom I have and will recommend the book to.
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37 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 7, 2007
By N. Suzuki (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I would have so wished to love this book. I am a tea lover and tea is one of my passions. The wonderful pictures looked promising, so did the index and the chapter outline. However, information were repeated over and over again, at some times I felt the authors are rambling on and on without making a point. Often they talk about their tea store, their experiences while traveling, how there are other "bad" tea stores, who do not know anything about tea. A more appropriate title would have been "OUR story of tea".

I would have wished, the authors would have explained better the different steps how the different white, oolongs, black, green and pu-err teas are made. The authors only mentioned the order of how the tea leaves are processed, no explanation for the whys, except "to make the tea more mellow, greener ...". This would have been a great chance to explain a bit about the chemistry, that is going on there.

Although, the context and lay out was so promising, the overall read ended up to be boring and disappointing. With too much repeated information on one side and too little at others, plus the never-ending passages without much point. The fascinating ways of tea with its drinking traditions and production and cultural evolution got lost under all the rambling and was burdened with too many words.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Tea Book You'll Ever Need, January 27, 2008
Reviewed by Sharon Hudgins, author of "The Other Side of Russia: A Slice of Life in Siberia and the Russian Far East"

The subtitle of this beautiful book ought to be "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Tea But Were Afraid to Ask." It answers all of your questions--and more--about tea, including the history of tea, where tea is grown, how it is processed, and the cultural factors influencing the production and consumption of tea over the centuries. Both encyclopedic and very readable, it is filled with historical references, details, and anecdotes lacking in lesser books on this subject. And there is even a section on "Cooking with Tea," including recipes for Green Tea Pots de Crème and Green Tea Chiffon Cake with Walnuts and Crystallized Ginger.

The authors own a shop that sells fine teas, coffees, and other food specialties in Massachusetts. Their book's scope is worldwide and their own knowledge considerable. They have traveled to China and Japan to visit the sites of tea plantations and tea processors, and their handsomely designed, well-printed book is full of color photographs taken on location. If you buy only one book on the subject of tea, this should definitely be the one! It also makes a great gift, paired with a pretty teapot and a box of special, aromatic tea. Highly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I just keep picking it back up!
I LOVE this book! The beautiful pictures and history is fantastic. It is packed full of great information about lots of teas around the world. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Trish Ladham

5.0 out of 5 stars The Comprehensive Authority
This is the ultimate reference book for tea. There are other rather complete books on tea out there, but nothing like this. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Jason Witt

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Intro to Topic by People who Clearly Love their Craft
With the beautiful pictures of a coffee-table book, this volume combines the detailed information of a serious history. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Christopher Tricarick

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good look at Tea, especially in Asia
Given how much I enjoy drinking tea, it's rather a given that over the years I've amassed a collection of books dealing with and about tea. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rebecca Huston

5.0 out of 5 stars a comprehensive book for tea lover
As a tea lover, I picked up this book and trying to understand more about tea. I was amazed on the tremendous amount of materials that were covered in this book. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Kang Guo

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure - passion, love, and deep knowledge of tea served strongly brewed.
What a revelation! I'm a tea nut (I drink mostly exotic high grade green and Wulong whole leaf teas - often 3 16 ounce jars a day) - so I'm particularly ripe for the charms of... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Joshua G. Feldman

4.0 out of 5 stars Rich in information but lacking in graphic design
I cannot imagine there is anything you might want to know about tea that you would not find in this book. The Heisses know their tea - and they obviously love their tea. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dennis Waters

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
This is the end all book on tea. It tells you everything you would ever want to know about tea. Having bought tea from the authors numerous times, I can honestly say that they... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Frederick D. Beshara

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice to look at, informative, poorly written.
As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a beautiful book to page through. And it's pretty clear, I think, that the authors are real experts on their subject. Read more
Published 15 months ago by M. Parfitt

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book about a fantastic drink!
This is an amazing and informative book on tea. I am very pleased with the quality of its publication and the amount of information compiled and composed within such a beautiful... Read more
Published 19 months ago by David C

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