The Tea Book: All Things Tea

by Nick Kilby, Nick Kilby

This is a book about tea but not as you've ever seen before. It takes the core information about tea but presents it in a highly original and entertaining way. It uses infographics and illustrations to convey facts and figures as well as other informative content. With five parts, the book starts off with a celebration of tea-drinking around the from drinking masala chai in tea shacks in India or from a samovar in Russia, to the dramatic pouring of Moroccan mint tea and the brewing of a salty butter tea in Tibet. Part two is an illustrated timeline that takes you through the history of tea in a humorous and engaging way. Part three - From Plant to Pot - explains in a simple but informative way the origins of different teas, where they come from and how they are processed. Take a visual journey, with the tea leaf, and see what happens during the processing business as well as learning about the different types of tea and what each needs to bring out its very best in terms of taste. It's here, too, that we meet the people behind the tea estates that teapigs deal with. Part four explains everything you ever wanted to know about drinking tea. Should you slurp or sip your tea? Follow in the steps of a tea taster and learn how to taste like a pro. Is a cup or a bowl best for drinking tea? The book takes a look at all kinds of drinking vessels from across the globe. To dunk or not to dunk - that is the question? Teapigs subscribers give their top 10 biscuits to dip in a cup of tea, does your favourite biscuit feature? And how can tea influence your mood? The fun but informative mood-o-meter shows you how to pick the right tea to cheer you up or calm you down. Plus, discover a whole tea chest of health-related benefits. The last part of the book is packed with 30 or so recipes, offering inspiration for using tea in cooking or partnering recipes with the best teas.

Genres: Nonfiction, Tea, Cookbooks, Food, Food and Drink, Cooking

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2015

Reviews

[Katherine Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free through Goodreads giveaways. This does not influence my review in any way.

First, I want to say that this book is huge. It is textbook or coffee table book size and it's gorgeous. As someone who drinks tea nearly every day(I was drinking tea when this package arrived!), I loved all the information on teas and their benefits. I really loved learning how different cultures take their tea. And the recipes! I can't wait to try the Earl Grey Hearts or the tea macarons.
This book is beautiful and informative and it would make a great addiction to your cook book collection or a lovely piece to add to your coffee table!

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know the health benefits to drinking tea, well this book is the only one you will ever need to have on your shelf. It covers tea's origin, it's history, the processing, as well as the many varieties. Excellent! Now for my cup of tea.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice coffee table book about all things tea that serves as an accessible introduction. Did you know that the Irish drink the second most amount of tea per person in the world? Me neither! Lots of pictures & infographics.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This book is a nice introduction to tea. It talks about the various types of tea and where they are grown, the process of manufacturing (and brewing) different teas, and about tea culture throughout the world. It includes a brief history of tea in different regions, and the end is full of interesting recipes to try out. None of the information is terribly in-depth so do not pick this book up expecting to become an expert in any particular aspect of tea, but it is a nice and light-hearted overview.

The best part about the book is the illustrations. It is a coffee-table sized book and it is chock-full of lovely and charming infographics and beautiful photographs. I found it to be very beautifully designed.

All in all it's a nice, relatively short read but there's not a lot of information that goes beyond the basics. It did leave me wanting to read something more in-depth about the history of the tea-trade, so I suppose that is a bonus! It would make a nice gift, and it looks handsome on a shelf.

[Amy Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my copy of The Tea Book:All Things Tea for free in a Goodreads Giveaway.

First. It is a beautiful book. Big and heavy, think coffee table book, not easily fits on my casual bookshelf book.

Well organized, lovely photos, simplified history, how to drink tea by geographical area etc. etc.

Recipe section with interesting and tempting choices. The Matcha milkshake has been tried and enjoyed.

My only negative is the inclusion of tea houses in all the countries discussed. I will never go to Turkey, Russia, etc, so just not interesting. Also makes the book more for "right now" not for future reference, since the tea house information is likely to become dated and useless.

But a delightful book.

[Teleya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I've been obsessed with everything Tea related for quite some time, but this book offered a refreshing look at different cultures around the world and their relationship with Tea. I'ts unique from start to finish, beginning with a colorful graph of tea's overall popularity and production in different countries. The pictures and overall presentation of the content are wonderful. If you fancy yourself a Tea connoisseur, I would suggest this delightful book. However if you're looking for a book with a more serious and historical look on the Tea Industry, I would recommend Tea: Addiction, Exploitation and Empire by Roy Moxham.

[Letitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every aspiring tea nerd needs this book. If you already are a tea nerd, you may be aware of most of the information, but isn't it still fun to have it in a beautiful hardback form that you can reference? This book is so incredibly full of good information that I am glad my girlfriend got it for me as a gift. I will need to reference it often, since there's no way to absorb everything on the first go-through.

It's totally a matter of personal taste, but why 4 stars instead of 5? Just because I'm very interested in the economics, international relations, and the way tea has propelled politics throughout history, and while this book kind of teases you with it, it doesn't go into it much. It does have space where it explores the history of tea and the tea trade, but I'd like this section to be beefed up significantly.

Also, some of the little graphics are completely unhelpful or just silly, like the very last one that has you pick a tea based on mood. It doesn't mean anything, and is kind of a waste of space in an otherwise thoroughly researched and scholarly book.

This is an ideal gift for someone who is fascinated by the geographic specifics, the science and benefits, as well as the categorization of tea. I learned a ton about the process from plant to cup, and am newly dedicated to my (2nd after wine) favorite beverage.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took over a year, but I finally finished this book! I checked this book out of the library last year when I was visiting my parents briefly before a conference. I thought I would have downtime during the conference to read it, but that was not the case. I was unable to finish it before heading back to school, so I marked my place and planned to check it out the next time I was back in town. Sadly, it has taken me until NOW, over a year later, to finally do that!

This was a very informative book on tea- way more information than I will ever need on tea! Bring on the tea-themed trivia questions, haha!

The recipes at the back of the book all seem very delicious, as well.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful deep dive into the world of tea. This book starts by taking the reader around the world with various customs pertaining to tea. The book then talks about the history of tea, the farm to table process of tea, and ends with recipes. The book includes recommendations of tea places to visit around the world and interviews with tea business owners. I found this book in the library after receiving a gift set of loose leaf teas with noted temperature requirements. This book was a welcomed introduction into the tea world. Beautiful photographs and illustrations. It is clear that the authors love their craft.

[Erin Lawwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book that delves into the history of tea with vivid illustrations and just a touch of history.

Written luke a cup of tea itself, it you can taste the lightness of the article about how to drink tea and how to make the perfect cup of tea. With its hints of richness in the beautiful illustrations and fun facts, and a bittersweet darker taste of some of the not so pretty history, it is an enjoyable blend of flavors that can ge enjoyed...

...while drinking or discovering your favorite cup of tea.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is a general introduction on tea trying too hard to be "hip" and "millennial." It emphasizes European (primarily British) tea customs while simultaneously stating "a query or Google and Wikipedia didn't come up with anything so we gave up." Not the best sign for book intended to inform. There are books much more worth the money and time if you want to learn about tea. However, if you are looking for something slightly more helpful than useless with pretty infographics... this is the book for you.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful book. I borrowed it from the library, but would consider owning it. The only downside is that it has more recipes than I was looking for. I really wanted to understand the structure of provenance in the tea world, a better sort of index to understanding the really outstanding sources of various teas. This book is a very good start, but stops where I would want them to continue onwards.

Still a useful book, and I may yet buy it.

[Jaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is pretty fluffy, but it's beautiful. Wish there were more citations/further reading for some of the tea history section. If you like tea, you'll probably enjoy flipping through the pages of this book, maybe skimming some of it (I found after the first few interviews with tea growers, I was mostly skipping over the rest of them).

Can't speak to any of the recipes as I haven't tried them.

[Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es una guía para los aficionados del té. A través de sus páginas recorrerás la historia del té, sus orígenes, variedades, y tradiciones en torno a esta bebida. Aprenderás acerca de cómo se cultiva, su preparación e incluso cómo incorporarlo en tus recetas cotidianas. Combina fotografía, ilustraciones y texto

[Elliot Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about tea from all over the world. I particularly like the ceremonies and how tea itself is enjoyed around the world; it's given me a deeper appreciation of tea and I'm definitely more aware of the leaf, cut, and flavour in the brew. Nice pictures too.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers a very good range of tea topics like how people around the world drink tea differently and similarly, tea history, and how tea goes from the plant into a cup. All these with simple explanations and great photos going along with the information. May try some of the recipes one day.

[Adrielle]

This is a good coffee table book - I think it would need to get into a little more detail before I would consider buying it as a reference book, but I enjoyed looking through it. The recipes were a nice thought but a little too British to appeal to me.

[Wendy Crouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that you can read all the way through or just the sections of interest. It provides details on the history of tea, processing of tea, and consumption of tea including recipes. A beautifully presented book that was a joy to look through and read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pretty and fairly informative.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what it is, this book is exceptional. Great pictures and details regarding everything you ever wanted to know about tea. A great read while sipping on a nice cupa.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super informative book about tea!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous coffee table book full of fascinating facts about tea.

[Dee Szymanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of tea history, customs and how it grows. Learned alot!

[Ed Goist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine coffee table book with decent and informative sections, and beautiful, well chosen photographs.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting reference book about the origin and history of tea as well as how it’s incorporated into different countries and their culture.

[Carrieann Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book that covers a broad look at all things tea.

[Sammm · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 for 4.4~4.75. Will hopefully elaborate.

[Corinnagoodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

very informative

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The key book All things tea, is just that a history as well as the historical significance of tea through different cultures of the world.

[Laura N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read with lots of interesting bits of information on all things tea (not herbal). I liked the history, cultural focus, and the infographics.