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A Little Tea Book: All the Essentials from Leaf to Cup
From tea guru Sebastian Beckwith and New York Times bestsellers Caroline Paul and Wendy MacNaughton comes the essential guide to exploring and enjoying the vast world of tea.
Tea, the most popular beverage in the world after water, has brought nations to war, defined cultures, bankrupted coffers, and toppled kings. And yet in many ways this fragrantly comforting and storied brew remains elusive, even to its devotees. As down-to-earth yet stylishly refined as the drink itself, A Little Tea Book submerges readers into tea, exploring its varieties, subtleties, and pleasures right down to the process of selecting and brewing the perfect cup.
From orange pekoe to pu-erh, tea expert Sebastian Beckwith provides surprising tips, fun facts, and flavorful recipes to launch dabblers and connoisseurs alike on a journey of taste and appreciation. Along with writer and fellow tea-enthusiast Caroline Paul, Beckwith walks us through the cultural and political history of the elixir that has touched every corner of the world. Featuring featuring charming, colorful charts, graphs, and illustrations by bestselling illustrator Wendy MacNaughton and Beckwith's sumptuous photographs , A Little Tea Book is a friendly, handsome, and illuminating primer with a dash of sass and sophistication. Cheers!
Tea, the most popular beverage in the world after water, has brought nations to war, defined cultures, bankrupted coffers, and toppled kings. And yet in many ways this fragrantly comforting and storied brew remains elusive, even to its devotees. As down-to-earth yet stylishly refined as the drink itself, A Little Tea Book submerges readers into tea, exploring its varieties, subtleties, and pleasures right down to the process of selecting and brewing the perfect cup.
From orange pekoe to pu-erh, tea expert Sebastian Beckwith provides surprising tips, fun facts, and flavorful recipes to launch dabblers and connoisseurs alike on a journey of taste and appreciation. Along with writer and fellow tea-enthusiast Caroline Paul, Beckwith walks us through the cultural and political history of the elixir that has touched every corner of the world. Featuring featuring charming, colorful charts, graphs, and illustrations by bestselling illustrator Wendy MacNaughton and Beckwith's sumptuous photographs , A Little Tea Book is a friendly, handsome, and illuminating primer with a dash of sass and sophistication. Cheers!
144 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2018
37 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 7, 2019
This is kinda like the Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat of books about tea. Which would probably be the biggest compliment I can give a book about tea.
It’s visually beautiful. It’s very instructive, but still perfect for a beginner. It shows me that things I just assumed are very simple, low-effort, uncomplicated parts of life, like cooking oil or a three-dollar box of English Breakfast tea, are actually the most complicated things on earth and I am a fool for ever assuming otherwise and should be permanently banned from ever ingesting tea or fine cheeses ever again.
The twist is that I would be very okay with that ban.
The differences between Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (as in the Netflix show) and this book, besides the literally countless other differences, are that:
1) I love pasta, and I do not love tea.
2) I love everything about Samin Nosrat, the host of and cook behind Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and I did not much click with this author’s voice.
This just felt a lot more like a reference book than anything else, and it isn’t really supposed to be that. So. Kinda lame.
However, who knew tea was so complicated and interesting??? (Don’t say everyone except me.)
Bottom line: This book is pretty and if you actually like tea then you should definitely read it. But if you’re me and you don’t then like...what are either of us doing.
----------------
me: lmao i don't even like tea
this book, immediately: "You're holding this book because you love tea."
me: ...oh boy
----------------
LOOK HOW CUTE THIS BOOK IS.
ARE YOU SEEING THIS???
(thanks to Bloomsbury for the copy <3)
It’s visually beautiful. It’s very instructive, but still perfect for a beginner. It shows me that things I just assumed are very simple, low-effort, uncomplicated parts of life, like cooking oil or a three-dollar box of English Breakfast tea, are actually the most complicated things on earth and I am a fool for ever assuming otherwise and should be permanently banned from ever ingesting tea or fine cheeses ever again.
The twist is that I would be very okay with that ban.
The differences between Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (as in the Netflix show) and this book, besides the literally countless other differences, are that:
1) I love pasta, and I do not love tea.
2) I love everything about Samin Nosrat, the host of and cook behind Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and I did not much click with this author’s voice.
This just felt a lot more like a reference book than anything else, and it isn’t really supposed to be that. So. Kinda lame.
However, who knew tea was so complicated and interesting??? (Don’t say everyone except me.)
Bottom line: This book is pretty and if you actually like tea then you should definitely read it. But if you’re me and you don’t then like...what are either of us doing.
----------------
me: lmao i don't even like tea
this book, immediately: "You're holding this book because you love tea."
me: ...oh boy
----------------
LOOK HOW CUTE THIS BOOK IS.
ARE YOU SEEING THIS???
(thanks to Bloomsbury for the copy <3)
January 17, 2022
Great book explaining all about where, when, how and whys of tea. Lots of info and great illustrations and brewing ideas.
I enjoy loose leaf tea and would happily pay extra for better more natural quality.
Loved the book and would recommend to anyone interested in this or even if its never crossed your mind before.
I enjoy loose leaf tea and would happily pay extra for better more natural quality.
Loved the book and would recommend to anyone interested in this or even if its never crossed your mind before.
February 17, 2025
A short book but very informative. Most importantly, it kept my interest.
November 18, 2018
A Little Tea Book: All the Essentials from Leaf to Cup is an absolute treat to read while sitting with a great cup of tea! A must-read for any tea lover!
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway. So thanks again to Nicole from Bloomsbury for sending a copy my way!
The book's introduction begins with:
You’re holding this book because you love tea.
Perhaps you can’t begin your morning without
a cup of English Breakfast. You may have a favorite
mug. You might carry that mug to work, along with
an assortment of teabags.
I was already wicked excited to dive into this book, but from that passage, I knew I'd be in for a treat!
First things first, I just love the cover designed by Katya Mezhibovskaya! The entire book was designed so beautifully. Even the naked book looks lovely!
I learned so many things from this book! A few of the things that really stood out were:
- All tea comes from just one plant: the Camellia sinensis.
- There are only six types of tea- white, green, yellow, oolong, black, and dark. All others like chamomile aren’t tea, they’re made from other plants.
- A tea is defined by the variety/cultivar used and what happens to the leaf after plucking.
- Taste varies depending on weather, the soil, time of harvest, the part of the plant, and what happens to the harvest after it is removed from the plant, but the quality can still vary greatly.
- Teas can be categorized into flavor groups including; fruit, floral, marine, mineral, sweet, spice, wood, earth, and others.
-The debate of whether the milk goes in before or after the tea is ongoing. This author and George Orwell say after. I agree!
This book was organized so brilliantly. There were so many wonderful sections! One of my favorites, which rather surprised me, was the “A little history” section. The information in this chapter was written so well and it was rather short and sweet, but it still packed quite the historical punch!
I loved that the author threw in quick personal stories here and there and that there were also various drink recipes thrown in every now and again!
The photos included were incredible! As were the illustrations!
At the end of the book there was a glossary, more information about the photos included, recommended reading, and an index.
My final thoughts:
I had so much fun reading this book! Of course, it also made me super thirsty! I brewed a cup of green tea, and multiple cups of loose white tea to sip on while reading, and a cup of black tea to drink while writing up my review!
I would highly recommend this book to any tea lover! It's packed with wonderfully interesting information and written in a very easy-to-read way.
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway. So thanks again to Nicole from Bloomsbury for sending a copy my way!
The book's introduction begins with:
You’re holding this book because you love tea.
Perhaps you can’t begin your morning without
a cup of English Breakfast. You may have a favorite
mug. You might carry that mug to work, along with
an assortment of teabags.
I was already wicked excited to dive into this book, but from that passage, I knew I'd be in for a treat!
First things first, I just love the cover designed by Katya Mezhibovskaya! The entire book was designed so beautifully. Even the naked book looks lovely!
I learned so many things from this book! A few of the things that really stood out were:
- All tea comes from just one plant: the Camellia sinensis.
- There are only six types of tea- white, green, yellow, oolong, black, and dark. All others like chamomile aren’t tea, they’re made from other plants.
- A tea is defined by the variety/cultivar used and what happens to the leaf after plucking.
- Taste varies depending on weather, the soil, time of harvest, the part of the plant, and what happens to the harvest after it is removed from the plant, but the quality can still vary greatly.
- Teas can be categorized into flavor groups including; fruit, floral, marine, mineral, sweet, spice, wood, earth, and others.
-The debate of whether the milk goes in before or after the tea is ongoing. This author and George Orwell say after. I agree!
This book was organized so brilliantly. There were so many wonderful sections! One of my favorites, which rather surprised me, was the “A little history” section. The information in this chapter was written so well and it was rather short and sweet, but it still packed quite the historical punch!
I loved that the author threw in quick personal stories here and there and that there were also various drink recipes thrown in every now and again!
The photos included were incredible! As were the illustrations!
At the end of the book there was a glossary, more information about the photos included, recommended reading, and an index.
My final thoughts:
I had so much fun reading this book! Of course, it also made me super thirsty! I brewed a cup of green tea, and multiple cups of loose white tea to sip on while reading, and a cup of black tea to drink while writing up my review!
I would highly recommend this book to any tea lover! It's packed with wonderfully interesting information and written in a very easy-to-read way.
Read
July 22, 2025Why did I even have this on my want-to-read shelf? Really, I have no interest in tea except when someone makes it for me and I get to drink it. But it mentions North-East India so I guess it was worth it.
January 18, 2019
This was interesting enough but not fantastic. The illustrations were the best part of the book.
Minor quibbles:
--None of the photographs have captions. There is a page with page numbers and captions at the very end of the book but I didn't find it until I was finished reading.
--There isn't a lot of new information here for the seasoned tea drinker, yet he doesn't always explain terminology so it isn't really suited to a total beginner either.
--This is strictly about tea from the Camellia sinensis plant. There is no information about herbal infusions, rooibos, or any other type of hot drink which is commonly referred as tea.
--There are random?? cocktail tea recipes?? Not sure what that added to the book.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this but I certainly wouldn't read it again or especially recommend it.
Minor quibbles:
--None of the photographs have captions. There is a page with page numbers and captions at the very end of the book but I didn't find it until I was finished reading.
--There isn't a lot of new information here for the seasoned tea drinker, yet he doesn't always explain terminology so it isn't really suited to a total beginner either.
--This is strictly about tea from the Camellia sinensis plant. There is no information about herbal infusions, rooibos, or any other type of hot drink which is commonly referred as tea.
--There are random?? cocktail tea recipes?? Not sure what that added to the book.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this but I certainly wouldn't read it again or especially recommend it.
October 30, 2018
I love tea. I drink loose leaf tea throughout the day and I love visiting the local tea shop to learn more about tea, to taste new teas, and find my usual favorites. I knew some of the information in this book because of conversations with my tea purveyor over the years, but I learned so much more from this quick and enjoyable read. This is a little book, a charming book, and a book packed with information that is quickly read and digested. My knowledge was enhanced by Beckwith's stories, the beautiful illustrations and photographs of tea plants, tea processes, and the places tea is grown. You will no longer be afraid to try loose leaf tea after reading this lovely book.
August 24, 2019
Beckwith, with the help of beautiful illustrations by MacNaughton, has put together an adorable book that provides a wide and just-deep-enough look at the world of tea.
He's obviously passionate about tea and eager to share his knowledge with us. I thought I knew most everything I needed or wanted to, but I still learned some neat tidbits. We also hear about his travels in tea growing regions as part of his work sourcing ethically made, single estate tea.
I appreciate that he doesn't shy away from tea's sordid past - Brits outright stole the bush from China then planted it in their colonies to feed the ever expanding demand of England. Beckwith also touches on how climate change is affecting how the drink is being produced.
The text has many beautiful photographs and illustrations, and the 144 pages flew by in a little over an hour. A fine stocking stuffer or birthday present book for the tea lover in your life - be sure to pair it with some tasty loose leaf, of course.
He's obviously passionate about tea and eager to share his knowledge with us. I thought I knew most everything I needed or wanted to, but I still learned some neat tidbits. We also hear about his travels in tea growing regions as part of his work sourcing ethically made, single estate tea.
I appreciate that he doesn't shy away from tea's sordid past - Brits outright stole the bush from China then planted it in their colonies to feed the ever expanding demand of England. Beckwith also touches on how climate change is affecting how the drink is being produced.
The text has many beautiful photographs and illustrations, and the 144 pages flew by in a little over an hour. A fine stocking stuffer or birthday present book for the tea lover in your life - be sure to pair it with some tasty loose leaf, of course.
February 9, 2020
This is exactly as it's described in the introduction-- a small, valuable tea book that gives the most ardent or the newbie tea drinkers the bits of information to feel better informed, plus the confidence to experiment as well knowing the history of tea in China.
In between the straightforward and reverent delivery of the material are pictures of tea service, tea trees, etc. from around the world and then interspersed in that are drawings that demonstrate concepts like darkness of teas and the "branches" to explore in tea.
Adorable, lovely, fabulous, and chock full of the juicy bits of tea for every tea lover. Plus, who won't know think about the "agony of the leaves" when steeping!
In between the straightforward and reverent delivery of the material are pictures of tea service, tea trees, etc. from around the world and then interspersed in that are drawings that demonstrate concepts like darkness of teas and the "branches" to explore in tea.
Adorable, lovely, fabulous, and chock full of the juicy bits of tea for every tea lover. Plus, who won't know think about the "agony of the leaves" when steeping!
January 5, 2019
I love the illustrations and photos throughout this little book. The illustration on what the water looks like at various temperatures is very helpful! I think this stumbles a little on providing information for the beginning tea drinker. For example, the author has kindly explained what exactly English Breakfast and Orange Pekoe means--great! But in the section on how to choose other teas you may enjoy, the diagram includes nothing to orient the person who needed those things explained. Where does English Breakfast fit on the tea tree? A minor quibble in an overall enjoyable tome.
October 17, 2018
Although I’ve been drinking tea for years, I’ve only started learning about tea. I enjoy an Assam or Earl Grey in the morning and will drink green tea later in the day and evening. This lovely book serves as the ideal tea primer. It has brief sections and a conversational tone. As it states in the introduction: “I’m offering you a little about a lot.” It’s a foray into the world of tea and will make you want to read more and acquire more knowledge. It delves into quite a few tea topics including the tea plant, the six types of tea, names, history and health benefits. I didn’t know that tea originates from one plant—Camellia sinensis. Tea is categorized from least to most oxidized: green, yellow, white, oolong, black and dark. The tea name may refer to the process or to its place of origin. Where a tea comes from matters. For instance: “Green teas grown in China often have a nutty, roasted, vegetal profile while those from Japan tend to be more grassy and rich.”
It’s a quick, pleasurable read—while sipping tea, of course-- and also a book that someone can use for reference. It will make a perfect gift for the tea lover in your life.
published here: https://entertainmentrealm.com/2018/1...
It’s a quick, pleasurable read—while sipping tea, of course-- and also a book that someone can use for reference. It will make a perfect gift for the tea lover in your life.
published here: https://entertainmentrealm.com/2018/1...
November 25, 2018
'perhaps you can't begin a morning without a cup of English breakfast you may have a favorite mug you might carry that mug to work along with an assortment of tea bags.'
I really enjoyed this book. What goes into a cup of tea?.... Apparently a lot! As a long time tea lover it was really quite interesting to find out all these interesting facts that I had no idea about!
This book walks you through the process of tea making. Right from the ground to your cup. It gives you the history of tea as well as running through the different types of tea, how to select and brew the perfect cup, and more!
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
I really enjoyed this book. What goes into a cup of tea?.... Apparently a lot! As a long time tea lover it was really quite interesting to find out all these interesting facts that I had no idea about!
This book walks you through the process of tea making. Right from the ground to your cup. It gives you the history of tea as well as running through the different types of tea, how to select and brew the perfect cup, and more!
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
March 4, 2019
Loved the illustrations--the history of tea timeline was wonderful, but I especially loved the one on how to tell the temperature of boiling water without a thermometer (tho I am not purist enough to really worry about that, truth be told).
January 15, 2020
Interesting short read. Even then, couldn't tell if the author was just trying to set the scene and create interest, or brag at certain points about countries and amazing things he saw and expensive teas. Haha. Still, I enjoyed it and learned more about tea, so yayyy.
April 28, 2019
I love this delightful, little book! It's full of useful information about tea history, types, selection, and brewing. The illustrations are charming.
January 2, 2020
Here's a great introduction to all things tea. Whether you know nothing about tea or fancy yourself an aficionado, you'll learn something new in this short, informative book. It doesn't go too deep into any topic, but it's a fun little read if you love tea. And the illustrations are excellent.
March 11, 2024
Tiny primer on the art of tea. I like that it isn’t overwhelming while retaining good basics. I also appreciated the general tone of pretentious tea knowledge with a side of understanding that the best tea is simply one you enjoy. If Wendy MacNaughton could illustrate every book with insightful and fun graphics, I would be exceedingly happy.
February 17, 2024
Short but sweet! Nice lil book to brush up on the basics of tea while also sprinkling in some useful everyday tips and pretty pics. Very frank and easy to read 🫖🌸
November 23, 2022
Exactly as advertised—a cute tiny 101 of tea book. I discovered some things I’ve suspected—Darjeeling can be a green tea too—and the tea flavor tree is very helpful to define taste as floral, vegetal, roasty. There are a lot of alcoholic tea cocktail recipes! I would’ve loved to learn more about his career in visiting plantations and serving as a tea somm
August 19, 2021
This is a cute little book with bits of information on several aspects of tea. I picked it up at the library because of the title/spine, but was compelled to actually check it out because I noticed the illustrations were by Wendy MacNaughton, whose artwork (Salt Fat Acid Heat!) is lovely.
The book provides useful snippets to some often confusing tea issues, like the difference between white/green/yellow/oolong/black/dark, which was probably the most useful part for me. There is also some silly information like cocktail recipes, which just seemed out of place and gratuitous. I would have appreciated more homely or simple, non-alcoholic recipes and other interesting ways to use tea besides drinks.
The author's tone and words would alternate between "please don't drink garbage tea, here is why my teas are so fancy" and "but don't listen to me, just drink whatever you like!" which was a bit disconcerting. Should I drink fancy tea, or drink whatever I want? Obviously I'll drink whatever I want, but I would hope there would be more compelling reasons that he could provide as to why I should drink better quality tea - especially in terms of ethics, labour, environmental costs, and so on.
It also failed to touch on some very important aspects of tea, such as labour, cost, and trade - on the people who plant and pick the plants and toil away at barely livable wages in order that people around the world can get a sip of tea to satisify their cravings. I guess the book tried to stay away from what could be seen as controversial, and even though the author presumably sources a lot of his tea in a direct trade fashion, its a pretty big oversight in the book.
I also don't think that there was adequate explanation of some concepts that appeared multiple times but were not actually covered in any detail - like compressed teas, or leaf shapes, in terms of why they are shaped in certain ways, and how.
I didn't really like how photos and text boxes and illustrations would interrupt a page/paragraph/sentence because it was distracting and I had to keep re-reading sections strategically to avoid the interruptions somehow. Felt like a textbook in that way, albeit much smaller and more appealing.
Still, it was an easy read and I finished it in a day and there are some lovely photos of misty, mystical lands. There are also some photos which don't really fit the mood of the book, like close-ups of random artifacts (I say random because I can't necessarily tell offhand what they are, and it would be better if the captions were alongside the photos rather than in a list at the end).
The book provides useful snippets to some often confusing tea issues, like the difference between white/green/yellow/oolong/black/dark, which was probably the most useful part for me. There is also some silly information like cocktail recipes, which just seemed out of place and gratuitous. I would have appreciated more homely or simple, non-alcoholic recipes and other interesting ways to use tea besides drinks.
The author's tone and words would alternate between "please don't drink garbage tea, here is why my teas are so fancy" and "but don't listen to me, just drink whatever you like!" which was a bit disconcerting. Should I drink fancy tea, or drink whatever I want? Obviously I'll drink whatever I want, but I would hope there would be more compelling reasons that he could provide as to why I should drink better quality tea - especially in terms of ethics, labour, environmental costs, and so on.
It also failed to touch on some very important aspects of tea, such as labour, cost, and trade - on the people who plant and pick the plants and toil away at barely livable wages in order that people around the world can get a sip of tea to satisify their cravings. I guess the book tried to stay away from what could be seen as controversial, and even though the author presumably sources a lot of his tea in a direct trade fashion, its a pretty big oversight in the book.
I also don't think that there was adequate explanation of some concepts that appeared multiple times but were not actually covered in any detail - like compressed teas, or leaf shapes, in terms of why they are shaped in certain ways, and how.
I didn't really like how photos and text boxes and illustrations would interrupt a page/paragraph/sentence because it was distracting and I had to keep re-reading sections strategically to avoid the interruptions somehow. Felt like a textbook in that way, albeit much smaller and more appealing.
Still, it was an easy read and I finished it in a day and there are some lovely photos of misty, mystical lands. There are also some photos which don't really fit the mood of the book, like close-ups of random artifacts (I say random because I can't necessarily tell offhand what they are, and it would be better if the captions were alongside the photos rather than in a list at the end).
December 18, 2018
I love tea and this little book is filled with so much information. It also contained beautiful photos.
September 17, 2018
I received a free early review copy of this book.
At just over 100 pages, A Little Tea Book is a quick read and a nice little primer for tea enthusiasts who are just beginning to explore loose leaf teas. Beckwith breaks loose leaf teas down into 6 types and briefly reviews shape, size and how (if) the tea in that category is altered. He also provides a short history on tea, a few tea cocktail recipes, and how to choose a tea you might like and a few steeping tips.
There are lots of photos and a handful of lovely illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton. These were quite interesting in my black & white ARC copy, and I can only guess that they must be quite beautiful in color.
Although the $20 (USD) price tag feels a bit steep for the size, I suppose it's to be expected for the number of photos and illustrations.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about tea, but if you have already researched and read a lot about loose leaf, you may not find much new here.
At just over 100 pages, A Little Tea Book is a quick read and a nice little primer for tea enthusiasts who are just beginning to explore loose leaf teas. Beckwith breaks loose leaf teas down into 6 types and briefly reviews shape, size and how (if) the tea in that category is altered. He also provides a short history on tea, a few tea cocktail recipes, and how to choose a tea you might like and a few steeping tips.
There are lots of photos and a handful of lovely illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton. These were quite interesting in my black & white ARC copy, and I can only guess that they must be quite beautiful in color.
Although the $20 (USD) price tag feels a bit steep for the size, I suppose it's to be expected for the number of photos and illustrations.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about tea, but if you have already researched and read a lot about loose leaf, you may not find much new here.
December 6, 2018
For your own library, or a gift, this book opens a world. The subtitle says it all - All The Essentials from Leaf to Cup. Here is history, processing, types and tastes of tea in one easy to read, beautifully photographed and illustrated book. I learned so much about a drink I love. Growing, processing for types of tea, interspersed with wonderful anecdotes of the author’s own experience, this book is a friend sitting down and explaining via his travels the romance and mystery of tea. I am hereby inspired to do a tea tasting party, with scones, certainly. There is a glossary and a recommended reading list included.
November 14, 2018
Are you a tea drinker? Do you know the difference between Black Tea and Oolong? This book provides the reader with a complete understanding of what makes a cup of Tea; and the simple essence to truly enjoying your cup of tea.
January 5, 2022
Like having a casual chat with a good friend who is a tea expert. Easy to understand and accurate with charming illustrations. Perfect gift for any tea lover.
January 11, 2023
Very good introduction to tea.
November 22, 2020
I took a little break from all the mystery, horror, and the like I've been reading lately for this little gem. I got it yesterday and finished it in a couple of hours. I am a lifelong tea drinker. My mother was a tea drinker. I never drink coffee. I could not make a decent cup of coffee if my life depended on it, until Keurigs were invented! Even I can fill the water reservoir and hand my guests a K-cup. I carry quality tea bags, some home made, with me when I go out. Seriously. I'm not joking!
I started to get serious about tea, as in dumping off-the-shelf teas like Lipton, after my first trip to Scotland on my honeymoon. Over a dozen trips to England, Wales, and Ireland as well and I became tea snob, and I'm not ashamed of saying it. Imagine places where I could get wonderful tea, any time, any place, prepared properly without having to argue with waitstaff! I'd come home with my suitcase full of teas to try, and beautiful teapots to make them in.
I have many books on tea, some much more in depth and I've given programs and tastings to try to explain my obsession to anyone who would listen. I recently put in a whole house water filtration system so I could have decent tap water for cooking and drinking and which makes a big difference in tea taste. I have a tea table replete with electric kettle, pots, strainers, infusers, and many types of tea in my sunroom and my kitchen so I can have a cuppa any time of the day. Yep, tea snob!
This little book is a wonderful introduction to the complexity and joy of tea drinking. It's packed with great information about all types of tea from white to black. There is some variation in the description of teas by infusion color. Many call most dark teas red instead of black because of their mahogany color, and reserves the name black for pu-erh. This book does not but it's no matter as long as it's consistent. I keep using the word little in describing this book, and you can see from the Contents page the author himself uses the word, but I assure you those littles add up to a lot of great information.
What you get is a well rounded discussion of the history and essentials, the kinds of and naming of (hint Orange Pekoe has nothing to do with the fruit), and the preparation and enjoyment of including supposed health benefits. There are photos, lovely hand done illustrations, drink recipes, a glossary, bibliography, and index, all in a 7 1/2 by 5 1/2, 132 page book. It's small enough to tuck into your purse when you go tea shopping; in a proper tea shop! I do my shopping in a local proper shop, where I also bought this book, and in some well known online purveyors of quality teas.
I feel like this is less a book review than a confession about my obsession but that's OK. I'm among friends. If you drink off the shelf tea and you'd like to explore, or if you know nothing about tea and want to explore, this is a great way to start.
I started to get serious about tea, as in dumping off-the-shelf teas like Lipton, after my first trip to Scotland on my honeymoon. Over a dozen trips to England, Wales, and Ireland as well and I became tea snob, and I'm not ashamed of saying it. Imagine places where I could get wonderful tea, any time, any place, prepared properly without having to argue with waitstaff! I'd come home with my suitcase full of teas to try, and beautiful teapots to make them in.
I have many books on tea, some much more in depth and I've given programs and tastings to try to explain my obsession to anyone who would listen. I recently put in a whole house water filtration system so I could have decent tap water for cooking and drinking and which makes a big difference in tea taste. I have a tea table replete with electric kettle, pots, strainers, infusers, and many types of tea in my sunroom and my kitchen so I can have a cuppa any time of the day. Yep, tea snob!
This little book is a wonderful introduction to the complexity and joy of tea drinking. It's packed with great information about all types of tea from white to black. There is some variation in the description of teas by infusion color. Many call most dark teas red instead of black because of their mahogany color, and reserves the name black for pu-erh. This book does not but it's no matter as long as it's consistent. I keep using the word little in describing this book, and you can see from the Contents page the author himself uses the word, but I assure you those littles add up to a lot of great information.
What you get is a well rounded discussion of the history and essentials, the kinds of and naming of (hint Orange Pekoe has nothing to do with the fruit), and the preparation and enjoyment of including supposed health benefits. There are photos, lovely hand done illustrations, drink recipes, a glossary, bibliography, and index, all in a 7 1/2 by 5 1/2, 132 page book. It's small enough to tuck into your purse when you go tea shopping; in a proper tea shop! I do my shopping in a local proper shop, where I also bought this book, and in some well known online purveyors of quality teas.
I feel like this is less a book review than a confession about my obsession but that's OK. I'm among friends. If you drink off the shelf tea and you'd like to explore, or if you know nothing about tea and want to explore, this is a great way to start.
September 19, 2018
A Little Tea Book, by Sebastian Beckwith with Caroline Paul, is a slim volume of facts and trivia about tea, which would make a good gift for tea lovers this holiday season. My curiosity about the differences between oolongs (my favorite), green teas, and mysterious pu-erh cakes was sated, and I enjoyed trivia like learning that orange pekoe refers to the shape of a tea leaf and what's really in English Breakfast. The book is filled with lovely illustrations by Wendy McNaughton, that delineate tea shades and shapes. For those who wish to heat their tea to the proper temperatures, the book helpfully illustrates how to tell hot your water is based on the size and pattern of the water bubbles in your pot.
That said, I sometimes wish that the book evoked more of a sense of coziness that I associate with drinking tea and visiting tea houses. My favorite tea stories are travelogues. This has a bit of that in this book, such as a description of hundreds-year old plants growing out of rocks that are carefully guarded by security cameras in the Wuyi Mountains; another story details the discovery of tea of a Royal provenance at a crumbling monastery. But on the whole the book is more technical then romantic.
Beckwith is the co-founder of In Pursuit of Tea, a tea shop that provides teas to Beard-Award winning restaurants like Blue Hill in New York. A bit of self-promotion creeps in, in the form of descriptions of blends that are specific to his establishment and suggestions of tea to try. It's not terribly troubling, and the benefit of his knowledge about tea outweighs the occasional intrusion.
Disclosure: I received a free Advance Reading Copy of this book to review.
That said, I sometimes wish that the book evoked more of a sense of coziness that I associate with drinking tea and visiting tea houses. My favorite tea stories are travelogues. This has a bit of that in this book, such as a description of hundreds-year old plants growing out of rocks that are carefully guarded by security cameras in the Wuyi Mountains; another story details the discovery of tea of a Royal provenance at a crumbling monastery. But on the whole the book is more technical then romantic.
Beckwith is the co-founder of In Pursuit of Tea, a tea shop that provides teas to Beard-Award winning restaurants like Blue Hill in New York. A bit of self-promotion creeps in, in the form of descriptions of blends that are specific to his establishment and suggestions of tea to try. It's not terribly troubling, and the benefit of his knowledge about tea outweighs the occasional intrusion.
Disclosure: I received a free Advance Reading Copy of this book to review.
January 12, 2019
This is a delightful quick read and fact-driven introduction to the tea plant (camellia sinensis) with tidbits of history, shapes, sizes, and processing styles, that dispels many commonly touted myths about tea (including caffeine levels). The color photographs are beautiful and varied and the author's personal touch and stories are never too obtrusive.
Most important, this is a book you can confidently give any up-and-coming tea lover that will equip them with real skills to be an educated tea consumer. This book achieves what many intro to tea books attempt to and fall short of: it is written to answer the very basic question "what is the information I need to make informed purchasing decisions." It does not wallow in tea mythology or center around western-brewing centered opining of the author. Nor does it distract with excessively detailed and nuanced information that is better to discover as one deepens their journey in to tea, like brewing guides or detailed tea manufacturing notes, detailed tasting descriptions, results of (sometimes good or sometimes questionable) scientific studies, and such.
This is the only beginner book I will likely ever give 5 stars to. I might even have to go back and re-rate other books I have read now.
The only complaint I have with this book is that the watercolor illustration in the leaf shape/size section is too whimsical. So many people have never seen the actual real tea shapes so presenting them in such a whimsical way is not very helpful to newbies.
Most important, this is a book you can confidently give any up-and-coming tea lover that will equip them with real skills to be an educated tea consumer. This book achieves what many intro to tea books attempt to and fall short of: it is written to answer the very basic question "what is the information I need to make informed purchasing decisions." It does not wallow in tea mythology or center around western-brewing centered opining of the author. Nor does it distract with excessively detailed and nuanced information that is better to discover as one deepens their journey in to tea, like brewing guides or detailed tea manufacturing notes, detailed tasting descriptions, results of (sometimes good or sometimes questionable) scientific studies, and such.
This is the only beginner book I will likely ever give 5 stars to. I might even have to go back and re-rate other books I have read now.
The only complaint I have with this book is that the watercolor illustration in the leaf shape/size section is too whimsical. So many people have never seen the actual real tea shapes so presenting them in such a whimsical way is not very helpful to newbies.
June 2, 2019
A Little Tea Book: All The Essentials from Leaf to Cup, is exactly what the title implies, the authors Sebastian Beckwith and Caroline Paul are tea enthusiasts. One specializes in finding and providing the best quality tea to consumers from different tea farms around the world (Beckwith), while the other focuses on the origins of tea and it's cultural and political history (Paul). With illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton
The Review:
The 129-page book covers all topics relating to tea from the tea plant to labels. There is also a glossary in the back of the book as well as an index and recommended reading list for reference purposes.
There are many photos and illustrations throughout the book that helps a reader dive deeper into the content, giving off a visual lesson of the sections covered in the book.
I bought this book because I love tea, and I have a tea company, and I wanted to learn more about ”the most consumed beverage in the world, after water.”
As an avid drinker, and self-learner of tea from personal exploration, I must say this book has added more information to my knowledge. For instance, I didn't know English Breakfast was a tea referred to any caffeinated tea you would drink in the morning with sweetener or milk.
My Thoughts
I’ve noted many facts of information from A Little Tea Book: All The Essentials From Leaf to Cup, that I will be referencing from and quoting, to help teach my customers and followers tips and facts about tea, the reason I rated this book a 5/5
” If you are unsure how to start, remember that tea flavors fall into basic categories of fruits, floral, marine, mineral, sweet, spice, wood, and earth, among others.”- A Little Tea Book: All Essentials from Leaf to Cup.
The Review:
The 129-page book covers all topics relating to tea from the tea plant to labels. There is also a glossary in the back of the book as well as an index and recommended reading list for reference purposes.
There are many photos and illustrations throughout the book that helps a reader dive deeper into the content, giving off a visual lesson of the sections covered in the book.
I bought this book because I love tea, and I have a tea company, and I wanted to learn more about ”the most consumed beverage in the world, after water.”
As an avid drinker, and self-learner of tea from personal exploration, I must say this book has added more information to my knowledge. For instance, I didn't know English Breakfast was a tea referred to any caffeinated tea you would drink in the morning with sweetener or milk.
My Thoughts
I’ve noted many facts of information from A Little Tea Book: All The Essentials From Leaf to Cup, that I will be referencing from and quoting, to help teach my customers and followers tips and facts about tea, the reason I rated this book a 5/5
” If you are unsure how to start, remember that tea flavors fall into basic categories of fruits, floral, marine, mineral, sweet, spice, wood, and earth, among others.”- A Little Tea Book: All Essentials from Leaf to Cup.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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