Book Review

Title: The New Tea Book: A Guide To Black, Green, Herbal, and Chai Tea

Author: Sara Perry

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Reviewed by Melanie Shim - Vancouver

Like some people, I much prefer the taste of smoking hot tea over coffee in the morning. Not nearly as bitter as coffee, tea is a nice alternative to the morning pick-me-up beverage. I thought I knew what tea was; after picking up The New Tea Book by Sara Perry, I have definitely become a tea snob. Still, a new appreciation for tea has consequently developed, as there is a lot of work into making a small, pre-packaged bag of tea.

In the first half of the book, author Perry provides a comprehensive and eye-opening look at the world of tea and all of its delicious aspects. She starts with its history and cultivation, giving readers a succinct lesson on the popular drink. Then in the second chapter, Perry provides very thorough details about the different teas one could purchase/sip/taste/etc.

I used to scoff at the term “herbal tea.” These supposed teas are merely herbs and flowers soaked in hot water. But, the book showed me that one can steep different of herbs for quick and natural home remedies to variety of ailments, such as upset stomachs, headaches or tension. Who knew there was so much more to herbal teas?

The rest of the first half talks about making that perfect cup of tea for that perfect afternoon. It’s almost like a science experiment in class, measuring the right amount of water, getting that water to the proper boiling temperature and finally setting a time for the tea leaves to steep.

The second half of the book contains pages full of delicious recipes that would complement tea nicely, or simply other uses of tea leaves. Mixed teas, savoury or sweet treats, The New Tea Book is a wonderful resource for any tea lover.

Informative without being pretentious, The New Tea Book is a fun read and should make all your future tea drinking parties (whether it’s solo or with a group) even tastier and more memorable.

Written by :

melshim

 

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