Beautifully illustrated... this definitive guide will appeal to die-hard tea enthusiasts. -- Library Journal

The reference work we've been waiting for has arrived: a comprehensive but not-too-weighty, one-volume coverage of the world's teas, abundantly and beautifully illustrated with photos of exceptional quality. -- TeaTime

2014 World Tea Awards - Winner - Best Tea Book

This second edition has improved and refined tasting notes with updated content about non-herbal tea, the plant Camellia sinensis. The book's elegant design is a complete guide to the world's second most popular beverage -- only water exceeds tea consumption.

This book is now clearly the best book on this topic, concise and authoritative with dozens of photographs and images of the teas themselves, revealing the surprising variety of color and opacity of each variety.

The book is an escorted tour of the world's tea-growing countries -- China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam and East Africa. Readers discover how like a fine wine, it is "terroir", e.g., soil and climate, that gives a tea its unique characteristics.

The book includes varieties of black, green, white, yellow, oolong, pu'er, perfumed, aromatic and smoked teas. Other topics include:

• An overview of the history of tea
• Tea families, varieties, cultivars and grades
• How tea is grown, harvested and processed
• The tea trade worldwide
• Timeline of the world history of tea cultivation
• Profile interviews with tea industry personalities.

The special features legions of tea drinkers will especially enjoy are:

• Local tastes and methods of preparing tea (e.g. macha)
• Tea ceremonies
• Tasting notes and infusion accessories
• Teapot recommendations
• Caffeine, antioxidant and biochemical properties of 35 teas
• 15 gourmet recipes using teas
• A directory of 42 select teas.

 

Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais and Hugo Americi; Jonathan Racine, Edito

Kevin Gascoyne's profile page

François Marchand's profile page

Jasmin Desharnais' profile page

(An) in-depth look at various aspects of this widely consumed beverage.... Photographs appear on almost every page.

North Shore News

[Review for previous edition:] The reference work we've been waiting for has arrived: a comprehensive, but not-too-weighty, one-volume coverage of the world's teas, abundantly and beautifully illustrated with photos of exceptional quality, fascinating graphs, and fairly good maps. The organization of this huge body of factual material will make students most grateful.

TeaTime

[Review for previous edition:] A pretty and enjoyable book with an affordable price and some practical uses for tea-drinkers.

Reference and Research Book News

[Review for previous edition:] Drawing on the collective experience of the four tea connoisseurs of Montreal's Camellia Sinensis Tea House, this remarkably detailed guide examines the history and culture of tea, regional varieties, cultivation techniques, and myriad flavor profiles. Also included are interviews with experts throughout the tea industry, from Darjeeling heritage gardens to the great cafes. Replete with beautiful photographs, recipes, and charts detailing everything from tea's medicinal benefits to the Gong Fu Cha drinking ceremony, a more thorough guide would be hard to find. Tea-drinkers and die-hard coffee fans alike will appreciate the subtleties and traditions of this dynamic drink.

Publishers Weekly

[Review for previous edition:] This book is quite impressive, well researched, and complete with numerous photographs illustrating the beauty and wonder of tea and tea processing around the world. Interesting and enjoyable.

Tea House Times

Reading this book is almost like going on an escorted tour of tea growing regions and countries such as Nepal, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, and China... This is a very enjoyable and informative read, and a book that makes a nice edition to any tea enthusiast's book collection (including those that might be new to tea, all the way to the devoted tea aficionado).

Tea Minded Blog

[Review for previous edition:] A heavily illustrated compendium on non-herbal tea, rich in anti-oxidants and with proven medical benefits... The four writers of this book own The Camellia Sinensis Tea House in Montreal and work as tasters, traveling the world looking for teas... Topics include a primer on tea, varieties, processing, cultivars, making-serving-tasting tea, tea ceremonies, and tea in cooking (with 15 recipes by Quebecois chefs)... The downside to this book: nothing, really -- it is a very comprehensive book.The upside to this book: great pictures and layout.

Gothic Epicures

If you're a tea-lover, occasional drinker, or self-proclaimed aficionado, then this authoritative book is for you.

Life in Quebec Magazine

[Review for previous edition:] Beautifully illustrated... While there is no shortage of tea-related tomes, this definitive guide will appeal to die-hard tea enthusiasts interested in learning about the modern, global industry as well as the history and enjoyment of this ubiquitous beverage.

Library Journal

This tea book is an invaluable reference for understanding tea in its many varieties. The team at Camellia Sinensis Tea House has put together a well-thought out and nicely organized primer that you will find yourself reaching for again and again as questions come up in your tea journey... The Tea and Health section sets this book apart from any that I have run across thus far. The team had 35 teas analyzed for their health benefits; focusing on caffeine content, antioxidants, and catechins. This analysis has totally changed the way I think and talk about caffeine content in teas... This is a book that everyone curious about tea should check out. If you are in the tea business, it is a valuable reference. If you simply enjoy tea but want to know more about what is in your cup and what makes it taste the way it does, it will make fascinating reading.

Leaves of Cha Blog