There are A LOT of books on tea but sometimes it seems that most of them repeat the same facts over and over again, even those that aren’t quite accurate. +Lisa Boalt Richardson is a well respected author and tea specialist though so I had high hopes going in. I ordered the hardcover edition and I thought it was beautiful before I even opened it. The matte texture and striking cover imagery immediately drew me in. What impressed me even more than the cover was the contents of its pages. There are lots of pretty books out there but this one manages to be wonderfully factually and informative as well.
Lisa’s tone throughout the book is approachable and casual, drawing the reader in and making them want to know more. One of the things that I enjoyed most was how she draws from her own travels. These experiences really help to bring the facts on the page to life. One of my favorite sections was The Art of Tasting Tea. Her descriptions of the steps involved in tasting teas is not something I often see in books. It helps that they also echo many of my own approaches.
I was glad to see that Lisa took a different approach to the stereotypical cooking with tea section. Rather than just filling it with recipes that the reader might never attempt, she gives practical advice on infusing tea into just about everything. Quotes from some of the best in the biz and specific examples provide a lot of guidance for the reader without being too restricting. There’s enough there to spark a ton of ideas without overwhelming them.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was my companion just before bed for several weeks and I found myself looking forward to picking it back up each night.
P.S. If you plan to pick up a copy, please use this Amazon affiliate link. I’m saving up my commissions for a much needed camera upgrade 🙂