I’ve read A LOT of books on tea. That might make me a harsher judge than your average person. To be honest, most tea books out there are mediocre because they repeat the same old things. I am happy to report that Tea is for Everyone breaks out of that mold. The subtitle of this book is “Making Chinese Tea Accessible” and I would definitely say that mission was accomplished.
What is it about?
It is a slim volume (less than 200 pages) but the author did a great job of covering different aspects of tea. The first few pages cover the origin of tea and its history. There isn’t too much time spent on this but it is enough to get the reader started. They then jump into detailed explanations of the processing of each tea type, including their traditional Chinese medicine properties. My inner tea nerd was happy to see oxidation and fermentation used appropriately.
The following chapters thoroughly cover popular tea styles and growing regions. I could definitely see this section being a reference point for someone who is new to tea and just starting to explore. Etiquette and food pairings are also discussed. My favorite section would have to be the last one, titled The Tea Makers. It shines the spotlight on producers in several different regions, discussing each of their stories and the struggles that they face.
Would I recommend it?
Tea is for Everyone is illustrated with beautiful photographs and graphics throughout. Hardcover books are my preference and I love that it is printed on high-quality paper. If you are looking for a holiday gift for a budding tea lover, this might just be a perfect choice. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for an introduction to Chinese tea.
Have you ready Tea is for Everyone? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
This book was provided by ManMo Media. Opinions are my own.