The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook by Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss (review)

Title: The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook: A Guide to the World’s Best Teas

Authors: Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Type of Book: Tea guidebook

Review: Last year I bought, and read, The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide by Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss, owners of Tea Trekker. While there was much that I liked about the book, particularly its spectacular photographs, I also found it frustrating to read. The good folks over at Cha Dao recently published an excellent review of The Story of Tea which addresses several of my concerns, as well as many more issues that are far beyond my meager tea-knowledge.

(Part of my frustration with the book is its size:  It’s bulk makes it difficult to carry, which means that I can’t take it with me to a tea shop, or keep it in my purse for reading in transit. While it is chock-full of information, its lack of good editing, as well as some factual errors, limits its usefulness as a reference work.)

Fortunately for all of us, however, the Heisses recently published a new book, one that is the perfect size (8.4 inches long and 4.5 inches wide) for toting around to retailers and reading while on the go. Unlike The Story of Tea, The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook is not a generalist book, but instead focuses on selecting, buying, preparing, and storing good tea.  The Handbook begins with a brief introduction on how tea is grown and harvested, then continues with excellent chapters on tea purchasing and preparation.

(I particularly appreciate the detail into which the authors help novice tea-drinkers understand the importance of preparing tea carefully.)

The Heisses are experienced tea shop owners, and reading their Handbook feels like getting a personal consultation during a tea-shop visit. They walk the reader through the major tea groups (black/red, green, oolong, white, yellow and pu’erh), highlighting interesting examples of tea from each group, and providing information on sub-varieties and production methods. The book ends with a chapter on the proper way to store tea, followed by a glossary of common tea terms.

The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook: A Guide to the World’s Best Teas provides tea newbies with a well-rounded education in tea basics, while also helping tea enthusiasts expand their horizons. By capitalizing on their great expertise in helping customers choose and prepare good tea, the Heisses produced an incredibly useful work which I strongly recommend to my readers.

Tagged as: Mary Lou Heiss, Robert J Heiss, tea, tea book, tea books, Tea Trekker