The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide Hardcover – October 1, 2007

This book was an excellent book on tea. Make no mistake, it is much more of a read than a browse type of book, and it is full of anecdotal stories and experiences, not a scholarly or analytical book, but quite enjoyable, extremely knowledgable, and highly approachable. It is 400+ pages, so be prepared for the size! There are fabulous pictures, better than I have found in any other tea books, even than the Tea Enthusiast's Handbook, another book by the Heisses.I really enjoyed reading this book, and found myself easily getting sucked into portions of it, but they were none of them long and demanding, so it didn't take up my whole afternoon getting engrossed in a single section, nor did it waste my time. This is the approachable and welcoming story of Tea, the history of Tea and the way tea is handled, both in the past and in the modern world. This book has well rounded content, with solid coverage of all countries and regions with tea producing pasts and presents, without giving too much focus to any single area, and not being too weak in any area either. This solid and fair reporting of information was something I haven't really found in other books on tea; they usually focus on China, maybe a bit of India, a dash of Japan, and then some European teas. I really wanted more information on Japan, Africa, India, and on tea customs around the world, and this book definitely delivered!I read about several places that I want to go visit now (ok, almost all of them), and I now want to take a tea-tasting world tour. This book (and the Heiss' stories) have inspired me to explore the world of tea to new heights and depths, a journey I am thoroughly looking forward to.

This is an amazing and informative book on tea. I am very pleased with the quality of its publication and the amount of information compiled and composed within such a beautiful book. The pages of which allowed me to rediscover one of my favorite drinks. I had forgotten how truly wonderful a good, properly made cup of tea can be. Our society has become super sized and highly caffeinated to the point that we no longer recognize the complexities as well as subtleties of tea. This book will show you how to buy, brew, and appreciate this fascinating beverage. From the first sentence to the last prepare to escape on a wonderful journey back in time when this drink was first presenting itself to humans right up to modern day. From the dynasties of the east to the aristocratic monarchies of the west, tea has traveled a long way to what we know today and the Heiss' will take you on that Journey. Sit back and make a cup of tea and prepare to be filled with the knowledge that The Story of Tea will bring you. Forget what your corporate retailer has taught you about tea and allow yourself to be educated on this historical and healthy drink. After reading the book you will most definitely want good quality tea. There are good teas out there and the book will give you listings of places to get them as well. They are not as hard to get as you might think.So get yourself a teapot, some good loose tea, and a strainer and enjoy this wonderful drink, not to mention the book itself!

I LOVE this book! The beautiful pictures and history is fantastic. It is packed full of great information about lots of teas around the world. Complete with information on brewing and harvesting. I think anyone would find this a great book they can leave out for guests to browse while enjoying a cup of their favorite tea. I just keep picking it back up and always find something new to read or another picture to enjoy.Great book!I love the high quality paper, and glossy pages, the text is laid out in an easy to read fashion, pick it up for a quick 5 minute read or sit back and enjoy for the evening.

Of all the books I've read about tea, "The Story of Tea" (2007) by Heiss & Heiss is one of my favorites! It would make for an excellent textbook in any class or lecture about tea. It contains an abundance of information, with beautiful photographs throughout the book, many of which show cups of brewed tea along side the dry tea from which it was brewed. Their information is up-to-date, very precise, and the majority of time, very accurate. For instance (with the exception of Puerh tea), they make no bones about other tea dealers who misinformingly speak about "fermentation" instead of correctly mentioning "oxidation", telling the reader to "run, not walk" from such dealers! It is some very good advice indeed.With so much information, I only detected a few errors, which were unfortunate, but perhaps unavoidable. For example, Huang Shan Mao Feng, a famous green tea from China, is listed on page 163 as a yellow tea. On page 219, the book states that Alishan produces oolongs grown at the highest altitudes of any tea in Taiwan, when in fact the highest plantation is located at Da Yu Ling, part of the Lishan range in central Taiwan, with the highest peak located in the Yushan range, adjacent to the Alishan mountain range. Also, the book states that Bai Hao "Oriental Beauty" oolong is oxidized 35 to 40 percent, although it is oxidized closer to 70 percent, a fact that Heiss & Heiss themselves correct in their subsequent "The Tea Enthusiast's Handbook" (2010). Still, these errors are fairly insignificant when compared with everything else that is right about this book. As an Engligh tutor, what actually bothered me the most was the overusage of split infinitives ("to be" verbs separated by an adverb) and the grammatical errors when saying "different than" instead of correctly stating "different from" in sentences using comparisons. Yet again, these are only minor and should not detract too much from the overall quality of this predominately very well-written, beautifully illustrated, highly researched, and extremely informative book. It would be a great addition to the library of any tea connoisseur or enthusiast.

Love tea? Here is the final authority. Covers literally every thing from planting to brewing a great cup.

Whispersync PleaseGreat BookA must read for Tea Geeks

This was a gift---she loved it.