The Tealovers Companion

Tea is an international drink, both in terms of its origins and popularity, and has a colorful and fascinating story to tell. This handsome illustrated reference is a guide to all the major varieties of tea—favorites such as Darjeeling, Assam, and Earl Grey, as well as the more acquired tastes of Lapsang Souchong, Keemun, and Nilgiri. The main part of the book is a directory of teas grouped by country of production, and subdivided by region, then by tea type. There is a brief introduction to each tea-producing area, accompanied by maps for each. The countries covered are China, Japan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Georgia, Kenya, and Malawi. Each individual tea is illustrated by close-up photography of the dry leaf, wet leaf and infusion, with an accompanying description of characteristics and brewing tips to enjoy the variety at its best.