The Story of Tea, Mary Lou Heiss
The Story of Tea, Mary Lou Heiss
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The Story of Tea
A Cultural History and Drinking Guide

Author: Mary Lou Heiss, Robert J. Heiss

Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley

Unabridged: 17 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/09/2019

Categories: Cooking, Nonfiction

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Whether it's a delicate green tea or a bracing Assam black, a cup of tea is a complex brew of art and industry, tradition and revolution, East and West. In this sweeping tour through the world of tea, veteran tea traders Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss chronicle tea's influence across the globe and provide a complete reference for choosing, drinking, and enjoying this beverage.The Story of Tea begins with a journey along the tea trail, from the lush forests of China, where tea cultivation first flourished, to the Buddhist temples of Japan, to the vast tea gardens of India, and beyond.

Offering an insider'­s view of all aspects of tea trade, the Heisses examine Camellia sinensis, the tea bush, and show how subtle differences in territory and production contribute to the diversity of color, flavor, and quality in brewed tea. They profile more than thirty essential tea varietals, provide an in depth guide to tasting and brewing, and survey the customs and crafts associated with tea. Sharing the latest research, they discuss tea's health benefits and developments in organic production and fair trade practices. Finally, they present ten sweet and savory recipes, including Savory Chinese Marbled Eggs and Green Tea Pot de Creme, and resources for purchasing fine tea.


About Mary Lou Heiss

Mary Lou Heiss is co-owner, with her husband, Robert, of Tea Trekker and the online store teatrekker.com. Mary Lou and Robert are the authors of The Tea Enthusiast's Handbook and Hot Drinks.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Stacie

This read like a mix between a textbook and an infomercial. I dislike not finishing books so I persevered, but I definitely heaved a sigh of relief and a "Thank God!" when I finished. If it wasn't for the anecdotal stories included in the margin blocks of the chapters the book would have excruciatin......more

Goodreads review by Alissa

I finally decided to give up on this book upon realizing that after all of the pages that I've struggled through, I'm still not 100% clear on how the production of green tea differs from the production of black tea. The writing quality is poor, and the organization of content is worse. For example, w......more

Goodreads review by Tim

I listened to an audio version of this, which was not the best way to appreciate this book. It is not a narrative or a work of journalism. It is more like an encyclopedic collection of short pieces that cover the many aspects of growing, selling, and enjoying tea, along with a fair amount of histori......more