The Tea Companion - Hardcover

The Tea Companion is an indispensable guide for the connoisseur. Authoritative, informative, and inspirational, it covers everything from how tea was first "discovered" to advice on where to buy it, how it should be stored, and how to make the perfect cup of tea. Tea is the world's most popular beverage, yet most people are familiar with and drink only a tiny proportion of the huge array of high-quality teas that are now available. The Tea Companion opens up this diverse and exciting world and encourages you to seek out and try some of the world's most exquisite teas. At the heart of the book is a country-by-country directory which is divided into four main parts. The first three sections look closely at 11 of the world's tea-producing nations. Profiles of recommended teas detail the essential brewing characteristics of flavor, aroma, and color, and also offer brewing hints and drinking recommendations so that you know how to make the most of your brew. The final section is a brief guide to the world's other tea-producing countries, from Argentina to Zimbabwe. The Tea Companion is an invaluable source of reference and inspiration, an accessible and practical guide to help you enjoy the richness and variety of tea. It is, in short, a celebration of the world's favorite brew.

Jane Pettigrew's professional interest in tea started when she opened the Tea-Time tea-shop in South London in 1983. Since then she has written four books about tea. She also writes on tea and tea-related affairs for a variety of international magazines, is consultant to the UK Tea Club, and works closely with hotels to improve their afternoon tea service. She lives in London, England. MARIAGE FRÈRES are the oldest French tea house, established in Paris in 1854. They have developed the French art of tea, opened a tea museum in Paris and published several books on tea. They were the inspiration for the choice of some of the teas and tea descriptions included in this book because of their understanding, expertise, and knowledge of the world's finest teas.