Product Description

In a skinny-no-whip-mocha-latte world, The Tea Drinker's Handbook is a refreshing return to America's roots in tea-drinking. Though tea is one of the most-consumed beverages in the world, second only to water, it is far from mundane. For both the lifelong tea drinker and the recent convert, The Tea Drinker's Handbook is an indispensable reference for anyone interested in all things tea. The founders of Le Palais des Thés, a retail chain known for the high quality of its selection of teas, have traveled for over twenty years to plantations all over the world in search of the rarest teas, and the result is this handsome and enlightening book. This is the first guide written under the Le Palais des Thés brand. In addition to ten shops in France, there are stores in Brussels, Oslo, Tokyo, and Beverly Hills, and their products are sold at Bergdorf Goodman. In this impressive and comprehensive guide, we rediscover tea, its cultivation, and all of its richness and complexity. In addition to being an informative resource, this book is also a true tasting guide for tea lovers. The authors open our eyes (and introduce our palates) to tea-tasting, as they list the top fifty teas of the world--complete with tasting sheets--and include comments and advice for each. And with 200 illustrations, The Tea Drinker's Handbook informs and instructs with both fascinating text and alluring images.

200 illustrations in full-color

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126258 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 239 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780789209887
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
François-Xavier Delmas is founder of Le Palais des Thés. His in-depth knowledge of tea-producing regions and his exceptional tasting skills make him one of the leading experts in his field. Mathias Minet is a taster. He joined Le Palais des Thés ten years ago and co-directs the business with Delmas. In 1999, he and Delmas founded L'École du Thé, a school for would-be tasters. Christine Barbaste is the author of Thé à Paris in the series Paris est à nous (Editions Parigramme).

Customer Reviews

New to Tea, Good for Me
Am an avid coffee drinker, but I am finding tea is so much more interesting and varied. These French authors have opened doors for me. If the book was translated, it doesn't show in the text. Explains the growing, production cycles, etc... of all kinds of teas from Black to white and all the "colors" in between. The fifty best teas list has given me a list to go down and try since I am new to better teas, and the tasting notes are very helpful on cluing me in on what to look for and notice. A great book for a new tea-lover like me. I only wish it would have discussed herbals such as Rooibos and others.

Every tea lover should have this book!
I love this book because it is NOT just another published tea book that only talks about different brewing parameters for different teas and blah blah blah... I have way too many of those sitting on my shelf already. This book goes beyond the cup and into the gardens (and even the soil) of how tea is planted, grown, processed, etc. Then, it talks about brewing and tasting, of course. Oh, and the pictures are absolutely beautiful!

The detail in the explanations of the processing and such are what make this book a must have. It truly is the ultimate handbook for tea drinkers. I know I have already referred back to it on several occasions, plus I have placed sticky notes in certain areas.

If you plan on buying any book about tea, for whatever reason, this is the one to get! (and probably the only one you will ever need)

A Book for Tea Lovers
For a drink that is as widely consumed as tea, it never really has received the attention and acclaim as coffee or wine. Delmas is the founder of Le Palais des Thés, a retail chain of teas in France, Brussels and elsewhere, that elevates tea to a level long deserved. The Tea Drinker's Handbook is a distillation of Delmas and Minet's experience, shown in pictures and words, of the life cycle of tea, the people involved at all levels of production and techniques in tasting and enjoying the most popular hot beverage in the world. In addition, they have also collected what they consider to be the fifty best teas produced, and include tasting notes, much like wine, and preparation instructions. The production value of the book is top notch, the text is easy to read, informative and not overly technical. The photographs are spectacular. All in all, a great book for a tea lover.