What's a good basic book on tea?

I think the websites that sell tea do a good job of what and how. I would recommend a book that gives you an overview of tea. Unfortunately those books are no longer in print. I think you can still get Tea Lover's Treasury by James Norwood Pratt. There are so many loose teas (not bagged) out there just start with anyone. Buy yourself a 12 oz pot, throw a pinch of leaf into the infuser which looks like a little detachable strainer inside the pot, top off with boiling water, wait a couple of minutes, pour and enjoy. This is the informal English method of making tea. You can buy a pot and cup which are two pieces but mate as one. You can get a large cup with the removeable infuser inside bypassing the pot.

Jim

PS If the pot or any other brew> Can anyone recommend a good basic book on tea that is not too

What do people think of Jane Pettigrew's book:

I have a copy but have only flipped through it.

Lew: Are you referring to The Book of Tea by Alain Stella? This is one of the books I bought a long time ago, before I knew much about tea. I enjoyed reading all of the historical information.

Alan

I don't think I mentioned anyone's _Book of Tea_. It must have been someone else.

/Lew

I think that must have been directed to you mistakenly, but was actually me. I was speaking about Okakura's "The Book of Tea" which I mention often when tea and books come up. I've never really been drawn in by any "tea books" specifically but that one is free online and a quick read... it won't help you brew a specific type of tea, and is slanted to Japanese tea/ceremony, but worthwhile for free or a couple bucks in a store.

- Dominic

the most interesting books i have read have been volumes 1,2 0f the out of print Ukers book- "All About Tea" i recently purchased "Liquid Jade" by Beatrice Hohenegger and "The Korea Way of Tea" by Brother Anthony of Taize ( I bought this from www.shanshui teas.com?

joanne

I haven't heard of the first two you mentioned, but "The Korea Way of Tea" is a great read, although specialized. Which to me is better when it comes to tea otherwise the brush is far too broad to be useful. I'd say the best advice I could think of for the OP is to pick a specific tea or style and then get a book on that subject or a more narrow focus. I'll look into those others you mention, I'm always up for a good (or even passable) tea book or two.

- Dominic

I personally like Jane Pettigrew's Tea Companion and New Tea Companion. The new book by "The Story of Tea" by Mary Lou and Robert Heiss i wonderful but very lengthy and more text book-ish.

For simple, short, and > Can anyone recommend a good basic book on tea that is not too