Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know

This pocket-sized handbook to all things tea is the perfect gift for tea connoisseurs, tea newbies, and anyone who appreciates a good cuppa.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world—second only to water. And there's so much to learn and try beyond the colorful boxes in the grocery store. Like wine and beer, each tea variety has its own distinct history, source, and flavor profile, from Darjeeling to matcha to Silver Needle. Tea is also embedded in the traditions of many cultures around the world and is shared with others through distinctive ceremonies that include unique customs, foods, and accessories. Within the pages of this pocket-sized guide, you’ll find information, how-tos, and trivia for tea lovers of all levels. Experts and newbies alike will learn about

• Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf
• Anatomy of a Tea Plant
• How to Prepare Tea
• Tea Families and Common Varieties
• Types of Teapots and How to Use Them
• Tea Traditions Across the World

Plus an illustrated guide to tea accessories, terms every tea lover should know, highlights from tea history, a tea tasting guide, tips for throwing tea parties, and much more!"The perfect gift idea for anyone that enjoys tea."—Reviews by RachelCandace Rose Rardon is a travel writer, illustrator, and avid coffee and tea drinker. The author of Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know and Stuff Every Coffee Lover Should Know, her work has appeared on Longreads, National Geographic, BBC Travel, and the Calm meditation app, among others. Originally from the East Coast, she has spent the past decade traveling through more than fifty countries and falling in love with the fascinating beverage traditions found across the world.TABLE OF CONTENTS

TEA BASICS
What Is Tea?
Highlights from Tea History
Terms Every Tea Lover Should Know
Anatomy of the Tea Plant
How Tea Is Made
Caffeine Content
Tea Tasting 101
Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf
How to Store Tea
A Note About Water Quality
Tea Accessories
Types of Teapots and How to Use Them
How to Prepare Tea
Recommended Steep Times and Water Temperatures

TEA FAMILIES & COMMON VARIETIES
Black Tea
Green Tea
White Tea
Yellow Tea
Oolong Tea
Dark Tea
A Note About Tisanes and Herbal Teas

TEA TRADITIONS ACROSS THE WORLD
China’s Gong Fu Cha
Japan’s Matcha Tea Ceremony
Korea’s Darye
Tibet’s Po Cha
Russia’s Zavarka
Turkey’s Çay
Iran’s Chaikhanehs
India’s Masala Chai
Pakistan’s Noon Chai
Morocco’s Mint Tea
Britain’s Afternoon Tea
New Zealand’s High Tea
America’s Southern Sweet Tea
South America’s Yerba Mate
Hong Kong’s Pantyhose Tea
Malaysia’s Teh Tarik
Thailand’s Cha Yen
Taiwan’s Bubble Tea

TEA PARTIES
How to Host an Afternoon Tea for Adults
How to Throw a Tea Party for Children
A Basic Recipe for Scones
Tea Cocktails

RESOURCES