Do you enjoy reading and drinking tea? Then these books about tea are definitely for you! Reading books about tea is a great way to expand your tea knowledge. Some books have a broad focus, while others focus more on a specific aspect of tea. There are already many books about tea, so we are happy to help you get started with our favorite tea books.
Puur genieten van thee by Timothy D’Offray
Puur genieten van thee begins with the importance of water and an overview of the many tea accessories you can use when brewing loose tea. Both basic necessities, such as a kettle and a teapot, as well as more specialized Gong Fu Cha and Matcha accessories are covered. Later in the book, it briefly discusses the history of tea, the different types of teas that exist, and includes a short description of a number of well-known teas and blends. The book also contains a chapter on various brewing methods, such as Chai and Gong Fu Cha, as well as recipes for making cold brews, iced teas, and tea with fruit juice.
This book is particularly interesting for beginning tea drinkers who also enjoy reading recipes about iced tea, mocktails, and cold brews. It is a very accessible book that does not require prior knowledge about tea. The book has about 100 pages, making it a quick read. It’s a good basic book about tea and a real recommendation for every beginner tea drinker!
TEA: History, Terroirs, Varieties (third edition)
“TEA: History, Terroirs, Varieties (third edition)” by Kevin Gascoyne, Francois Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais & Hugo Americi has a very broad focus but also goes into great detail. Many aspects of tea are covered, such as the history of tea, some tea terminology, types of tea, the tea plant, the tea production process, some classic tea countries like China, Japan, and Taiwan, brewing tea, tasting tea, some recipes with tea, and the health benefits of tea. Each aspect is covered extensively and in detail. The book is also very well structured and logically organized. The many photos perfectly complement the text and illustrate the topic at hand.
This book is a kind of tea study book. The ideal book to deepen, expand your basic knowledge about tea, and become a real tea connoisseur. It is a fairly thick book, but really super interesting and definitely worth reading! Because the book is so detailed, it does not read very quickly. Tip: read the book chapter by chapter to really understand the knowledge well and remember it better.
The Book of Tea – Okakura Kakuzo
“The Book of Tea” by Okakura Kakuzo shows how we can find concepts from Zen philosophy such as beauty and simplicity in Japanese tea culture, particularly in the Japanese tea ceremony.
Many aspects are covered, such as the history of tea (both Eastern and Western), Teaism, Taoism, the connection between Zennism and tea, the Japanese tea room, and the importance of flowers in the tea ceremony. This book was written from a Japanese perspective but for a Western audience. The first edition of this book was published in 1956.
A fun, small book about the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhist philosophy on tea culture in Japan. A book that every advanced tea drinker with a love for the cultural aspect of tea will certainly appreciate.
It is not a book about basic tea concepts or brewing methods, but a book to frame your existing knowledge about tea in Japan in cultural and historical terms. A true classic among tea books!
Jane Pettigrew’s World of Tea
“Jane Pettigrew’s World of Tea: Discovering Producing Regions and Their Teas” by Jane Pettigrew focuses on the many tea-producing regions of the world. The book starts with a general introduction to tea and some important tea concepts. Then follows the core of the book, which extensively reviews the types of tea produced in each region and how the production process works. The book is very detailed, the tea fields are indicated on a map each time, and the terroir is described accurately. In a separate box, detailed information is also given about the number of tea plantations per region, the average annual production, the altitude, the harvesting season, the used cultivars, and the types of tea produced.
This super interesting book has no less than 343 pages and is full of detailed information and beautiful photos. More of a book for an advanced tea drinker primarily interested in real tea made from the Camellia Sinensis tea plant.
Voilà, these are our favorite tea books. With books for both beginners and advanced tea drinkers, everyone can find an ideal book to expand their tea knowledge. Do you know another interesting book about tea? Let us know via the comments, WhatsApp, or email.