A Little Tea Book by Sebastian Beckwith with Caroline Paul. Bloomsbury| October 16, 2018| 132 pages | $20.00| ISBN: 978-1-63286-902-9

RATING: ****/5*
here’s my little review:

Although I’ve been drinking tea for years, I’ve only started learning about tea. I enjoy an Assam or Earl Grey in the morning and will drink green tea later in the day and evening. This lovely book serves as the ideal tea primer. It has brief sections and a conversational tone. As it states in the introduction: “I’m offering you a little about a lot.” It’s a foray into the world of tea and will make you want to read more and acquire more knowledge. It delves into quite a few tea topics including the tea plant, the six types of tea, names, history and health benefits. I didn’t know that tea originates from one plant—Camellia sinensis. Tea is categorized from least to most oxidized: green, yellow, white, oolong, black and dark. The tea name may refer to the process or to its place of origin. Where a tea comes from matters. For instance: “Green teas grown in China often have a nutty, roasted, vegetal profile while those from Japan tend to be more grassy and rich.” It’s a quick, pleasurable read—while sipping tea, of course– and also a solid reference. It will make a perfect gift for the tea lover in your life.

–review by Amy Steele

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for review from Bloomsbury.