Discover the best books on tea to get you one step closer to being a tea expert. Take a look at my picks plus recommendations from fellow tea sommeliers.
Books About Tea
Good tea books are essential in learning the basics of tea (history, different types, how they’re processed).
There’s a ton to learn and it’s hard to figure out where to start. A good tea book will organize all the overwhelming information into an easy-to-read guide.
What to Look for When Buying a Tea Book
- Accurate information
The tea books selected are all books from people that are well-established and trusted in the tea industry. - Lots of photos or illustrations
I’m not looking for dense textbook but rather an easy-to-follow guide into tea with lots of photos and illustrations to help me see what’s being described. - Easy to skim
I use these books as a tea resource so I need to be able to find the information I need quickly and easily. I look for books that are well laid out and easy to flip through to get the information.
My Pick for Best Tea Book:
Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties was the book used in my Tea Sommelier course and now it’s my reference guide. By the folks at the Camellia Sinensis Tea House in Canada, this comprehensive book explains everything about tea from the history to how each type of tea is processed.
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Other Recommended Tea Books:
A Little Tea Book: All the Essentials from Leaf to Cup
Photo Credit: amazon.com
A Little Tea Book by Sebastian Beckwith of In Pursuit of Tea and Caroline Paul is jam packed with cute illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton.
There’s a ton of tea information to be found in this little book but best of all, it’s an easy read and forgoes tedious explanations and replaces them with digestable, charming illustrations.
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There’s a ton of tea information to be found in this little book but best of all, it’s an easy read and forgoes tedious explanations and replaces them with digestable, charming illustrations.
Tea Sommelier: A Step-by-Step Guide
Photo Credit: amazon.com
I love the colorful illustrations in the Tea Sommelier: A Step-by-Step Guide. By the people at Palais des Thes, this book is a simple yet fun guide to tea and tea pairings.
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Jane Pettigrew’s World of Tea
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Georgia, tea sommelier and tea blogger (NotesonTea.com), recommends Jane Pettigrew’s World of Tea. On her blog, Georgia writes: World of Tea is Pettigrew’s 18th book and her longest at 434 pages. Pettigrew’s writing is anything but dry so don’t worry that you’ll be treated to a dull read about the world of tea.
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A Social History of Tea
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Tea blogger and tea sommelier Sara of Tea-Happiness.com recommends another Jane Pettigrew book, A Social History of Tea. She says: The book I use most frequently is The Social History Of Tea by Jane Pettigrew and Bruce Richardson. It is my go-to for British and American tea culture and history.
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