Tea in the East: Tea Habits Along the Tea Route

First off, there are a lot of great books on tea and this is not one of them. I still found this book very enjoyable and relaxing as it had fantastic pictures and interesting recipes. If you want vast knowledge on tea, look elsewhere, but if you already have alot of books on tea and want some "dessert", this book is well worth the price of admission.

This book is a lovely introduction to tea, its production and consumption, and its place in custom and everyday life, in China, Japan, India, and Sri Lanka. It is not quite the "handbook" that the publisher claims, however; the author has aimed at a representative, rather than a comprehensive anthology of tea lore and information. For example, she has not described the Japanese tea ceremony in any detailed way. The lists of teas said to be produced in each country are summaries, rather than exhaustive catalogues. The color photographs are most attractive, and the few recipes seem inviting. "Tea in the East" offers a taste of the exotic, and will succeed in tempting many readers to further explorations.