The Green Tea User's Manual

I wish that more things in life came with a nice, compact, informative manual. :-) I recommend this book to those just beginning their adventure into green teas and also for those who enjoy green tea but don't really know much about finer greens. It starts out by covering the absolute basics like what tea is, how to appreciate it, potential health benefits, brewing basics, etc. I really liked her descriptions of how to brew in a cup/mug, teapot and guywan. Also, she's spot on with infusion baskets. Tea balls or clamp spoons are terrible and she doesn't mind saying so! She then moves on to explore some of the world's most enjoyed green teas from "Gen Mai Cha" to "Yin Hao". She does an excellent job of explaining what to look for in each tea, how to brew them and infuses her personal experiences to further broaden understanding. And, not one to leave it at that, she also talks about tea bags, what to do with spent leaves and liquor, using tea as dye and tosses in some green tea recipes that sound fantastic. I put this book on the shelf right alongside the classic "Tea Companion" by Pettigrew and "The Book of Green Tea" by Rosen. Happy tea drinking!

Good, practical advice. Helen even lists green tea by brand name and tells you how to brew each one differently so that each tea's finest qualities are brought out. Read this book and you will be a "green tea expert" in no time.

Part encyclopedic, part anecdotal, The Green Tea User's Manual has something for everyone. The author writes from personal experience at both ends of the spectrum, which makes for a fascinating way to read a wealth of information. Anyone who enjoys green tea (or black, for that matter) will thoroughly enjoy this little gem.

I love this little book! Green tea is all the rage, and I keep seeing articles on its health benefits. But it's also a bit of mystery - how to brew it, how to buy it, even what it is (as opposed to black tea). This small but mighty guide explains those mysteries one by one. There's a lot packed in here. The author is an expert - a "tea sommelier" (who knew such a thing existed?). But her tone is unpretentious, encouraging, charming and fun. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in exploring green tea but doesn't really know where to start.

Inspiring & practical. Demystified the world of green tea for me. Nice to read, nice to hold, & nice to have on hand as a reference book. Unpretentious & charming. I'd love to have tea with the author.