Three on Tea

I’m known for being a tea snob lover (see HERE) and I often receive books about tea. During my January clear out of books, I came across three books about tea, two of which I’ve read, a third which I just started last night — and all totally enjoyed. So grab yourself a cup of tea and lets talk about them — okay?

A present from my sister, this cookbook takes tea out of the cup and into food. I was doubtful at first, but Eat Tea gives ideas and recipes for such dishes as Tea Smoked Chicken, Orange Jasmine Biscotti, Green Tea Crusted Salmon, and one of my favorites ~~ Earl Grey Chocolate Mousse. The opening chapters cover how to brew tea for cooking and how to match various teas with food. Okay, so it’s not an everyday cookbook, but it lives with my other cookbooks because it’s so darn unusual. I think I’ll make the biscotti for a tea-loving friend who’s coming to visit next week.

Ms. Gustafson was a tea expert, tea buyer and lecturer…but is probably best known as the former tea guru for Berkeley’s infamous Chez Panisse restaurant (just go with it ~~ it’s California). She was quite the character, you can learn more about her HERE.

The Agony of the Leaves refers to the swirling action of the loose tea leaves immersed in boiling water and has been used for centuries to describe when the oxygen of the boiling water allows the tea leaf to release it’s flavor. Couldn’t get more tea nerdy than that — but fear not, this quirky little book is more a memoir than a pedantic tea book. Ms. Gustafson’s life was influenced by tea and the tales of her adventures and travels are surprisingly entertaining. The book opens with a wonderful chapter called Teatime in the Sun Room which describes her midwest childhood tea times (every day except Sunday), in a sun filled room, complete with mis-matched china, a sky-blue teapot and home made treats. The book goes into poetic rapture about the qualities of Darjeeling which she calls the ‘mindblowers of the tea world’ and goes on to explain that the harder it is to explain what the tea tastes like the better your Darjeeling. The book talks about all sorts of tea brands I’d never heard of before, such as Bramah Ceylon Tea and Drysdale Breakfast Tea. Ms. Gustafson is not a fan of favored teas, but does admit that, like many other L.O.L.’s (little old ladies) she does enjoy Constant Comment tea (what does it mean that it’s one of my favorites too ? — sigh). There’s a wonderful chapter which pays homage to San Francisco’s iconic, but now closed, Waters Upton Tearoom — with its comfy couches, equestrian decor and down the back alley toilet. Sadly, The Agony of the Leaves is out of print, but you will find copies in used bookstores and on-line. If you are a tea lover or know one, it would make a great gift. Any tea lover will – well – love it.

Aren’t you just pulled in by this dramatic title? For all the Tea in China: How England Stole the World’s Favorite Drink and Changed History. I’m only three chapters into this slim book, a gift from a friend, but I’m enthralled already. It reads more like an adventure story than a history of the tea trade. The book tells the remarkable account of Robert Fortune, a Scottish gardener, botanist, and plant hunter. In 1848, Fortune was hired by the British East India Company to make a clandestine trip into the interior of China—territory forbidden to foreigners—to steal the closely guarded secrets of tea horticulture and manufacturing. Fortune’s journeys into China are at the heart of this history and as one reviewer called it — a wild combination of Indiana Jones and PBS garden shows. Count me in. I’ll tell you more when I finish.

So there you go, three books I thought I might get rid of during my annual January Book Clean Out ~~ but now that I’ve spent time with each of these tea lovers tomes – they’re staying.

Turns out I’m actually hopeless at culling books and, you know what, I don’t care.