James Norwood Pratt's approach to the world of tea (in the very broadest sense) is chatty, opinionated, and full of stray bits of wisdom that are often quite fascinating. The downside of this volume is the rambling nature of the contents, which follow a loose organization that makes for interesting reading at times, but weakens the book's potential to serve as an ongoing reference and resource for the dedicated tea drinker. ( )

A genuinely informative, yet charmingly written overview of tea's history - east and west; its varieties, production methods, customs, properties, brewing techniques, etc. Unlike run-of-the-mill tea books, it treats camellia sinensis and treats it seriously, though the style's relaxed, personal, and laced with humor. No recipes for tea sandwiches, no doilies, and nothing Victorian need apply. (For an Anglo-centric view of tea as drink, custom, and meal, see Michael Smith's The Afternoon Tea Book. It's very good.) (****) ( )