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The Tea Companion
More and more people are turning to tea as their primary hot beverage, and connoisseurs are discovering the wondrous range of flavors to be found in different varieties from around the globe—some of which command fantastic prices and are in great demand. This comprehensive, authoritative guide to understanding, purchasing, and serving the world's finest teas is beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs of a variety of tea leaves and herbs, as well as their countries of origin. Learn how to store tea so its aromas last, brew it properly for fullest enjoyment, and appreciate the many nuances of flavor to be found in this extraordinary drink.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Jane Pettigrew
78 books32 followersJane Pettigrew is a tea specialist, historian, writer and consultant. Since 1983, she has been working in the UK and around the world to explain and share the fascinating world of tea.
She has written 15 books on the many and varied aspects of tea, its production, history and culture, and she writes for tea related magazines and journals.
She also gives regular tea masterclasses and tea tastings, speaks on radio and TV and acts as consultant to tea companies, new tea businesses, table ware and tea ware companies.
She has written 15 books on the many and varied aspects of tea, its production, history and culture, and she writes for tea related magazines and journals.
She also gives regular tea masterclasses and tea tastings, speaks on radio and TV and acts as consultant to tea companies, new tea businesses, table ware and tea ware companies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
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December 15, 2012This book seriously has everything you could ever want to know about tea in it. And the writing style is pretty engaging, so win!
January 15, 2024
هذا الكتاب عن مشروب الشاي. يعطي معلومات عن تاريخه, أنواعه, و أماكن زرعه حول العالم. هذا الكتاب فيه معلومات أكثر من الكتاب الذي قرأته سابقاً, و لكنه أقدم (نشر عام 1999). لذلك معلوماته قد تكون ليست موافقة مئة بالمئة مع ما نعرفه عن الشاي في هذا الزمن (اختلافات بسيطة على الأغلب). مع ذلك معلوماته جيدة و يستحق قرأته
July 10, 2015
This book was fine. It gives a lot, and I mean A LOT of information. It was a little too technical for me. I guess I was looking for a lighter read on tea and this just felt more like a tea textbook.
Like I said, a fine book, just...(wait for it)...not my cup of tea.
Like I said, a fine book, just...(wait for it)...not my cup of tea.
June 2, 2018
The Tea Companion covers all things tea: from the beginnings of tea in ancient China, to tea time in England; brewing methods; tea pots, cups, strainers; tea and food pairings. A large portion of the book is dedicated to the "World Tea Directory", explaining regions of the world where tea is grown, and characteristics of that tea. I felt this book was a little dated, but it has useful information for any connoisseur or tea lover.
July 29, 2008
Good stuff.
February 15, 2019
Aptly named, The Tea Companion is a surprisingly comprehensive guide to tea types, history, production, and traditions. With plenty of illustrations and white space, the book begins by tracing tea’s history from 3rd century BCE China through modern times. It’s most interesting that tea did not have its own Chinese character until the 8th century CE. Before that, its simpler mark could also mean sow thistle! Teapots and serving vessels of various materials, cultures, and eras are described, with color photos. Given the savory descriptions, tea drinkers will find themselves craving a brewed cup almost immediately. Be prepared!
Author Pettigrew then moves on to the more personal aspects of tea. She describes how tea is graded, demystifying such labels as FTGFOP (finest tippy golden flowery orange pekoe). Then she moves on to how to select from myriad types of tea. For me, a fan of Jasmine Pearl green tea and Rose Congou black tea, the Jasmine Pouchong (between green and oolong), Jasmine Mandarin Oolong, Jasmine Yunnan (black), and Japanese Rose Sencha (green) are worth checking out. After lightly touching on when to use loose tea vs. bags, she illustrates the optimal brewing method, then shares a list of food and tea pairings.
After a brief overview of how tea is served throughout the world today, the second half of the book is about tea producing countries and their wares. This guide to world teas starts out with a chart of country-by-country tea highlights, and concludes details about each country’s specific farms and the types of tea they produce. Each is illustrated with samples of the tea both dry and brewed, a map, and photos of the plantation. The only downside is that this book was published in 1997, so information might not be current. Still, it’s worth choosing some favorites and exploring whether they’re now available for purchase on the internet.
If you love tea, check out this short book while relaxing with your favorite cuppa.
Author Pettigrew then moves on to the more personal aspects of tea. She describes how tea is graded, demystifying such labels as FTGFOP (finest tippy golden flowery orange pekoe). Then she moves on to how to select from myriad types of tea. For me, a fan of Jasmine Pearl green tea and Rose Congou black tea, the Jasmine Pouchong (between green and oolong), Jasmine Mandarin Oolong, Jasmine Yunnan (black), and Japanese Rose Sencha (green) are worth checking out. After lightly touching on when to use loose tea vs. bags, she illustrates the optimal brewing method, then shares a list of food and tea pairings.
After a brief overview of how tea is served throughout the world today, the second half of the book is about tea producing countries and their wares. This guide to world teas starts out with a chart of country-by-country tea highlights, and concludes details about each country’s specific farms and the types of tea they produce. Each is illustrated with samples of the tea both dry and brewed, a map, and photos of the plantation. The only downside is that this book was published in 1997, so information might not be current. Still, it’s worth choosing some favorites and exploring whether they’re now available for purchase on the internet.
If you love tea, check out this short book while relaxing with your favorite cuppa.
December 3, 2021
This is a beautiful little book with a lot of beautiful photos. It is broken into two parts. The first part includes a history of tea, the production of tea, tea equipage, and tea appreciation. The second part is a global tea directory. The directory section discusses each tea-producing region and mentions some of their well-known teas. I wish the author would have given more tasting notes about each tea but she said she didn't want to since the teas can vary year by year. I also found information online that had content that was nearly identical to this book. I hope that the website was an article that the author wrote and not information that the author plagiarized or information that was plagiarized from her book. There are a lot of little nuggets of good information in this book and I enjoyed reading it. This was my November book in my project to read one book I own each month and then decide if I will keep it. This one is a keeper.
May 3, 2020
The author tries to give an broad view of global tea drinking, history, and production. The part that concerns history is to the point, although too brief, but given in a confusing way. I wouldn’t recommend to start with this book. It is dated in respect to the latest research on the effects of tea, as well.
The author seems to be more taken by the Western tradition of tea brewing and the ceremony around it, so the paragraphs on Western tea blends, equipage, and afternoon tea customs, albeit brief, are written with passion and are worth reading.
The second half of the book is dedicated to tea production all over the world and could be used for reference. The names of Eastern teas are transliterated weirdly, and it confused me.
Not a necessary read, but can add to one’s perspective on tea.
The author seems to be more taken by the Western tradition of tea brewing and the ceremony around it, so the paragraphs on Western tea blends, equipage, and afternoon tea customs, albeit brief, are written with passion and are worth reading.
The second half of the book is dedicated to tea production all over the world and could be used for reference. The names of Eastern teas are transliterated weirdly, and it confused me.
Not a necessary read, but can add to one’s perspective on tea.
March 18, 2018
Nonfiction is not usually my thing, especially "gift books" about relatively niche topics like this one. However, I enjoyed the thorough discussion of how tea is made and the history of tea production and consumption. The last third to half or so of the book is devoted to a fairly exhaustive survey of all the tea-producing regions in the world and the types of tea for which they are known, which is very useful for someone looking to expand their knowledge of tea varieties or potentially for a tea connoisseur looking to find new varieties.
August 1, 2023
Even tho this book is copyright 1997 the history and explanation of the various elements of tea are still relevant.
It's got me interested in trying single-source teas and I would never have thought teas would acquire tastes from their environment [as with wine grapes] but in hindsight that makes perfect sense.
It's got me interested in trying single-source teas and I would never have thought teas would acquire tastes from their environment [as with wine grapes] but in hindsight that makes perfect sense.
November 10, 2023
It is interesting, which is the most important. It contains a reasonable amount of facts. It is approachable. There can be found something about every aspect of tea-drinking. It is a little bit annoying though as man can sense the irritating tea person in it and parts of it are boring so it becomes a 6.
August 6, 2023
Short and comprehensive; I especially liked the detailed listings of all the different tea productions across countries. A bit much on the tea bag slander though, you could tell Pettigrew was holding their rage back against bag users lol
July 5, 2017
very basic, but stilled learned a lot!
February 21, 2021
Libro utile e ben strutturato, con un focus interessante (e ampio) sui tè delle singole zone geografiche.
September 3, 2024
i learned so much about tea cultivation and processing! and got lots of inspo for new teas to try ✨
April 30, 2009
This little guidebook is an informative and fairly comprehensive (for its slim size) map to the subtleties and minutia of choosing, collecting, and purchasing tea. It has a dry, matter-of-fact tone, making it a tough sell as an enjoyable read, but I learned so much from reading it cover to cover that I did find it enjoyable, and I'm sure I'll refer to it again in the future.
The first half of the book is divided into sections that cover things like the history of tea, production, vocabulary, decoupage, etc. The second half gives a rundown of major tea-producing nations and areas, describing the history of tea production in that region and giving examples (complete with recommended gardens) of the region's fine teas.
I have to admit that I found parts of the book (especially the detailed descriptions of decoupage and the somewhat disparaging remarks about tisanes) a little snooty, and speaking as a history buff, the historical sections were anemic and begged for more interesting details. However, the guide certainly expanded my appreciation for a drink that I already obsess over (and am a little snooty about, myself).
The first half of the book is divided into sections that cover things like the history of tea, production, vocabulary, decoupage, etc. The second half gives a rundown of major tea-producing nations and areas, describing the history of tea production in that region and giving examples (complete with recommended gardens) of the region's fine teas.
I have to admit that I found parts of the book (especially the detailed descriptions of decoupage and the somewhat disparaging remarks about tisanes) a little snooty, and speaking as a history buff, the historical sections were anemic and begged for more interesting details. However, the guide certainly expanded my appreciation for a drink that I already obsess over (and am a little snooty about, myself).
January 4, 2017
I enjoyed the book more in the beginning but it lost a lot of my interest as it got more technical and this book is REALLY technical (e.g., comparing specific numbers of millions of pounds of tea consumed in this century versus that century in this country compared to that country). The perspective and a lot of the history leans heavily toward the British side of things.
However, it's still a good book. It was written in a clear and simple manner, is really comprehensive and detailed for someone who enjoys tea and just wants to know a lot more about it. Slightly outdated as it was written back in 2004, but the techniques regarding things like brewing and storing is still relevant. It's definitely a good tea book to own.
However, it's still a good book. It was written in a clear and simple manner, is really comprehensive and detailed for someone who enjoys tea and just wants to know a lot more about it. Slightly outdated as it was written back in 2004, but the techniques regarding things like brewing and storing is still relevant. It's definitely a good tea book to own.
August 1, 2016
Packed with info and light weight. Very well-rounded and meaty on the basics, from brief layout of history and production methods to brief descriptions concerning equipment and brewing instructions. Page on leaf grading vague and confusing, and last section of tea-producing regions is relatively slimmer than the others, though. Important note: not much is said about "herbal teas" (such as hibiscus, peppermint, anise) despite their popularity in markets because these are, in a technical sense, called tisanes; whereas, the focus in this useful book is on the 'true teas' which originate from two species of the tea plant. Copyright is 2004, but also listed as 2011 re-print.
July 6, 2007
About six months ago, I decided to learn more about tea. Instead of just looking stuff up on the Internet, I found it useful to buy a book I can read through to understand the details. I chose this one because it had a good variety of information: the history of tea as a drink and an industry, the culture of it around the world, and the proper ways to prepare and consume it. The second half has reviews of many different kinds of teas from around the world, which was more appropriate for skimming through rather than reading word for word.
January 2, 2010
If you love drinking tea, this is a great book to have! The owner of a tea shop I visited in Boston makes each of his employees read this book. In his view understanding and better appreciating the history and production, "equipment", numerous varieties of tea, and how to properly make it, enables them to best assist his customers. The book has great information with lots of photos and is an easy read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you are a tea connoisseur or aspire to be one. I also think it is a great gift idea.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you are a tea connoisseur or aspire to be one. I also think it is a great gift idea.
March 28, 2011
This book was not as comprehensive as I would have liked it to be. I wish there was a section on common varieties--Pu-erh, Earl Grey, Yerba Mate, etc.--in which you could look up teas and get the skinny on them. Instead, Pettigrew includes a list of gardens. Does she really think that would be helpful to the average tea drinker?
The pictures are great and the section on tea "equipage" was helpful, but I'm still looking for my ultimate tea book.
The pictures are great and the section on tea "equipage" was helpful, but I'm still looking for my ultimate tea book.
June 6, 2013
This is an excellent guide to tea and the best guide I've found so far. There are many wonderful sections about different types of tea, the tea industry, how to make certain teas and even information about different ways of serving tea. The graphics in the book are also very tasteful. Highly, highly, highly recommended. The only thing this book didn't really have was information about "healing" tea but Pettigrews' book's other aspects outshine this flaw.
November 17, 2014
Very informative! I love all the photographs and images that were included - and I had no idea so many countries produced tea. I'd write a longer, more "official" review, but apparently this book has been reprinted a few times with more up-to-date information and tea production statistics. I'm planning to get the most recent version after Christmas so I can use it as a reference for my tea reviews.
April 24, 2008
My absolute favorite tea reference. Pictures tea leaves and brew and groups by region. Lists the characteristics and brewing tips for each tea. Great guide for introducing you to unfamiliar teas. Like a wine guide, but for tea.
May 28, 2010
A fun and enjoyable read that will teach you the history of tea, the regional differences, leave types, growing conditions, etc. All that you want to know and more if you are a fan of the traditional, artisan or hybrid/fusion teas.
February 26, 2011
want a new tea pot...again. and want to try packed tea...want to try growing tea...really liked the book. Though, truth to tell, did not read the entire end when it comes to discussing each type of tea in each tea producing country.
February 17, 2014
Really interesting for a tea drinker, and it inspired me to join a tea tasting club. However, I would leave the market analysis out of the text since it looked like it was ten years out of date when the book was printed, and did not seem relevant.
March 7, 2009
Gives brief histories of tea and tea production in various countries and then describes the various teas.
July 26, 2009
good tea book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews