Tea For Dummies

Soothe the body, mind, spirit, and senses—with tea

Tea For Dummies is your guide to enjoying the delicate flavors and health benefits of the world’s second most popular beverage. This book helps novices and connoisseurs alike step confidently into the vast, versatile world of tea. Learn which teas are right for you and brew the perfect cup. We’ll also look at the research on tea’s benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced stress, lessened risk of cancer and cognitive decline, and easier weight management. Where is tea grown? How is it processed? What’s the best way of incorporating tea into a healthy lifestyle? How is tea enjoyed around the world? Dummies answers all your tea questions, so you can enjoy every sip.

• Learn the basics of tea production and preparation
• Discover the varieties of tea and get to know their effects
• Develop a deep knowledge of tea to enhance the experience of drinking or serving it
• Maximize the mental and physical health benefits of herbal and caffeinated teas

This compendium of tea wisdom is perfect for anyone looking for a deeper enjoyment and appreciation of tea. We’ll help you figure out where to start with tea, and if you’re already part of the tea fan club, we’ll inspire and fascinate you even more.

Lisa McDonald is one of a handful of European-trained tea sommeliers in the U.S. and the owner of TeaHaus in Ann Arbor, MI (teahaus.com), an acclaimed tea shop where customers can find over 200 varieties of tea.

Jill Rheinheimer, an editor and graphic designer, writes a research-based blog about all things tea (ItsMoreThanTea.wordpress.com) as well as educational and marketing material for TeaHaus.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Tea 5

Chapter 1: It’s Time for Tea 7

Chapter 2: Tea for You, Tea for Me 13

Chapter 3: From Garden to Cup 25

Part 2: Talking about Different Types of Tea 39

Chapter 4: Black Tea 41

Chapter 5: Green Tea 53

Chapter 6: Oolong (Wulong) Tea 63

Chapter 7: White Tea 69

Chapter 8: Other Teas 75

Chapter 9: Herbal Teas 83

Chapter 10: Drinking Tea Like an Expert 91

Part 3: Getting Curious about Caffeine 113

Chapter 11: Caffeine: Tempest in a Teacup? 115

Chapter 12: Less Is Not Always More — Decaffeinated Tea 133

Part 4: Spilling the Tea about Health Benefits 139

Chapter 13: Tea and Its Powerful Antioxidants 141

Chapter 14: Investigating the Health Benefits of Tea 149

Chapter 15: Investigating the Health Benefits of Herbal Tea 167

Part 5: My Cup of Tea — Around the World 183

Chapter 16: Exploring Tea-Producing Regions of the World 185

Chapter 17: Embracing Age-Old Traditions and Ceremonies 195

Chapter 18: Insight into the Tea Industry 207

Part 6: Let’s Have Tea — In the Kitchen, at the Bar 217

Chapter 19: Cooking and Baking with Tea 219

Chapter 20: Tea and Food Pairing 249

Chapter 21: Tea Mixology 257

Part 7: The Part of Tens 285

Chapter 22: Ten Plus Things to Do with Tea That You Don’t Like 287

Chapter 23: More Than Ten Myths about Tea 291

Glossary 297

Index 305

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.