Review: So much enjoyment from the Camellia sinensis
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 6, 2013
In the South, just about everyone is a tea drinker, but it's mostly iced tea with so much sugar in it that's almost syrupy. I didn't become a devotee of hot brewed tea until I was grown, but now, I can't imagine beginning the day without a mug full of steaming hot tea.Other than the blurbs on the back of tea boxes, I never knew that much about the drink I love so much. I learned quite a lot about tea from "The Green Gourmet Perfect Cup Of Tea Book." The information about the history of tea and the different types of tea is fairly basic, and tea drinkers who are already knowledgeable about tea may want to pass, but for me, the book was interesting and informative. I learned that tea drinking goes back almost four thousand years, and that what was originally a medicinal drink has become an enormously popular beverage. The origins of tea, which comes from the plant called Camellia sinensis, were in China, but its popularity gradually spread throughout Asia, then to Europe, and finally to America.The book does a nice job of describing the different types of tea and the processing that produces the end product. The alleged health benefits of tea are discussed. Treating tea almost like wine, the author pairs certain teas with food that they go well with. And finally, not to be overlooked, the author shares her opinion on how to brew the perfect cup of tea.I learned quite a bit about tea, including both true teas and herbal teas. After reading the book, there are several varieties of tea that I want to try. It's a never-ending journey to sample all the different varieties of tea, but it's a rewarding trip for tea lovers.