The best books about tea cover a range of topics in the world of tea. And it’s precisely that diversity of tea-related subjects that you’ll find in this list of the best books on tea. The titles chosen for this selective list are the best books to learn about tea, whether you’re looking for herbal tea books, books about tea history, the best books about tea parties, and divination books about tea-leaf reading; it’s all here. Tea enthusiasts will find a thoughtful collection of the best books for tea lovers. And now for the best books about tea!
And now for the 16 best books about tea…
20,000 Secrets of Tea by Victoria Zak
Since I can’t take many over-the-counter cold and flu medicine because of medication interactions, I rely on tea to help me through those challenging times. There’s nothing a good peppermint tea can’t cure and a licorice tea can’t soothe. (Well, maybe, but maybe not!) In 20,000 Secrets of Tea, Victoria Zak gives you the full rundown on tea for healing purposes. You’ll learn all about what tea can do for you when your body and mind need some curing. This is definitely one of the best books on herbal teas and among the key herbal tea books.
How to read it: Purchase 20,000 Secrets of Tea on Amazon
The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo
The quintessential classic book about tea history, Okakura Kakuzo’s The Book of Tea was penned in 1906 but remains relevant today. In Kakuzo’s Japanese tea book, he weaves together the various strands of Taoism, the influence of Zen, and, in particular, the ritual of tea. The Book of Tea, written with a Western audience in mind, seeks to marry the East and West with authenticity and good faith.
How to read it: Purchase The Book of Tea on Amazon
Culinary Tea by Cynthia Gold and Lisë Stern
Culinary Tea sits at the intersection of two great things: food and tea. In Culinary Tea, you’ll discover 150 new recipes for cooking with tea with inspiration from around the globe. Whether you’re looking to bake something marvelous with tea as an ingredient or craft a compelling cocktail that highlights tea, this book has it all. As a bonus, Culinary Tea contains an extensive and lavishly illustrated introduction to the world of tea.
How to read it: Purchase Culinary Tea on Amazon
For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose
In this riveting book, ranking high up there on the best books about tea history, Sarah Rose brings our attention to the spy quest of the Scottish botanist and naturalist. Robert Fortune. In 1848, Fortune was tasked with infiltrating the Chinese tea industry to learn its secrets, so Britain could win the tea wars. Engrossing and fascinating, For All the Tea in Chine is a must-read book for anyone who is interested in the sociological, empirical, and political context about tea. You won’t find a better narrative history in books on tea.
How to read it: Purchase For All the Tea in China on Amazon
Have a Cup: A Tea Tasting Coloring Journal by Andi Straube
If you’re a tea fan, doubtless you’ve made it your quest to taste as many different types as possible. In Have a Cup, Andi Straube has married two great things: tea and coloring books. This tea tasting journal is illustrated with colorable pages to bring your tea diary to life. There’s space for 50 teas for you to record with as much detail as you wish, along with a place for documenting your own tea recipes and blends. This unique and fun journal is one of the best books for tea lovers.
How to read it: Purchase Have a Cup on Amazon
Infused: Adventures in Tea by Henrietta Lovell
Henrietta Lovell’s Infused: Adventures in Tea not only won the Drink Book Award in 2020 from the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards but was also a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review. It’s well deserved: this is among the best books about tea. In this book, Lovell shares her passionate quest to connect people with the best tea possible, going beyond your bagged PG Tips (disclosure: I love PG Tips) and into the next level of quality tea leaves. Lovell’s journey has taken her to tea plantations around the world, adventures she shares in this deeply personal book about tea that ranks up there in the best books for tea lovers.
How to read it: Purchase Infused: Adventures in Tea on Amazon
A Little Tea Book by Sebastian Beckwith and Caroline Paul
This tea book might be “little” in length at only 144 pages, but it more than makes up for it in breadth and detail. The topic? All things tea. Whether you’re first venturing into tea or are already a tea connoisseur, A Little Tea Book has something for everyone. From fascinating facts to beautiful illustrations and the essential history of tea that you just need to know, A Little Tea Book is your must-have guide for tea, both accessible and authoritative and one of the best books to learn about tea.
How to read it: Purchase A Little Tea Book on Amazon
Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West by Beatrice Hohenegger
Liquid Jade is a comprehensive history of tea’s impact on the world and one of the best books about tea history. With a focus on the clash between cultures, monarchies, and merchants of the West and its counterparts in the East, Liquid Jade is a global history that spares no detail about how deeply the tea trade led to tea wars that gravely impacted the world. This is the certainly one of the best books on tea history.
How to read it: Purchase Liquid Jade on Amazon
Reading the Leaves by Sandra Mariah Wright and Leanne Marrama
As a fan of divination—see my lists of the best books on tarot, palmistry, and numerology here on Broke by Books—I’ve always been interested in tea leaf reading. Fortunately, Sandra Mariah Wright and Leanne Marrama have put together a great guide for learning how to divine through reading tea leaves. One of the best books on tea, Reading the Leaves is suitable for beginners and intermediate tea leaf readers. Reading the Leaves goes over the messages you’ll find in tea leaves, issues of timing, and what to do if you discover something negative, among other topics. This is a must-have guide to divination with tea leaves that teaches you how to bolster and listen to your intuition.
How to read it: Purchase Reading the Leaves on Amazon
The Story of Tea by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss
Another great book about tea is tea traders Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss’ The Story of Tea. Both a cultural history of tea and a drinking guide to the famed beverage, this book has it all, punctuated by generous photograph illustrations, making it one of the best books about tea. You may be wondering… with all the tea books out there, how is this one different? Well, I’d answer that The Story of Tea goes deep into subjects other books just gloss over, like the life of a tea bush, how to brew the perfect cup, tea customs and culture, the ethics of the tea trade, and more. This is far more than your typical tea book; one of the best books on tea, this one digs deep into the history and cultural context of tea: the good, the bad, and the complicated.
How to read it: Purchase The Story of Tea on Amazon
Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know by Candace Rose Rardon
The title of this book is self-explanatory: stuff every tea lover should know. If you’re just getting started in your tea hobby—or tea passion—Candace Rose Rardon’s Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know should be on your list of the best books to learn about tea. Venture beyond boxed bagged tea and level up your tea knowledge with Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know. This book covers the anatomy of a tree plant, the various types of tea kettles and how to best use them, the families of tea and their most common varieties, and tea traditions among the world’s cultures, along with other topics. A pocket-sized book at 144 pages, Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know is nonetheless a comprehensive one that every tea enthusiast should have on the shelf as one of the best books to learn about tea.
How to read it: Purchase Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know on Amazon
The Tea Book by Linda Gaylard
Authoritative and gorgeously illustrated, Linda Gaylard’s The Tea Book is the perfect guide to tea, featuring details on the qualities of fine tea leaves and plants, the various varieties of tea from across the globe, the world of tisanes, and tea recipes and rituals, including Britain’s High Tea and tea cultures of China, India, Morocco, and Russia. You can count on the book’s publisher, DK, for high quality; I’ve recommended DK books here before, including in my list of the Best Books about Criminology. The Tea Book is quite simply one of the best books about tea.
How to read it: Purchase The Tea Book on Amazon
The Tea Cyclopedia by Dr. Keith Souter
The newest book on this list, The Tea Cyclopedia is nonetheless already required reading for tea lovers and among the best books to learn about tea. This book thoroughly introduces readers to the world of tea and goes far beyond a simple tea dictionary. Instead, Dr. Keith Souter provides a wide-ranging encyclopedia of tea. You’ll find a complete history of tea, coverage of historically significant events in tea like the Boston Tea Party, an overview of tea leaf reading divination, the background behind the names of tea and its common variations, the wars fought over tea, and more tea topics.
How to read it: Purchase The Tea Cyclopedia on Amazon
Tea Sommelier: A Step-by-Step Guide by François-Xavier Delmas and Mathias Minet
If you’re serious about tea, you might have thought of becoming a tea sommelier. Yes, that actually exists. Just like wine sommeliers, tea has its experts. One of the best books for tea lovers, Tea Sommelier covers all you need to know to be an unofficial tea sommelier, including what tea to recommend based on time of day, the seasonality of tea, the personality of drinkers, and tea and wine pairings. This book drills down into the nitty-gritty of tea tasting and culture, including a discussion of measuring tea, choosing the right water, and selecting the best infusion time. This book is the perfect book for tea enthusiasts who want to jump up a level in their tea game.
How to read it: Purchase Tea Sommelier: A Step-by-Step Guide on Amazon
The Vintage Tea Party Book by Angel Strawbridge
You don’t have to be Alice in Wonderland to appreciate a good tea party. In her book The Vintage Tea Party Book, Angel Strawbridge has broken down how to plan and execute the perfect tea party with a vintage touch. You’ll find out how to design a tea party for brunch, afternoon, or evening settings. The Vintage Tea Party Book, definitely one of the best books about tea parties, also includes the history and culture of tea parties around the world. Suggested invitations are there for you to photocopy and send, and the book contains dozens of recipes to make for your guests. The Vintage Tea Party Book is definitely a mic-drop book…there’s simply no other book about giving tea parties that matches it.
How to read it: Purchase The Vintage Tea Party Book on Amazon
The World Atlas of Tea by Krisi Smith
We round out this list of the best books about tea with an extraordinary visual guide to tea, Krisi Smith’s The World Atlas of Tea. If you’ve ever looked at your tea and wondered how it got from a plant grown in countries far away into your cup, this book should be on your to-be-read list. The World Atlas of Tea provides all you’ve ever wanted to know about the history, tradition, and current state of the globe’s tea trade. Smith’s book also covers the practicalities of brewing the perfect cup, tea blending and tisanes, and tea mixology. The World Atlas of Tea is the necessary link between what you brew in your mug and its global origins.
