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Destined to be a Classic,
Michael Harney’s new book is exceptionally attractive and will make a fine gift for any occasion. But the stunning beauty of this book is far from skin deep. It’s clear that Michael Harney approached this project the way he, his Father, John, and his brother, Paul, approach tea making itself. He clearly wanted the book itself to be elegant, but he also required that it illustrate the dimensionality and substance for which his teas are known.
Let me recommend a creative approach to this book. Start with the Appendix, From Tree to Tea, The Chemistry of Tea. How, otherwise, will you know what tea even is? Then treat yourself to a very succinct, five page, History of Tea. Okay, now flip back to the front and read the Introduction. Here Harney tells what led him to the business and what led him to write the book. You come away assured that his credentials are exactly what you wanted in a guide to teas. Michael Harney is a tea person’s tea person, the ideal personal trainer for teas.
The Guide to Tasting Teas is an eye opener. Who knew that there was something to be learned from examining the dry leaves? Who knew pot type affected a tea’s taste? Who knew about filtered water, and the impact of brewing temperatures, and brewing times? Who knew what to look for in the liquor? Who knew what intelligence there was to gain from smelling the wet tea leaves after pouring the liquor off? And who even thought that there could be a vocabulary dealing with the nuances of a tea’s body and flavor? In fact you’ll know all of this before you get to page 17, which is where your tour of the tea world will begin.
Start with a tea with which you feel familiar, say a Ceylon Black Tea. In this section you will find that there are three categories of tea, depending on the elevation of the tea gardens. You will learn that “The high grown teas, between four thousand and six thousand feet are what make Ceylon Teas’ reputation. That rarefied air produces exceptional teas like the wintergreen Uva Highlands.” Imagine! You learned something so basic about a tea you thought you already knew; imagine what you’ll learn about teas with which you are completely unfamiliar.
In time we’ll wonder how we limped along in the tea world before Michael Harney wrote this classic.
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|A Down-to-Earth “How-To” Guide to Great Tea,
I have a soft spot in my heart for Harney & Sons because I learned to love tea by visiting their tea tasting room in Millerton, NY. This book is the perfect follow-up to that experience. Most of the book is devoted to tea tasting, and is designed to walk the reader through the process of preparing and drinking a series of related teas. The differences and similarities are described, which I find helps me focus on the subtleties of these special teas and heightens my enjoyment of them.
This book can pay for itself by helping you avoid buying expensive tea that you don’t enjoy. Mr. Harney recommends other tea suppliers, in addition to his family business, several of which (including Harney’s,) offer samples or small quantities for sale. It’s a great guide to purchasing and experiencing samples, so that you only buy larger quantitities of the teas you most enjoy.
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|A book for nearly all the senses,
I cannot do it the same justice as the first two reviewers, but I am in the middle of reading this thoroughly enjoyable book and the quality of writing, command of the subject, and passion for the product compelled me to comment.
This is a lovely book. I think Ralph White’s suggested reading sequence is a good one. My only wish is that the publishers and/or Mr. Harney had included photos of all the teas.
Bravo Michael Harney!
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