Tea Box, The

It's all about tea! This beautiful package is an elegant and sturdy swing-open box containing a 32-page booklet and 40 illustrated cards with recipes, serving ideas, and facts about tea. Here, exquisitely packaged, is everything gourmets and tea drinkers need to know about the varieties of tea, the foods and desserts that complement tea, and the different tea-time customs and ceremonies practiced around the world. Described are teas and tea rituals from China, Japan, England, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia. On the face of each 5 1/2" x 7 7/8" card is a rich, full-color photo showing teas, tea-time foods, and tea-serving pots, samovars, and accessories. The card's reverse side offers either a recipe that features tea as one of its ingredients or a description of tea varieties and tea-serving customs. The accompanying booklet, also beautifully illustrated, presents a delightfully informal social history of tea and its many varieties. Just a few of the unusual and delightful recipes for foods, drinks, and desserts presented on the recipe cards are ... Sechuan tea with fruit and cream ... Braised ham flavored with spices and tea ... Earl Grey tea with chocolate ... Baked apple flavored with Ceylon tea ... Creme anglais with mint tea ... Hard-boiled egg with Cantonese tea, and many more. Additional cards show and describe Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies, discuss the best tea-brewing methods for different tea varieties, and introduce readers to some of the world's less familiar teas. Every tea lover will treasure The Tea Box. Others who simply want to start exploring the world of tea will open this handsome package and become instant coverts to the delicacies of these rich brews.