COFFEE AND TEA BOOK REVIEW

HERBAL TEAS FOR HEALTH AND HEALING by Jessica Houdret
It is a gustatory and visual delight with 50 tested recipes and 100 beautiful photos. The book is mainly intended for people looking for alternative ways to ease common and minor health problems, although the book does not claim to provide cure. There are herbal teas for digestion, coughs and colds, zest and energy, among others. The book also provides information on herbs in history and on growing, harvesting, drying, storing and making herbal teas.

HOT DRINKS by Louise Pickford
For some who like it hot, the book contains easy to follow, no fuss, basic tips and recipes on hot chocolate, milky drinks, punches and cocktails, and more importantly, teas and infusions and coffee. Its coffee with a difference listing includes items of innovative drinks: Carribean cafe with rhum and malibu, nutmeg laced egg-nog lattes, creamy pumpkin latte, as well as timeless classics like Irish coffee and Turkish coffee. Teas and infusions include exotic entrees such as spiced chai masala of India and calming infusions like mint or rosemary tisane.

COFFEE – MORE THAN 65 DELICIOUS AND HEALTHY RECIPES by Avner Laskin (USD$14.95)
Dig in the recipe book’s plethora of hot and cold coffee beverages, baked goods and desserts. A short introduction is provided on the different types of coffee beans, roast, grind and brew.

TEA by Savina Jacobson (USD$14.95)
The book is packed with more than 80 recipes and takes the reader to a tour of the origins of tea with recipes at each stop. The book contains short introduction on the types of tea and health benefits derived from tea drinking. There’s also a tea bag string of tips covering storage, brewing and hosting at tea parties. Tea is a star ingredient not just in the drinks but also in the dishes as the book contains recipes for cooking with tea.

HOT DRINKS FOR COLD NIGHTS by Liana Krissoff (USD$16.95)
A warmth filled and comforting book to stave off winter's chill. My personal favorite would be 4a.m. in Madrid - Churros y Chocolate - as the drink transports me to my unforgettable days in the Spanish capital. This is one book that you cannot judge by its cover - it may be small but compact. Information-wise, the book contains brief intro on coffee and espresso makers, coffee grinder, spice mill, tea strainers and infusers, manual and electric milk frothers, teapots and cups and blenders. Recipe-wise, it contains hot drinks to keep you cozy on those cold days – lychee black tea with cherry wine, café brulet with cinnamon cream plus spirited hot drinks. To complement the drinks, a couple of recipes on treats are also included – persimmon tea cake and spiced candied nuts.