"The Book of Tea" by Alain Stella, Nadine Beauthéac et al.
P.S. I just discovered that there is a second edition of this book which has been updated. I don't really see what could be updated beyond the connoisseur's guide. If you click on the image, it will take you straight to Amazon and give you all the details.
Jane Pettigrew is a very knowledgeable author when it comes to tea (and anything remotely connected to tea). We will be reviewing several of her works on this site. In this book, she explores essentially British tea wares, why they developed and how we have come to us them as we do. In some ways, it's the history of tea through the objects associated with it. The use of anecdotes, panels on social and economic aspects of tea, etymological explorations, tons of illustrations and plenty of wit make this quite serious book a lot of fun to read while remaining hugely instructive. The approach is very methodical and every category of tea ware is covered : teapots, spoons, cups and saucers, caddies, tables and trays etc... Form and function are influenced by history, economics and social realities, and while Design for Tea manages to cover it all, it remains at all times interesting and very readable.