A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time

by Katrina Avila Munichiello

A Tea Reader contains a selection of stories that cover the spectrum of life. This anthology shares the ways that tea has changed lives through personal, intimate stories. Read of deep family moments, conquered heartbreak, and peace found in the face of loss. A Tea Reader includes stories from all types of tea people: people brought up it the tea tradition, those newly discovering it, classic writings from long-ago tea lovers and those making tea a career. Together these tales create a new image of a tea drinker. They show that tea is not simply something you drink, but it also provides quiet moments for making important decisions, a catalyst for conversation, and the energy we sometimes need to operate in our lives.The stories found in A Tea Reader cover the spectrum of life, such as the development of new friendships, beginning new careers, taking dream journeys, and essentially sharing the deep moments of life with friends and families. Find reflections of yourself and those you know in stories such as a tea shop owner whose heart is broken by Hurricane Katrina, and then finds the strength to start again, or a woman sharing a last moment with her father over a cup of tea.Whether you are a tea lover or not, here you will discover stories that speak to you and inspire you. Sit down, grab a cup, and read on.

Genres: Tea, Nonfiction, Anthologies

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book in so many ways ... highlighted so many great quotes along the way. If you love your tea then this is the book for you. "What is common among all who worhip tea is the quest for that moment of reverie. We wish to dive deep into that cup and become mesmerised. We embrace this time of quiet inspiration" "Tea flowers twice: once on the bush and once in our hearts".

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gift from my nephew, Kevin, who knows I love tea - especially afternoon tea at the Rose Garden Tea Room at the Huntington! I am as Samuel Johnson said, "a hardened and shameless tea-drinker, who has, for twenty years, diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool; who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and with tea, welcomes the morning."

A Tea Reader is filled with essays and stories about the delights of tea - tea memories, tea rituals, tea travels and the simple happiness of sharing a cup of tea with a friend. A few of the essays written in the 1800s were a bit tedious and seemed to have more to do with the journey of the writer than with tea. However, the essays about various enticing and exotic teas such as Bi Luo Chun which "grows in the high mountains of Jiangsu Province of southern China," . . . "close to peach, plum and apricot orchards drawing the sweet fragrance of the fruit blossoms into the tea leaves," will inspire the tea lover to widen her horizons.

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

As autumn arrives, many of us look forward to crisp fall evenings curled up with a steaming mug and a good book. This anthology of essays, stories and poems devoted to the art and comfort of tea is as warm and soothing as that hot cuppa.

A Tea Reader is divided into five "steeps," each illuminating a different aspect of tea: its effect on the individual, its ability to create fellowship, the formal and informal rituals attending it, the joys and hardships of careers in tea, and the travels of tea enthusiasts. Readers will connect with fellow tea lovers throughout history, from ancient Chinese poets to 19th-century authors to modern-day authorities. Rudyard Kipling details his visit to a Japanese teahouse; New Orleans tea seller George Constance rebuilds his shop after Hurricane Katrina tears it down; other writers recount the beginnings of their own love affairs with the leaf.

While the book's topic alone makes it the perfect gift for the tea enthusiast in your life, the selections all are also skillfully written, whether somber, joyful or educational in tone. Most share a contemplative, peaceful sensibility (often achieved over a cup of Earl Grey). So although at least a passing appreciation for tea will further readers' appreciation, any fan of good writing will enjoy sampling the contents... even, dare it be said, those who prefer coffee.

***This review originally appeared in Shelf Awareness Readers Edition. Sign up for this free and awesome newsletter at http://www.shelf-awareness.com for the latest news and reviews! This review refers to an ARC provided by Shelf Awareness.***

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a refreshing read! Most all of the stories in the book were short, but really profound. I liked being able to read one or two of the short essays each night before going to bed. Even more, this book introduced kinds of tea I had never even heard of before, encouraging me to expand my "tea horizons". The book was very well organized, and while each section was wonderful on it's own, the first part was by far my favorite. Do yourself a favor and read this little gem.

[Lauren Michelle Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as I am a tea and book lover. I read it slowly (a couple of stories a time) each morning as I enjoyed a cup or two of tea. I am a tea enthusiast and have tried hundreds over the years so I was delighted to discover Bi Lo Chun from this book. I'm drinking it right now. It truly is fresh and fragrant. A new staple of my mornings. I enjoyed reading about the joy of drinking tea. The many experiences people have had surrounding and savoring it. This book allows you to learn more about the history, process of growing and making tea, and encourages experiencing new teas! 🍵 💜.

[Chris Gleck]

This book was published in 2011 and was a gift to me from elisa. It isan anthology of 30 essays about tea grouped under the headings of tea reveries, tea connections, tea rituals, tea careers and tea travel. As a tea drinker, I found all of the essays engaging, but the ones by people for whom their professions are in the tea industry I found most enlightening as I was unaware of the details of the industry that I learned. Being an anthology of essays, I read one a day over two months. I will be donating this book.

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a nice little escape. What better book to read than a book about tea while you're drinking tea?

What surprised and delighted me about this book is that Ms. Munichiello included excerpts about tea from throughout the years. I went into reading this thinking that it would be purely a modern take on tea and how it changed people's lives, but it really was a good mixture of everything from the past 300 years.

Personally, I would have liked to read more takes on how tea changed people's lives in the modern world, but at the same time, I appreciated reading about the people who are involved in tea from the business sense as well as well as people how visited tea plantations. I also loved that she didn't only focus on the Chinese and Japanese origin of tea, but also the English and Indian traditions.

I would recommend this book to any tea lover! It's so nice to have on your shelf and a good respite when you need a little break.

[Dessy Farhany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.
Maybe I'm not in love with tea as much as the book expect their readers to be. And the story mostly centers on the Chinese origin of tea (and basically the east part of the world), and I expect it to be like broad range of tea culture from every region of world. Too bad, it would've been great. I am aware that the purest/oldest tea culture is from China, but the culture does grow.

I have to admit that couples stories inspires me, but most of the time it bores me. But if you tend to love the form of 'purest' tea, you might like it.

The good thing about this book is it made me reach out to my almost forgotten chai tea that my friend gave me earlier this year. So, cheers!

[Noris Ismail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whylah baca buku ni masa hujan..
Dapat black tea with sugar n lemon sodap ni... 🍵🫖
.
It's always interesting to read people's anthologies.. especially on this one particular ancient, respected, uncomplicated drink.
.
Tea time is also fondly called "The 5 o'clock Tea".. which eventually translates to 5 o'clock friendship, 5 o'clock gossip, 5 o'clock reminiscing, 5 o'clock winding -down..
.
When tea time's over - friends disperse, door shut close, tea tray whisked to the kitchen, sugar bowls back to the pantry, delicate tea cups washed, rinsed and stacked away.. waiting for another 5 o'clock tomorrow...

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with any Anthology, some entries are fascinating, others tedious and still others inexplicable. Some even only loosely connected to the subject - in this case - Tea. Much of this collection is quite interesting.
There are a wide variety of authors from contemporary to way back in the 1700s and even 700s.
I will keep this book and reread my favorites from time to time.

[Larry Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and informative book delving into the mystical, practical and historical aspects of tea drinking through-out the ages. Relaxing and stimulating.

[Dyah Ayu Harfi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm falling in love with tea..

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essays varied greatly in tone, subject matter and quality. Some writings were very memorable, giving me an intimate glimpse into the authors' lives and what mattered most to them. The book captured the varied tea traditions even within America, from childhood nostalgia to women's groups, overtly feminine tea rooms with bric a brac and Japanese studies on a college campus. My favorite section was the last, Tea Travels, which offered information about tea culture and traditions in other countries, as well as leads for further study. My least favorite section was Tea Careers. Some of those essays read like advertisements for the entrepreneur's business.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a lover of tea especially exotic tea and all the paraphernalia that goes with the great tradition of drinking tea. So this book full of real stories about tea lore intrigued me. Some of the stories were alright and some were fantastic. I felt inspired to look for some of the teas mentioned in the book and the localities.

[JennLynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays, stories and poems all having to do with the delightful practice of taking tea. Some were more interesting than others, but overall it was a pleasant, relaxing read ... perfect for a leisurely cuppa.

[Sarah Jowett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to get into it but it's mostly about people who have too much connection with tea and the brewing process... I just like to drink it and we like to have "English afternoon tea".

[Charity Hobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it, especially the personal stories of how people found their love of tea.

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some the readings were very interesting while others were not. Overall it balanced out so I liked the book but I couldn't saw that I loved it. This is a good book to drink tea while reading it.