My ideal weekend consists of countless cups of tea and pages of great books to read. I like to think that’s how book bloggers, Milana and Alex, spend their days. A Couple Reads is a blog where the couple shares their book reviews and other book interests, however, I initially connected with them because of their tea habits. The saying goes couples who read together, stay together and I think it’s fair to say the same can be said for those who drink tea together. This at the tea table is a bit different than the others because with two people, you’ll get two different responses — a perfect example of how everyone’s tea journey is unique. I hope you enjoy this fun format! The three of us chatted about their love for reading and tea, characters from books they would want to share a cup with and much more.
The kettle is on and I can hear it about to sing. What tea are you going to steep for us today?
We made an iced matte with beetroot, apples and berries for tonight, we’re both craving some iced tea!
Do you recall your first sip that started your tea journey?
Milana: Back when I was a wee thing my mom would make tea when I was sick. I remember this rosehip and hibiscus tea she would brew even if I just complained of aches and pains. I remember hating it and scooping heaping spoonfuls of sugar just to get it down. When I had a stomach ache she would turn to chamomile, which I disliked even more! My tea start was not a good one until I turned older and purchased my first cup of earl grey. For years it was the only tea I drank. Eventually I branched out and drank green tea, peppermint tea and other herbal teas. Now that I’m older I do enjoy chamomile and some rosehip and hibiscus when I’m sick… without all that sugar!
Alex: It was a chocolate orange tea. Coupling my love of chocolate with my love of caffeine. I couldn’t help it and it’s been a slippery slope from there. About a year ago I started working at Teavana where my tea knowledge truly expanded. I was exposed to all the different teas I had never heard about and learned a lot! Unfortunately, Teavana is closing its doors but I knew I needed to keep tea in my life and started working at David’s Tea a few weeks ago. Now my goal is to try and get Milana to try different teas.. she is obsessed with Earl Grey.
I think we can all agree that books and tea are a match made in heaven. What came first for you though: your love for tea or your love for books?
Milana: Books! I remember the first trip to the library. My parents loved to take me there and I would borrow up to 10 books and devour them all in the 2 week period. My mom was concerned I wouldn’t pass my school classes because all I did was read what wasn’t in the curriculum.
Alex: Definitely books. I remember my first real experience of loving to read came in PEI when I was 12. I think I read Redwall cover to cover three times on that trip. I also loved picking up a book I had already read and turning it to a random spot and reading from there.
You two seem to read books as quickly as I drink a pot of tea! If you could pair any tea with any book, what would that pairing look like?
Milana: Peppermint green tea with The Hobbit by Tolkien. Whenever I drink green tea I think of The Shire and its lush scenery. And the peppermint is just for the kick!
Alex: A strong cup of pu’erh and Johannas Cabal from the Johannes Cabal series by Jonathan L. Howard. The bold, bitter flavour of the tea perfectly fits the unforgiving slick wit of Cabal.
What are the top 3 teas we would find in your collection today?
Milana: Cream of Earl Grey, Peppermint, and Matcha.
Alex: Monkey Picked Oolong, Matcha, and Chocolate Orange.
Speed Round:
Black, Green, Yellow, White, Oolong or Puerh?
Milana: Black & Green
Alex: Pu’erh
Hot, Iced or Cold?
Milana: Hot in the evening, iced in the morning
Alex: Hot
Teapot, Infuser or Gaiwan?
Milana: Infuser if I’m on the go, my cast iron teapot in the evening with a book.
Alex: Infuser
Straight, Sweetened or Latte?
Milana: Sweetened
Alex: Latte
Cheese or Chocolate pairing?
Milana: Cheese! Chocolate! Wait… can I pick both?
Alex: CHOCOLATE
Choose one fictional character from a book that you would like to have tea with.
Milana: If I could set it on the moors and have tea with Jane Eyre. Something about the gothic feel of the moors, some tea and my favourite classic character speaks to me.
Alex: Taniel Two-Shot from the Powder Mage books. I’d like to ask him a few questions about how he chose to end things in that last book there…
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ABOUT THIS SERIES: Tea tells stories and when connected with humans, more are created. That’s where the idea for this blog series, At the Tea Table, originated. With this series, The Cup of Life asks tea lovers around the world to take us inside their tea lives to share their favourite steeps, spaces, routines and more. Meet some of your fellow tea drinkers here.