While I don’t share too many book reviews these days, I do enjoy writing about tea related ones that are quite unique. Teatime Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth is one of them. A copy was kindly gifted to me from the publisher, Greystone Books. This short book was written and illustrated for young readers but the message is what makes it special and stand out. Through simple yet meaningful text, Denyse takes readers on a tea adventure around the world to celebrate not only different tea traditions but diversity, too.
As the title suggests, this children’s book focuses on showing what teatime looks like for other tea drinkers across the globe. The grade range is preschool to grade 4. Tea is enjoyed in a variety of ways and it’s nice to have a fun way to show tea cultures.
The places highlighted in the book are: Morocco, India, Tibet, Thailand, North America, South Sudan, Japan, Russia, England, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Jamaica. Some of the traditional teas mentioned were Moroccan mint tea, masala chai, yak butter tea, pulled tea, Thai iced tea and much more.
This 48 page book is described as a poetic picture book as the main text forms a beautiful poem and each page is covered in vibrant illustrations. The illustrator, Chelsea O’Byrne, happens to also be a tea enthusiast based in Vancouver, BC.
Each illustration is accompanied by 1-3 sentences explaining what the traditional tea of that part of the world is and how it is enjoyed.
One of my favourite parts of this tea inspired children’s book is how the illustrations compliment the text on each page perfectly. For example, when masala chai is mentioned, a chai wallah serving tea on the streets in India is depicted.
Also, the details are truly incredible. The page about enjoying tea for hours highlights a Japanese tea ceremony. It shows matcha being prepared with a chawan, chasen and other key matcha tools while guests wait with traditional Japanese sweets, too.
The book wraps up by connecting the different tea cultures and showing how our love for tea brings us all together. It should not matter if you enjoy drinking your cup of tea with sugar and milk, use tea bags, or like to steep berries and herbs. As this book shows, there are many ways to enjoy tea and most cultures view it as more than just a drink. At the end of the day, we all have tea in common. This beverage connects us.
The author, Denyse, also shares her personal tea story on the last two pages of the book. Currently based in Vancouver, BC, she is a former journalist who has enjoyed tea in 20 countries and studied tea culture in China.
Overall, this book is geared towards children yes, but with the simplicity, important message and gorgeous illustrations many tea lovers would enjoy having this on their book shelf or coffee tea table.
Teatime Around The World Book Details
Published: October 27, 2020
Format: Hardcover
Dimension: 9×11
Publisher: Greystone Books
Price: $22.95
(affiliate link)
Book Giveaway
Ready for a chance to win a copy of Teatime Around The World? Greystone Books is offering a lucky reader of The Cup of Life this beautiful children’s tea book. If you win, you can keep it for yourself or gift to a child to begin their own tea journey!
The giveaway will run from November 10-November 14. The randomly selected winner will be announced here by the November 15.
Entering is easy! Using the Rafflecopter widget below follow the directions per entry requirements. This giveaway is open to Canada and United States residents.
Good luck!
What a sweet book! Though for children, I would totally love it. It’s important to bring children into the world of tea at a young age. It provides stability and comfort, and hopefully self care that they take with them throughout life. I would love to visit tea estates in Sri Lanka…..and I had actually planned it prior to you know what! But, I will get there. Thanks for another great blog!
Geri
Definitely! I really enjoyed the book. Very well done. I hope you get the chance to take that Sri Lanka trip soon! Fingers crossed.
I have been hosting tea parties for my friends and family for the past few years (I’ve had three this year alone and have found ways to keep them intimate and fun virtually). For my mother’s birthday last month, I shared the Parable of the Teacup and a few other Christian themed activities/lessons. As I learn more about our ancestry, I have been looking for information about teatime customs around the world. This book is perfect for me to feature at a Teatime Around the World ParTEA!!! If I could experience tea culture in another region, it would be Western Africa. I’d get to learn more about my ancestry and join in their attaya.
That is so awesome that you have found a great way to keep hosting tea parties this year 🙂
This book looks so sweet! Adding this to the list of books to get for our future children!
If I could go anywhere and experience their tea culture, it’d be Japan or India! I love how each culture incorporates tea, from daily drinking to special ceremonies, and I’d love to learn more.
Those two places are at the top of my list, too 🙂
Great giveaway! Thank you for the chance.
I’m a very nervous traveler so I’d have to go with England as the the safest place – but it would also be fabulous to visit all the famous spots in England and go for a real British high tea!
I agree! I would love to experience authentic afternoon tea in England and eat all of the scones!
I once had a roommate who used to drink up to 12 cups of tea a day! 🙂 I’ve only started recently (aside from herbals–I was practically raised on herbals) and am really enjoying my journey. I’d love to visit Japan and experience their tea ceremony.
12 cups! Wow! I’m glad you are enjoying your tea journey thus far 🙂
I would live to visit the new tea farms in B.C.
Me too 🙂
My little would love this book so much. I’d love to have a tea experience in Egypt!
That would be an amazing tea experience! Thank you for sharing.
China. I am a big fan of Chinese tea and love using a gaiwan, it would be neat to visit a tea shop there.
It would be wonderful to experience a gongfu tea ceremony in China, for sure!
I have always longed to sip freshly harvested tea by the misty fields in Darjeeling!! It’s been a dream for years 🙂
What an awesome tea dream!
What an lovely book! I’d love to experience tea in Great Britain.
Oh yes! A nice cup of hot tea with a great book. Thank you so much! 💞
What a sweet book … the illustrations look amazing! I think it’s wonderful to introduce little ones to the world of tea – start them early!
So my tea dream is super simple. I’d like to go back to the UK and have tea at the Ritz or maybe the Savoy. But probably the Ritz as they have a Tea Sommelier who travels the world to different tea locations. Perhaps I could persuade him to sit and sip a few cups and tell me about his travels.
I would love to explore tea culture in Japan.
I would go to South Africa to experience the taste of rooibos tea.