Tea Is Love, written by Adib Khorram and illustrated by Hanna Cha. Dial, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Tea is a memory

Tea is a lesson

AND TEA IS LOVE"

My Aunt Anne was the first person who sat me down and showed me how she made and enjoyed her tea. I don't remember how old I was at the time, but I would guess I was around 10. I had not been a tea drinker prior to that; she said if I was going to become one, then I should learn how to brew tea well. I was a keen observer and a happy convert. She said it was the English way of preparing it. 

In this book about tea and its many descriptors, Adib Khorram presents tea as a ceremony for some, a quiet moment of relaxation for others. However you choose to brew your tea, it will be on your own terms as it should be. Millions of people drink it in many different ways and for a plethora of reasons. Its practice is celebrated across culture and country. 

For me, it often reflects memories of tea time with my aunt; a quiet time in a busy day; a warm and welcome ending for a delicious meal; a shared experience with a friend. In an interview I read with the author, he said of his memories: 

"At its heart, the practice of drinking tea is a joyful one. Tea enervates us and calms us. Tea asks us for patience and invites reflection. When I drink tea I remember my grandfather’s laughter. When I drink I remember those nights of Dr. Mario. When I drink I remember my uncle’s diner. When I drink I feel like I’m back at my aunt’s house. And the kettle is still on.

Hanna Cha chose to use sumi ink, watercolor, gouache, chalk and colored pencils to create the exceptional scenes that perfectly accompany the author's heartfelt feelings as he describes the meaning of tea in his life. From tea's growth as a plant, to being sold in stores and markets, to the warmth of its place in family homes, she fills each spread with winning characters, bold colors, community, family, and new learning. Front and back endpapers are equally enjoyable. At the heart of the story is the love that many have for tea, no matter the time and place.  

An author's note explains tea's history and the fact that tea is now grown on every continent, and in many countries. It is celebrated in ways as diverse as the places that have a tea culture. 

Now, I am off to brew a cuppa, and I hope that you will do the same.