Books and Tea

Like many perch librarians, I like tea.  Hot tea, iced tea, sweetened tea, unsweetened tea, black tea, white tea, green tea, boba tea.  Get the idea?  I like tea.  There's just something about that little cup full of happiness that fills you with peace and calm.  The hot varieties make you slow down to avoid scalding your tongue, and the cold varieties make you slow down to savor the flavor.

And beside a scone, what goes perfectly with tea?  Books, of course!  Picture this: a cozy nook by a window, a comfy chair to curl up in, a cup of tea to sip on, and a book you can't put down.  Now honestly, fellow book lovers, does it get any better than that?

Maybe you have that special reading place at home?  Or maybe there's that special reading place somewhere in town?  There are a number of bakery cafes and tea houses that are inviting venues for reading.  I especially like this one bakery cafe (the Rockwood Bakery in Spokane) which is in an older building with big picture windows, high ceilings, rose colored walls, wood floors, and mismatched tables and chairs.  Whenever I go there, I can get lost in a book and cup of tea for hours.

Speaking for myself, I absolutely love the perfect cup of jasmine tea--nice, light, and floral (I like Two Leaves and a Bud).  When I'm in the mood for a strong, full-bodied tea, my little splurge is tea from the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC (you can order it online).  If I want a more fruity variety, I enjoy a cup of black currant tea from Ahmad Tea of London.

Do you have a favorite tea and a special reading place?  Share it with us!

Clinking tea cups with you from the perch.