Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Edited by Anouska Jones, Exisle Publishing, $29.99
Think about it: it’s not such a surprise to realise we turn the kettle on at the first sign of trouble and drink tea – to keep calm. Tea has a valued place in cultures globally. For those of us who enjoy a good cuppa, ‘tea makes everything better’.
Jones has encapsulated words of acumen, along with some magnificent photographs, from a visibly overwhelmingly refined selection of the world’s famous notables, who have all succumbed to the delicious sensation of enjoying a cup of well-brewed tea – from their favourite teapot.
Tea aficionados, in particular, will appreciate this collection of celebrity quotes about the brew from such well-known tea lovers as Audrey Hepburn, Rod Stewart, Billy Connolly and Mick Jagger.
In a reflective mood, Audrey Hepburn once said, “when you have nobody you can make a cup of tea for, when nobody needs you, that’s when I think life is over”.
It was Noel Coward who suggested, “wouldn’t it be dreadful to live in a country where they didn’t have tea”. Then there’s an unknown person who said, “when life gets tough, the tough grab the kettle”.
Rolling Stone’s Mick Jagger notes, “I got nasty habits; I take tea at three”, while Honore de Balzac captured the moment perfectly with the wonderful sentence, “great love affairs start with Champagne and end with a tisane”.
Tea drinkers of the world deliver some meaningful one-liners. Amazing what can be discovered during a quiet visit with a little red teapot!
Correctly name the colour of the teapot in this book to win a prize. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by next Monday, 14 May 2018. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column next week.
