Little Tufts of Tea
Exclusive insight into book 2!!
Book two, working title Little Tufts of Tea, is in the glorious exploratory phase, where ideas are blossoming, synapses are firing, and I’m meeting up with a range of fabulous people to hear about their connection with tea. Chapter one is in its first version, and the outline of the rest is emerging - it’s so exciting!! Never too early to have a play with book covers though 🤣
The nugget of the idea for this book came about through conversations with my mother as I try to capture the essence of my Irish heritage. I have a lifelong love affair with tea. It’s in my blood. My mother’s days would always start with the kettle being placed on the coals, and tea was the constant throughout their family life, just as it is through mine. Her and I are planning a trip to India together in January for a family wedding, and that really inspired me to explore further the significance of tea as a love language across the world, and how cultures, rituals and traditions are passed through generations in ways other than words.
Additionally, a few years ago, I took a week’s holiday from work to train as a Tea Champion at the UK Tea Academy (gloriously random), and this autumn I am extending that to become a qualified Tea Sommelier (more on this to come). I cannot wait to further understand everything from the cultivation, blending and tasting of tea, to the ceremonies and rituals, to the trade and evaluation of tea across India, Taiwan, Korea, China, Sri Lanka, Africa, Nepal, Vietnam and more.
It is this blend of expertise and also the understanding of how tea symbolises so much more than what is in the pot, that will lie at the heart of this book. An evocation of family, memories, culture, tradition and love.
I don’t yet know exactly where ‘Little Tufts of Tea’ will go, but these things evolve so beautifully, and that is part of the process as it flows between the personal and the universal. What Breaking Waves is now is totally different from when it started!! (oh and standby for some potentially very exciting news on that one soon 🤞🫶).
So for my gorgeous paid subscribers, here is an excerpt from my first draft of Chapter 1, to give you a flavour of what’s ahead!I honestly cannot thank you enough for supporting my work. These words may not even be in the final version, who knows, but this is all part of the wonder of creativity.
[If you’d love to read this and affordability is a barrier please get in touch and I will gift you a subscription. Additionally there is a 7-day trial available 🙏]
In the mean time, put the kettle on, and I’ll tell you a story. It is Sunday after all.
Excerpt from ‘Little Tufts of Tea’. FIRST DRAFT
Chapter 1: Put the Kettle on, and I’ll tell you a story.