Autumn is for the bookish babes, and our crew is full of 'em! From fantasy to horror to herbalist nonfiction, check out the crew's favorite book & tea pairings to enhance your fall experience and tickle your literary tastes!
Kayla's Pairing: The Cybernetic Tea Shop and Dorian Gray
What you want is a tale of queer love and creation. You want it in your cup and on your mind. The pairing of Meredith Katz's tale of two asexual ladies (one of whom is a robot) finding love in a cozy tea shop is the ideal juxtaposition to this deep dark brew inspired by Oscar Wilde's classic queer horror tale. Sink into mineral notes and smooth flowers as you soak in this read!
Anisa's Pairing: Icelandic Plant Magic and Allfather Trust our resident Scandanavian history and folklore expert to recommend this combo shot of myth and magic! Brew a rich, dark, daddy cup of Odin-inspired black tea with slippery elm and coriander as you dive into a guide to folk herbalism of the north. AcaTEAmia at its finest!
Allyn's Pairing: Mouse Guard (Fall 1152) and Red ViperOur team's passionate dungeon master/children's book author & illustrator always has the best recommendations for graphic novels and their most sensorily evocative tea soulmates! This issue of Mouse Guard features crisp autumnal profile, hint of spice and charming floral aroma, just like this sunshiney Valencia-influenced tea!
Marcus' Pairing: Dealing with Dragons and Wyvern's Library
When princessing about, doing as expected, and generally comporting oneself isn't the vibe, Marcus recommends taking a break from it all and Dealing with Dragons for a bit! For optimal immersion in the fantastic, pair this classic read with the roasty, whimsical, magical Wyvern's Library!
Mori's Pairing: Ella Minnow Pea and Mrs. Bennet's Nerve TonicIf there's one thing Mori loves in this world, it's the pairing of playful linguistic experimentation with a cozy sense of home and connection. This small town epistolary novel contains both, and meshes perfectly with our homey garden herbal blend inspired by Austen's Mrs Bennet!
Greg's Pairing: Snow Crash and Mighty Hero
In the real world, Hiro delivers pizzas. But in the Metaverse of this science fiction classic, his avatar is a legend! Greg perfectly paired Neal Stephenson's masterpiece with our Mighty Hero tea, a bolstering blend that celebrates the stuff of heroes! Roasty and savory and full of buzz: cyberpunk perfection!
Narah's Pairing: My Throat an Open Grave and Womb of Doom
Narah brings the creeptastic fabulousness to your TBR and your TBT (to be tasted) piles this fall! This novel features rage, shame, and self-empowerment in the face of horrifyingly difficult circumstances. Womb of Doom is the perfect pair, all chili and smoke and earth under flowers and butter and fruit. Complicated and raw.
Jesse's Pairing: The Way of Kings and Shadow Self An epic fantasy deserves a rich, dark drink. That's why Jesse recommends pairing this complex blend of earthy and airy, smoky and floral, with Sanderson's novel of wild elements and warriors. This combination is full of nuance, depth and darkness, fit for a king!
Friday's Pairing: Horror Movie and The Modern ProTEAtheus
What even the hell was this book? Surreal, uncomfortable, reality-fuzzing and elegantly gory...just how Friday likes 'em! Themes of loss, destruction and recreation make The Modern ProTEAtheus an ideal sip-along for this book. Dank, earthy, floral and toasty, this brew brings electric inspiration to your reading time!
Have you read any of these current crew faves? What do you think of our tea pairings? What's your fave book & tea combo this week?
xoxo, Friday
