Classic Fiction for Tea Drinkers

10 Classic Fiction Books for Tea Lovers

Below are 10 Classic Fiction for Tea Drinkers.

Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice

Not only is Pride and Prejudice a classic for anyone with literary interests, there’s also a great moment where tea is used as a witty insult that drives the plot forward. It’s clever use of tea by the great Jane Austen. Surprisingly, tea makes sparse appearances in her novels, so be sure to savor the moment in this classic.

Ellis Avery – The Teahouse Fire

The strength of this peacefully paced novel is in the language and research. The details about Japan are dense, and the language of the child narrator is expertly crafted. This is a lovely, thoughtful novel that pairs perfectly with a nice cup of tea.

Elizabeth Gaskell – Cranford

Cranford ought to be considered mandatory reading for tea enthusiasts since the story centers around a character who loses her fortune in a bad investment, and finds a way to make ends meet by selling tea for the East India Trading Company. Tea drinkers who are interested in early-Victorian England will be delighted by this one.

Sarah Rose – For All the Tea in China

For All the Tea in China is a beautifully rendered retelling of the history of the East India Trading Company, and how the tea trade affected life in Britain and the west. Sarah Rose takes a certain amount of journalistic license to keep the history lively, but the core facts are intact.

Charles Dickens – Great Expectations

Charles Dickens has a handful of classics under his name, but this one smartly uses tea as a vehicle for demonstrating character development in his wonderfully dynamic and flawed characters. There are some great little easter eggs for tea enthusiasts in this one.

Lewis Carroll – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

The Mad Hatter’s tea party is a vivid staple in children’s entertainment, thanks to Disney. However, tea drinkers probably prefer to absorb the madness through Lewis Carroll’s original text, which is probably more compelling for adults than the Disney iteration.

Robert Stevenson – The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Tea finds its way into gothic fiction when Stevenson uses the tea kettle and tea as an object of juxtaposition at the end of the novel. Though it’s only a brief appearance, tea is a valuable literary device in the story. It’s a nice little gift for tea drinkers at the end of this short classic.

Shona Patel – Teatime for the Firefly

This is a beautifully crafted novel set in the tea plantations of colonial India. There’s an excellent wealth of knowledge for tea lovers about the tea industry in India during the time. But watch out, this tale is tragic. Keep some tissues nearby.

Laura Childs – Steeped in Evil

Laura Childs is known for her tea shop mysteries. There’s a whole series of these novels, and they all utilize the theme of tea. All the books in this series make for great light reading, and are sure to entertain any tea lover.

Douglas Adams – Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

This hilarious space odyssey is packed with tea references in the midst of alien abduction, space travel, and the destruction of earth. It seems an unlikely place to find tea, but there it is. Don’t panic, just pair this one up with a nice cuppa tea.

Once you’ve polished off all the literature on this list, let us know what your favorite tea novels are!

If you enjoyed this piece on Classic Fiction for Tea Drinkers, you should check out 31 Must Know Tea Quotes.