Tea + Book Pairing – Jane of Austin

Jane of Austin : A Novel of Sweet Tea & Sensibility

“Tea! That’s all I needed. A good cup of tea. A superheroes infusion of free radicals and tannin. Just the thing for heating synapses.” – Russell T. Davies

Do you enjoy modern retellings of the classics? I read Sense and Sensibility earlier this year and enjoyed the sisterly relationship between Elinor and Marianne. Most of you are familiar with the story and I’ve shared my thoughts here. Imagine how excited I was to pick up this retelling recommended by a tea drinking book lover.

In a nutshell, Jane of Austin embodies the essence of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Although I haven’t read many retellings, sometimes too much modern-day drama, in my opinion, takes away from the charm, humor and relationship dynamics we find in the classics.

Jane and Celia Woodward, along with their younger sister Margot, relocate to Austin, Texas after losing their tea shop in San Francisco. I will say in short, I really enjoyed all the tea talk in this book and the recipes! As a tea lover, this book really spoke to my heart. Jane, the main character, her love of tea takes shape in many parts of the story. My goodness the girl grows her own camellia sinesis! I want to do that when I grow up but for now I’ll keep seeking and trying the best leaves for optimal flavor and enjoyment. I also loved how many of the chapters would begin with a tea quote and end with some wonderful recipe to pair or infuse with tea.

Jane knows how to make a proper cup of tea and crafts some lovely recipes which help her in supporting herself and her sisters. Like many siblings, they don’t have a perfect relationship and communication can at times be lacking, but most importantly they love each other, just like Elinor and Marianne.

“When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things.” -Muriel Barbery

Since the book is set in the south, it seems obvious I would pair this book with a sweet tea, but of course that would be too easy. I selected a flavored green tea called Winterberry that has a subtle sweetness with hint of tartness (from the hibiscus) which is delicious served hot or iced.

Genre: Fiction (Modern Retelling) + Tea: Winterberry (flavored green tea)

This post is not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the companies mentioned, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do you have a favorite retelling of a classic?

Advertisement