What was your first experience with tea?

For many of us it was learning the song and rhyme, “I’m A Little Teapot”.

But there are many other literary experiences that help children develop preconceptions about tea even before they taste their first cup.

Pooh’s Little Instruction Book . . . by A.A. Milne

“A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards.”

And a “proper” tea in the world of Christopher Robin, Pooh Bear, Piglet, Tigger and all the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood is based on tea being a part of every day of life.

I’ve been blogging about the phenomenon of tea deeply touching our souls. Whether it is the leaf, the beverage, the history or the ceremony, we continue to express some of the passion inspired by tea via the arts. Through art and literature we are introduced to the spirit of tea at a very young age. Children’s literature is richly flavored with references to tea. And they have become classics; some of the most popular books shared between adults and children. They are the stories that remain dear to our hearts.

Beatrix Potter gives us Peter Rabbit. But her animal world is filled with characters who enjoy the same daily pleasures of the human world surrounding them. Tea is comforting. Tea is healing. Sharing these special times of day are important.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit  . . . by Beatrix Potter

Peter was not very well during the evening.
His mother put him to bed,
and made some chamomile tea:
‘One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time.’

Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland” offers one of the most popular fictional illustrations of the tea party. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is one of the most memorable chapters in this 1864 adventure.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland . . . by Lewis Carroll

 ”Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothin yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”

Mary Poppin’s . . . A 1964 Disney Classic

We learned to make the challenges of live a little sweeter by a change of attitude and a spoonful of sugar, “…it changes bread and water into tea and cakes…”.

Tea is special.

Tea is fun.

Teatime is a reward for a job well done.

Don’t some of these early experiences still make you smile?

I’m A Little Teapot . . . by George Sanders & Clarence Kelly

But the first tea poem we experienced as children was probably the nursery rhyme and song, “I’m A Little Teapot”, written by George Sanders and Clarence Kelly in 1939. We may take exception with the accuracy of the lyrics - we don’t boil the water in the teapot. And I’m ashamed to admit that I was an adult before I realized the fundamental problem.

What are we teaching our children?

We acted out the lyrics and became teapots to the delight of our friends with silly antics. And judging from the number of videos on YouTube, it is a favorite song for many ages. I found 250 offerings in a quick search. Click on the above image for one family’s version.

I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle [one hand on hip], here is my spout [other arm out straight]
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout
Just tip me over and pour me out!
[as song ends, lean over and tip arm out like a spout]I’m a clever teapot, yes it’s true
Here’s an example of what I can do
I can change my handle to my spout [switch arm positions and repeat tipping motion]
Just tip me over and pour me out.

With almost 5000 years of tea history that has inspired health, art and celebration, it may be relatively recent that it crept into children’s literature - just the last couple of hundred years or so - in nursery rhymes and songs.

It keeps the question - WHY - alive but still unanswered.

What is it about tea?

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