When times are tough a nice hot cuppa is often our first port of call. But in these poems, tea drinking is a far more varied and entertaining activity than this; the intimacy of sharing a pot is a prompt for all manner of surprising conversations and revelations. These ten poems also celebrate quiet moments alone with a lovingly prepared cup of tea. In one poem an almond blossom tea is a gentle reminder of all there is to be grateful for after a serious illness which: “… seems, honestly, a trifle now that steam and scent and strength and steep and infusion say thank you thank you thank you for the then, and now” from ‘Procedure’ by Jo Shapcott. Ten Poems about Tea is for all tea drinkers, be they Earl Grey or English Breakfast, cup or mug. We hope you’ll enjoy the poems with a cuppa made with your very favourite leaves. Poems by John Agard, John Arlott, Tiffany Atkinson, John Betjeman, Eavan Boland, Sheila Hackney, Thomas Hardy, Kenny Knight, Michael Longley and Jo Shapcott.