Curiosi-tea listed in the top ten books of 2009
"Everything about this book is an exuberant bit of fun, gorgeously produced and also full of fascinating information. It is a total work of art, and of course even the author's name is an invention, the tea plant being part of the Camellia family. This really is a laugh out loud book, with tongue-in-cheek poetry, funny illustrations, and three narrators, one of them an avatar. There's also some important warnings to tea enthusiasts, like don't make tea from the highly toxic Angel's Trumpet! A perfect gift - if you're able to part with it!"

"A tea-riffic book! A quali-tea effort"

"Informative yet light-hearted. A book to read with a smile and a cup of the finest"

"Here’s cheers to tea’s cha-rm: You don’t have to be a tea aficionado to enjoy Camellia Cha’s book on the subject. A roving history of tea’s takeover of the world’s café’s, kitchens and boardrooms, Curiosi-tea is part scientific exploration, part historical narrative, part political thriller and part Epicurean indulgence. And thanks to Cha’s unique take on the world, it’s a fascinating ride. Set out in bite-sized chapters, this is a book you can dip into, a cup of tea in hand, at any point. However, readers should be aware that, like me, you might choose a chapter that takes your fancy and then find yourself burning the midnight oil reading it from cover to cover."

Jo Winterbottom, The Mail newspaper, Mornington, March 3, 2010
Read the full review

"Curiosi-tea by the delightful Camilia Cha and friends is possibly the most entertaining tea book in existence and an extremely informative one at that. Full of juicy gossip and insightful information, reading Curiosi-tea is like sitting down with a fascinating old friend for a cuppa and a long afternoon catch-up in the sunshine..."

"People who pun demonstrate a love of language that is playful rather than pedantic and this author clearly loves playing with language. Curiosi-tea is a punsters guide through the marvelous world of tea. Both serious and silly, its content ranges from poetry and cartoons to discussions of the cultural and political developments of the tea trade. Among my favorite chapters were those on the varieties of tea and its processing, of which, as a hardened coffee drinker, I knew little, the brief sojourn into the history of tea and indigenous land rights with reference to Vincent Lingiari and Gough Whitlam and the hilarious chapter on the sexual innuendos of the language of tea drinking. Other chapters include information on the etymology of tea, Queen Victoria's fear of drinking tea, the role of the tea-break in the industrial revolution and the use of the folk song Waltzing Matilda as a marketing tool for Billy Tea. Written in three distinct voices, the text maintains a chatty and entertaining style whilst simultaneously providing serious or amusing information that is both quirky and interesting. In addition to being well researched, the book is beautifully designed with a large number of illustrations by the author. Probably as much as any serious tea drinker needs to know can be found here but even if you are a coffee drinker you will enjoy this book. However, be warned you may find that you develop an irresistible desire to take up tea drinking."

旅する音楽家にして現代の文人、アン・ノーマンさんの本は、彼女の学徒としての誠実さ、学識の深さ、自由闊達な精神、大胆なユーモア、繊細な美意識、それらすべてのバランス、その絶妙なブレンドの味です。

"This book by travelling musician and modern-day literati, Anne Norman, superbly blends a depth of scholarship with audacious humour; a complete balance of her sincere quest for knowledge, her free and openhearted spirit and her subtle sense of the aesthetic."

"This is the best tea table book! You actually get something funny and true each time you dip into it. It's like a 'Coles Funny Picture Book' for grownups. Try the Spirituali-tea page for starters."

"Love the book... As all is interconnected, you can pick a subject, in this case tea, and spin out in any direction and enjoy a multitude of discoveries, all written with humour and a light touch masking a deep and hidden scholarship. A fantastic achievement"

"What a fun book! I've been enjoying a random reading of it. Your tea snippets are so entertaining and enlightening at the same time. I'm happy and proud that Issa has a little corner in it. Take care, and thanks!"

"Really entertaining."

"This book is so awesome and it became my favorite book. What's awesome is that it is not only about tea ceremony or Japanese green tea. I read half the pages of your book already. So much effort, experience and study!!! すごい！"
尺八奏者Anne Norman　さんがお茶についての本をだしました。その表紙を担当しました。 英語ですが、とても勉強になります!!お茶の起源や、全世界のお茶にまつわる物語などをユーモア交えて詳しく説明した今までにない本です。お茶の語源や、お茶のルーツに興味がある方は是非この本を読んでください！！オーストラリア各書店、イギリス、アメリカの書店に置いております。

"Nima and I are thoroughly enjoying your book... In addition to the contents, I'm amazed at the layout - colours, fonts, drawings, printing on the angle and Chinese and Japanese characters - truly phenomenal and most impressive. I've even learned something about American history. The fact that the ships in Boston harbour were owned by the East India Company doesn't seem to get a mention or be significant information for Americans. Being simply English ships were good enough for us I guess..."

"I just LOVE the book. You are so clever... it looks fantastic - and fascinating - and funny. A triple f rating! "

"Thanks for coming down and residing in Chado for two days. You added a lot of life to the place with your creativity. You're an impressive person, lots of different talents and knowledge. I enjoyed jamming as well. "

"It was so exciting to receive the books yesterday. I really love it and I have read half of it. I like those cartoon pictures. It contains a lot of knowledge about tea as well as interesting anecdotes and rhyme words which sounds beautiful. You really know a lot about tea and it will be popular. And the book is also the result of your hard working. I think many people will like to read it. "

"The box has arrived! Congratulations again on getting Curiosi-tea published! I love the way the book looks! Great job! I actually opened the box at the apartment office and the management person immediately expressed interest in purchasing a copy! "

"An excellent read Camellia, packed full of delightful morsels of history, facts and figures, tales of lust and debauchery. Thank you for that Thea, your lubrici-tea surely must make you the reigning goddess in the fertili-tea pantheon. My big take from this book is I can now make a cuppa O'Cha with out destroying its value and flavour."

"Can I just say that I love the book? I had expected it to be one of those little cute things you find in the "gifts" section in book stores, just pretty pictures. I was impressed to see the history of tea and so much more - in addition to pretty pictures!"

"What a fantastic book! I never thought tea could be written about in such a way. I received the copy in the office and showed it to my colleagues, they were instantly drawn to it and laughed all the way as they flipped through the pages, surprised and delighted by the whole design of the book and the wittiness in the writing. I think you won two customers right there and then. The book is simply delightful and we are talking about using parts of it to teach some classes when appropriate. Congratulations on such a great success, I am sure it will get a lot of attention. "

Gough Whitlam   21st Prime Minister of Australia

A fast paced, book, cleverly combining and

Online Reviews