If, like me, you’ve ever dreamed of sipping mint tea in Marrakesh, enjoying a tea ceremony in Kyoto, or exchanging family stories over a cup of butter tea in Bhutan—all without leaving your armchair—the Literary Tea Passport is just your cup of tea. With International Tea Day on May 21st, I thought – why not combine my love for books, travel, and tea into one post?

So, whether you’re a tea lover, a bookworm, or both, this passport invites you to taste the world through storytelling. Grab your favorite mug, settle into a comfy nook, and let’s sip and flip through some tea-sational tales together. And do check out another amazing tea journey my blogger friend Lily Leung is taking with a series of beautiful and gentle tea paintings for the #100dayproject that have been delighting me!

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The Literary Tea Passport: 10 Stamp-Worthy Stops in Books About Travel and Tea

So this week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is all about travel, and I have done way too many posts on travel-themed books (see next section!). Which is why, I turned this around a bit to go on a literary tea journey and take you with me for the ride. I have, as always, books across age-groups and genres!

🇨🇳 Stop #1: Yunnan, China

📖 Book Stamp: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
☕ Tea To Taste: Pu’erh
📍 Passport Note: Walk the misty mountains with Li-yan, a girl from the Akha tribe, where tea isn’t just a crop—it’s a legacy. This beautiful book steeps your soul in family and tradition, and is one I talked about eons ago in another tea-filled post. (note: I still never got beyond those first few chapters, not because I didn’t like it, but life…)

🏔️ Stop #2: The Himalayas

📖 Book Stamp: Cloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet & Elspeth Graham
☕ Tea To Taste: Cloud Tea (it is really a type of tea, though the book is inspired by tales from the Himalayas)
📍 Passport Note: When her mother falls ill, a girl receives help from surprising friends. Set in the Himalayan tea gardens, this tale stirs folklore and flavor into one magical brew. I loved the artwork in the book as it transported me instantly to that ‘village nestled in the hills somewhere in India’ and the emotions and details of the characters astounded me! Plus, the story is so very hopeful and magical!

🇯🇵 Stop #3: Kyoto, Japan

📖 Book Stamp: The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo
☕ Tea To Taste: Cherry Blossom Tea maybe, or Matcha? And a side of Japanese red bean pancakes?
📍 Passport Note: This classic invites you to sit in stillness and contemplate beauty in the boil. A spiritual read that pairs best with silence and a slow sip.

🏴 Stop #4: Yorkshire Moors, England – A Brew of Secrets and Scones

📖 Book Stamp: The Little Tea Shop of Lost and Found by Trisha Ashley
☕ Tea To Taste: Cream Tea with Raspberry Jam
📍 Passport Note: When Alice returns to the windswept moors to open her dream tea shop, she hopes to find more than just the perfect recipe—she’s searching for her own story. This one is filled with the warmth of baked goods and tea!

🇬🇧 Stop #5: Winchester, England – A Spoonful of Healing

📖 Book Stamp: A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
☕ Tea To Taste: Earl Grey or Hazelnut Herbal Tea with a side of Toasted Pan de Guyaba!
📍 Passport Note: When heartbreak sends Lila from sunny Miami to gray-skied Winchester, she’s ready to pack her bags home—until tea, scones, and a certain British boy begin to mend her heart. Sweet, steeped in warmth, and a gentle reminder that sometimes tomorrow tastes a little different, but no less delicious. My thoughts here, and I recall that when I was reading this book, I was so hungry! The pan de guyaba reminded me of an Indian dessert – in concept and looks!

🏡 Stop #6: Royal Daydreams and Dress-Up Delights

📖 Book Stamp:Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser 
☕ Tea To Taste: Royal Red Berry Crush(with a splash of imagination!)
📍 Passport Note: Ruby has been invited to tea with the Queen. But first, she must learn many things – so she can be prim and proper as needed for royal-tea! As always, Robin Preiss Glasser’s charm and delight, Sarah Ferguson’s whimsical tale of dreams and lessons with a touch of humor bring us a sweet surprise.

🇺🇸 Stop #7: Virginia, USA and “Across the Pond” Too! Moody with a Spot of Tea

📖 Book Stamp: Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party by Megan McDonald  and illustrated by  Peter H. Reynolds
☕ Tea To Taste: Pink Lemonade Tea (with attitude!)
📍 Passport Note: Judy’s in a royal mood—and it’s all about tiaras, tea, and a little drama. When she tries to throw the ultimate fancy tea party for the Queen Bee (aka Grandma Lou), chaos brews, but so does a sweet surprise. Perfect for young readers who love giggles with their sips!

🇺🇸 Stop #8: Warm Wisconsin Vibes with Iced Tea

📖 Book Stamp: The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer
☕ Tea To Taste: Spicy Peach Iced Tea
📍 Passport Note: Three girls, one beloved teashop, and a heap of heart. Ideal for middle-grade readers (or nostalgic grown-ups) who like their tea with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sisterhood.

🇯🇵 Stop #9: Kyoto, Japan – East Meets West, Gently

📖 Book Stamp: Tea With Milk by Allen Say
☕ Tea To Taste: Matcha
📍 Passport Note: A young woman finds herself torn between two cultures. This poignant picture book gently steeps themes of identity and belonging in a swirl of tradition and independence.

🇬🇧 Stop #10: Around the World – One Sip at a Time

📖 Book Stamp: How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
☕ Tea To Taste: A little bit of everything from around the world!
📍 Passport Note: Tired of her royal routine, the Queen sets off in search of the perfect brew. Along the way, she discovers what really makes the best cup of tea! A delightful globe-trotting tale for young readers—and a gentle nudge to share a cup with someone new, and explore new places and things.

🧳 ✨ Ready for Your Next Sip-Stop?

So go ahead and print your passport, pick your book, steep your tea—and take off right from where you are, wherever your favorite reading nook is! As for the destinations, you already have those above, and for more travel destinations to enjoy with tea, here are many more books and/or literary destinations in my previous travel-themed bookish lists!

1. 13 Amazing Travel Books for Kids of All Ages
2. Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World
3. Go Anywhere Literally
4. Amazing Expeditions
5. Travel With the Atlas of Forgotten Places
6. Tiny Travelers Series: Picture Book Reviews
7. Have Books, Will Travel
8. Books That Inspire Travel
9. Traveling While Rooted In Earthquake Country
10. 5 Literary Landmarks in the San Francisco Bay Area
11. Reading Travel That Thrills
12. Travel Thursdays – My favorite Imaginary Places to visit

And Now, the End of This Literary Tea Post

Dear reader, which of these tea-riffic books on my literary tea journey appeal to you? Which one will you pick for your next read? And which one have you read already, or any other tea-themed books you would recommend? Do let me know