The Way of Tea and Justice: Rescuing the World’s Favorite Beverage from Its Violent History

Episcopal priest and social entrepreneur Stevens (Snake Oil) blends theological reflection, social commentary, and personal narrative as she recounts the story of her journey to open the Thistle Stop Café. The founder of Magdalene and Thistle Farms, social enterprises that serve women recovering from trafficking and addiction, Stevens envisioned a café that would provide economic independence for employees and help tea workers earn fair wages in good conditions. She examines ethical issues in the production and trade of tea and tries to understand the role tea plays in fostering healing and community, drawing the reader into the world of tea and providing insight into its history, production, and rituals. While she finds much beauty in tea, she also explores how tea intersects with violence, colonialism, economic exploitation, and gender oppression. Throughout the book, she uses tea as a vehicle to reflect on theology and social justice. She weaves into her narrative personal stories from women she has worked with in her programs, and begins each chapter with recipes for tea so that readers can create their own blends at home. Stevens’s paeans to the significance of tea can get repetitive, but many readers will find her ruminations inspirational. (Nov.)