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Reverend Dr. Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832–1902) was one of the most prominent and widely followed religious leaders of his era. He was also known as a social reformer who spoke out against many of the behaviors and cultural trends he viewed as harmful, a fact reflected in the title of one of his books, The Abominations of Modern Society.

During his later years, Talmage devoted much of his attention to lecturing and writing. His sermons were widely distributed and are said to have reached an audience of approximately 25 million people, an impressive figure even by modern standards. Collections such as New Tabernacle Sermons remain available today, but it is another of his works that offers a particularly interesting connection to tea culture.

Tea Culture in Around the Tea-Table

Published in 1875, Around the Tea-Table is a substantial volume of more than 500 pages. In the book’s preface, Talmage observes that despite the busyness of everyday life, people often gathered around the tea table in the evening to share stories, conversation, and personal experiences.

Describing the book’s content, he explains that readers may imagine the chapters as conversations, observations, papers, and reflections exchanged during those tea-table gatherings. The result is a collection of nearly seventy short chapters covering a wide variety of topics.

Among the more memorable chapter titles are Wiseman, Heavyasbricks and Quizzle and The Advantage of Small Libraries. While the discussions are framed as tea-table conversations, they are not always about tea itself. Nevertheless, tea frequently makes an appearance throughout the book.

How Tea Influences Conversation

Talmage suggests that the nature of a conversation can depend greatly on the tea being served. Early in the book, he writes that guests should not be surprised if the style of discussion changes according to the tea poured by the hostess.

For example, he humorously proposes that drinking Young Hyson green tea encourages conversation that is “fresh, spirited, and sunshiny,” while Gunpowder green tea inspires more explosive exchanges in which someone’s reputation may not survive the discussion intact.

His most entertaining observations concern adulterated or low-quality tea. Talmage jokingly claims that when impure tea is served, guests inevitably begin gossiping about neighbors and misrepresenting everything they discuss. According to his tongue-in-cheek account, one unfortunate tea gathering fueled by such tea allegedly resulted in lawsuits, black eyes, and assorted social disasters.

A Pleasant Read for Tea Lovers

I readily admit that I haven’t worked my way through every page of Talmage’s lengthy volume. However, the portions I have read reveal a relaxed, engaging, and highly readable writing style. The book’s short chapter format makes it especially well suited for reading alongside a favorite cup of tea.

If you’re interested in exploring this fascinating blend of Victorian social commentary, humor, and tea-table conversation, you can find the book through public-domain sources, including Project Gutenberg’s edition of Around the Tea-Table.

See more tea history, tea culture, and commentary articles by William I. Lengeman.

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