PSA book lovers: the second chapter of the T2 x Penguin Books collaboration has just launched.
If you're not already immersed in this unique collaboration, here's the rundown: working closely with Penguin Books we match our tea with the characters, settings, and storylines of their most-read titles.
We spoke to some of the team – Product Developer Sally, Creative Lead Matt, and Graphic Designer Tasia – to get a behind-the-scenes insight into the details and designs of the latest release.
Sally,
Product Developer
Matt,
Creative Lead
Tasia,
Graphic Designer
The inspiration behind the collaboration
What sparked the idea of working with Penguin Books?
Sally: There are a few things in this world that are destined to be together. We’ve got fish and chips, Stanley Tucci and a great pair of glasses – but no pairing is more iconic, I think you’ll agree, than Penguin Books and T2 Tea.
This is the second chapter of the collaboration, how was the reception of the first chapter?
Sally: It was special. We went pretty viral overnight, and we sold out over a couple of weeks worldwide.
First things first, what are the books we can look forward to reading from the new gift packs?
Sally: Starting with our General Fiction Gift Pack – we have chosen the iconic Little Women .
Romance Gift Pack features an author we are so excited to have on board, many of you will know her from her famous book series that was turned into a TV show – the incredible Diana Gabaldon and her series Outlander.
The gift pack includes the first book, which is huge. We couldn’t do a sci-fi gift pack without Nineteen Eighty-Four. I absolutely love this pack and know every sci-fi lover will.
The tea creation process
The collection includes a first for T2. Tell us about it.
Sally: By now, you’re used to us matching our famous teas with famous titles. We wanted to go further, so we created a brand-new product, The Little Library of Tea & Characters.
The packaging is unlike anything we’ve done before. How did you approach the design?
Tasia: It’s designed to look like a little bookshelf. The pattern on the outside is inspired by the inside of an antique novel.
Matt: As for the character illustrations you see on each book, we decided we’d approach this project as a collaboration between the two of our creative styles. That way we could capture the diversity of characters and their unique traits.
Tasia: We experimented with a lot of different paint brushes and styles to really capture the nature of each one.
The characters are all so unique, who were some of the stand outs?
Morning Sunshine
With Jo March
Tasia: Jo March. I loved the film adaptation, but I really wanted to stick true to the novel itself. She was such a tricky character to nail, but I hope we captured the characters depicted in the original books.
Scots Breakfast
With Lady Macbeth
Matt: Lady MacBeth. She’s such an awesome character and I didn’t want to make her look too evil. So, the illustration is almost anime looking but there’s a sly look in her eye along with her famously blood-covered hands.
Lemongrass & Ginger
With Jay Gatsby
Matt: Also, Jay Gatsby. I didn’t want to draw Leonardo DiCaprio, so I turned to the influences of 1960’s fashion illustration. So that’s why he has the full-on puffed-up collar – very dapper!
Our recommendations
Now for the hardest question. What’s your favourite product?
Sally: They’re all my favourites, but I must give a shout out to Jane Austen’s Breakfast Tea and Charles Dicken’s Baked Apples. We created two beautiful new teas based on the favourite foods of some of our favourite authors. The packaging looks just like a keepsake hardback novel. You can imagine yourself storing things in here for many years to come. Gift it or keep it for yourself – we all do.
