Oh man. This was such a delight. It focuses on family and how traditions are passed down and how sometimes, we don't want to hurt the people we love, but we do unintentionally because we don't want to speak up. But it shows how important communication is! Both of them needed to communicate better to not only understand the situation, but understand each other and their family as a whole. Ugh, this was just so sweet and endearing. I loved it so much.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is so bitter and sweet. The grandmother is trying to show her love by giving her granddaughter a family tradition of bitter tea but the poor girl hates it. She tries to hide that she's not drinking it but her grandmother finds out and she breaks into tears. All turns out ok though as the grandmother remembers being a girl and not liking the bitter taste too so she adds rock candy.

Bitter Tea and Rock Candy is a sweet and heartwarming story about a grandmother and granddaughter connecting through a traditional tea and through their shared experiences as little girls. The writing is clear and straightforward, and the audiobook narrator does an excellent job differentiating between the voices of the little girl and grandmother, as well as the narration voice.

Bitter Tea and Rock Candy is a tender story celebrating the loving bond between grandmother and grandchild. The MC, Mimi learns that even the bitterest tea can taste sweet when it’s made with love. I thought the narrator was a good fit for the work. The book was focused and just the right length, but also left me wanting more--more of the world inhabited by Mimi and her grandma, and how they learn from one another. While this was specific to Chinese culture, this is a universal theme.

Thank you to #netgalley, #MacmillanAudio, and #YanGu for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Bitter Tea and Rock Candy is a sweet story of a close relationship between grandparent and grandchild, centered around a family tradition of sipping liangcha tea. Mimi, Waipo's granddaughter, is not impressed with her tea and finds it quite bitter. Her sneaky antics for getting rid of the tea provide readers a relatable situation they can connect with no matter their cultural background. Waipo eventually remembers her secret for making the tea tolerable when she was young and passes this along to Mimi, bringing this shared tradition to a sweeter, more tolerable place while drawing grandma and granddaughter to smiles and togetherness.

I especially loved how the book balances difficult moments with reflections of love, tradition, and connection. Life’s “bitter tea” is met with the sweetness of “rock candy,” reminding us (even adults) that joy and pain often sit side by side. The details of family, culture, and place allow the reader to feel the warmth of the story while getting a glimpse into a different culture.

I thoroughly enjoyed the voice of the narrator and the orchestra in the background that added drama, tension, and joy to the story in just the right moments. I recommend this story to children, teachers, and especially grandparents.

Looking for books for my nephew. This was a cute little story and I’m glad the grandma remembered she didn’t like it and did something that make Mimi change her mind

Beautiful story of family traditions about Mimi who does not like the tea her grandmother makes her and finds different ways to dispose of it each day. We switch to see her Waipo making the tea and learn she's added a special ingredient to it. Beautiful story and very heartwarming.

This short audiobook teaches us to talk things out and to be honest about our feelings. When Mimi finally tells Waipo that the tea is too bitter, Waipo introduces a new ingredient which solves the problem. I love that such a brief story conveys not only an important life lesson but also exposes young children to a multicultural tradition!

Bitter Tea and Rock Candy (Hardcover)
by Yan Gu
the story of a young girl learning her families traditions and cultural practices.
this is another multicultural book to have connections to family and traditions.

**Review of *Bitter Tea and Rock Candy* by Yan Gu (Macmillan Audio / Goodreads ARC):** A heartfelt intergenerational vignette, this story follows a granddaughter who resists drinking her grandmother’s liangcha tea—bothered by its bitter taste and earthy aroma—until she learns her grandmother once felt the same and is gently introduced to another part of their family ritual. The audiobook narration is brisk and pleasant, but I felt the sensory richness and cultural imagery might shine more vividly in the print edition. Still, it’s a sweet, tender reflection on tradition, inherited memory, and the bonds that flavor family life.

Bitter Tea and Rock Candy, written by Yan Gu and narrated by Katharine Chin is a sweet picture book about young Mimi, who is a picky eater. Mimi’s Waipo, or Grandmother, loves liangcha, and wants Mimi to love it too. But Mimi doesn’t like it, or understand why Waipo thinks it is so important. But as the week progresses, Mimi and Waipo begin to understand the real ingredients in liangcha, and the importance of a little bit of sweetness too!

I really enjoyed this book, and the way that both characters learned something, and were able to grow together and show each other their love. I think that this would be a wonderful book for children to learn about family traditions, and would also be a great one for children to share with their families.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.