I am a late-in-life tea drinker.
It was about a year ago that I actually (finally) started to enjoy the taste of hot tea. Since I have never been a coffee drinker (love the smell; hate the taste) I am thrilled to finally have a hot liquid I can so happily imbibe. I have settled on green tea (with orange passion fruit and jasmine) to which I add organic cider vinegar and honey. I make a cup as soon as I get up, which is usually around 4:45 a.m. (That early in the morning, I figure a little caffeine is a very good thing.)
I carry my cup of tea into the living room where I read the Bible, accompanied by my furry sidekick, Summer. She is of the opinion that I am incurably incapable of doing anything of any merit without her invaluable assistance.
Here she is, waiting to be lifted up into our chair so that she can “help” me read the Bible.
So nice to have her peaceful companionship early in the morning.
One day last week, Summer and I were hanging out together in the kitchen waiting for the tea water to heat and I started reading the back of the tea box to entertain myself. I was just a little alarmed to discover that I had been doing my tea stuff all wrong. According to my Official Lipton Box, I am supposed to be pouring the water over the tea bag instead of putting the tea bag into the water.
Who knew?
Then Steve recently told me that he likes to heat his water at least three minutes in the microwave and I realized I was only heating my water two minutes. And he also said that he likes to put a saucer over the cup while the tea is steeping so as not to lose any of the heat. And he steeps his about four minutes and I only steep mine two minutes.
I never knew there were so many variables to preparing hot tea.
Now you have to understand something. If I am a tea neophyte, then Steve is the consummate tea professional. He doesn’t just love drinking it, he loves the whole comforting, familiar ritual of making it. (And he would NEVER put vinegar and honey in his tea; he just adds a little milk.)
Since our recent tea conversations, it has occurred to me that if there are so many tea differences between just him and me, then there must be many, many differences between all the other tea drinkers in the world.
And since one of the many benefits of having a blog is that I have wonderful people I can ask about things like this . . . I’m asking!
What are your feelings about hot tea? Love it? Hate it? Indifferent?
Do you have a certain flavor you prefer?
Do you have any tips for preparing it? (For instance, do you pour the water over the tea bag or dunk the bag in the water? And does it really make a difference?)
How long do you steep it?
What do you add do it?
Are you a fan of tea bags or loose tea? Does loose tea affect the flavor?
Lastly, does drinking tea have any special memories for you? Did you have a cup with your grandma every night when your were younger? Do you and your spouse start each morning together with a cup? What are your tea memories?
Since I am most definitely a tea neophyte, I would be grateful to hear from people who have been drinking it a long time and have lots of tea wisdom to offer. I’m ready and eager to apply that knowledge to those peaceful, tea-drinking morning hours of my life.
Becky,
What fun memories this has brought back. I too, do not like the taste of coffee and so my grandmother introduced me to hot tea when I was younger. In college I would use loose tea and steep in my tea set while I studied for my classes. Today my choice of hot tea is English Breakfast tea. Thanks for all this ideas for me to try.
I am going to find the chocolate tea for sure!
Karen,
Yep, you and I both are going to be on the hunt for that chocolate tea. I can’t quite imagine what it would taste like but I am more than willing to give it a try!
Glad you enjoyed all the memories that have been shared.
What a fun conversation!
I don’t enjoy coffee unless it contains so much sugar/milk/toppings/flavoring that it really isn’t coffee any longer, so I usually go for tea. Or at least, that was true until December, when I made a bet with my sister-in-law… we both consume way too much sugary drink, so the first person to drink soda or sugar-sweetened tea/coffee has to buy the wine on our next trip 😉 . Honey is permitted, though, so I could try that. Have to admit, though, the vinegar concept made me shudder!
Normally, I like my tea with two teaspoons of sugar, and sometimes a little milk. I studied in England for three months, which is when I first started drinking tea, and it always, always had milk in it. I actually prefer loose tea, but I haven’t found a system for loose tea that manages to both (a) be convenient/easy, and (b) restrain the tea leaves from getting into my mouth (which is gross). And so I usually just use regular tea bags. I don’t have a teabag first / water first preference (this sounds like the chicken/egg conundrum), and I steep it either until it smells about right, or until I remember that I have a teabag soaking in tea that is by that point way too strong.
The only thing I do have a strong opinion about is flavor. Although I like many kinds of tea, the best kind is leagues beyond any others – I love, love, love Orange tea. You can get it as a black tea, which is my absolute favorite, or as an herbal tea, which is also delicious. The other, non-orange-flavor, kind of tea that I really like is called African Autumn; it’s made by Harney and Sons and is pretty pricey, as tea goes… so it’s a ‘special occasion’ tea, if you will, or at least one I use very sparingly.
Mmmmmm… I think I’ll go make myself a cup of tea!!
Kristina,
Yep, England would be a wonderful place to start drinking tea–if anyone can “do” tea, the English can!
I agree about orange tea; it’s basically all I’ve drunk for the past year although after reading everyone’s comments on this post, I’m thinking about being just a little adventurous and branching out some more.
And I don’t know what “African Autumn” tea tastes like but I LOVE that name! I never picture Africa even having an autumn season so it’s a fascinating word picture. (And you know how I love words!)
Thanks for sharing your tea stories with us!
My tea time memories go back to about 1961. Our family lived in England; dad was stationed there with the USAF. The family visited London when I was four to watch a play, Peter Pan. I still remember being enchanted by the story, the sets, the characters. And intermission. If they wished, audience could remain in their seats while waiters passed tea service trays down the Rows. Each person could add milk and sugar to their cup according to their taste. Next came trays filled with little tea cakes about an inch cubed. Delightful. While I tend to drink
More coffee than tea, tea is for me, a comfort drink. Cozy and happy with sweet memories. Oh and did I mention that the tea cakes were frosted?
Steve,
I’ve always loved that story. I can’t even imagine the elegance of attending a play with tea and cakes served at the intermission!
You’ve been deprived, Becky! This is a complete & utter travesty! What made you try that first cup of tea; how were you hooked?
As outrageous as it sounds & as crazy y’all may find me I’d take hot tea over any other hot beverage; including those w/ alcohol or chocolate!
Personally, I enjoy drinking a steaming cup of hot tea, plain! It allows the flavor to come through beautifully w/out being distracted by all the “stuff!”
If I’m not using loose tea (my brother turned me on to tea into this form ) I use K-cups! And lose tea; I order some delicious flavors from an online store!
I put my tea bag or lose tea; the lose tea goes into a lose tea holder thingy into my cup and pour my hot water into/over my tea! I allow it to steep for 3-4 minutes with something over the top so the liquid gold maintains its heat! When using a K-cup it’s ready immediately!
As long as it’s CAFENE FREE; cinnamon, lemon, peach & camomile are a few of the many flavors that I enjoy!
When I’m under the weather I might add a tsp. of honey into my tea cup!
I’m not a fan of sweets or chocolate, etc., but sometimes (thrice yearly) I’ll dip a shortbread cookie; like the ones that the Girl Scouts used to sell (blue box I think) into the hot liquid.
Drinking tea makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside (pun not intended) because I’ve shared many cups of tea w/ my brother! Also, some days I forgo my morning and/or evening tea because it makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside to the point I’m overwhelmed w/ sadness because I’m no longer able to share that hot cup of wonderful w/ my brother!
Because I’m either on TPN or ENTERAL feeds around the clock I take very little by mouth daily! Despite that little problem I’ll try to sip a bit from my 10-12 oz. mugs!
I love this post! The whole Smithellanous Family should plan to have a spot of tea together one morning! Maybe Thursday & 8am CST? I know it sounds silly, but it might be fun in a ridiculous way!
How are you feeling, Becky? When are they doing labs? I think you said two weeks! I sure hope your platelets come back up because going off all your meds and adding them back, one at a time; slowly, would not be fun AT ALL! But as long as you’re okay & it’s nothing serious that’s all that matters! I know it’s scary! My labs are still not back to my baseline after almost two weeks in the hospital in November! I still get scared waiting for the call every Tuesday afternoon for my weekly lab results (thankfully via a PICC)!
Much love,
Jodi
Jodi,
So sweet that you have tea-drinking memories with your brother and so sad that drinking tea reminds me you of what you’ve lost. I think what’s amazed me about many of the Tea Stories shared here is that tea is so replete with emotions and experiences and memories; it’s not “just a drink.”
I started drinking green tea because I heard it was healthy; after reading some of the comments (like yours) I’m going to branch out and try some other flavors. They sound wonderful!
I’l have my platelets checked later in the week and we’ll see where we’re at. The current medication regimen doesn’t seem to be doing a lot for me so I’m hoping maybe there’s something else we can try.
And yes, I’ll be glad to have tea with you Thursday at 8 am! (Along with anyone else who wants to join us.) 🙂
Becky
I would love to join a Smithellaneous tea time!! Unfortunately 8 a.m. CST time is 5 a.m. for me, and even on my best day I’m not likely to be quietly drinking tea at 5 in the morning. I’m a night owl.
Maybe I’ll shoot for 8 a.m. my time, and it can be like one continuous chronological tea party!
Kristina,
Love that. Continuous chronological tea party!
I like tea as well, especially with a slice of buttered toast with peanut butter on it. I like it with Hazelnut creamer and Z-Sweet sweetener. More natural than Splenda. I would like to find a Hazelnut creamer with out the artificial sweetener in it. I am trying to go all Z-Sweet. I drink regular Lipton when I drink it, but I do the caffeine free when I drink it at night. By the way, my hubby says you shouldn’t squeeze tea bag as it makes it bitter, but I am a squeezer. I have a tea kettle, but always make mine in the microwave. I have a canister of flavored tea bags that I have had for years. Does it go bad? I do like the flavored teas, but still use creamer and sweetener in them. When I make a pitcher of iced tea, I use a one quart saucepan, fill it with water. I place the tea bags in the water while the water is cold. Bring the water just to a boil. Remove from the burner and let seep for a few minutes. Remove the tea bags. For a 2 quart pitcher, I use 3 tea bags, and for a gallon pitcher I use 6 tea bags. I place the sugar or sweetener in the pitcher. After the tea has steep, pour the hot tea in the pitcher and stir to dissolve the sugar or sweetener. Fill the rest with cold water and chill or pour immediately over ice. Enjoyed reading the posts, Becky.
Linda,
I know–hasn’t it been so much fun hearing everyone else’s stories and expertise? I love it! Thanks for joining in!
We love Kericho Gold tea from Kenya (available on Amazon). We started drinking it when we were there last summer, and love the robust flavor. In Africa, I drink it with a teaspoon of sugar and hot milk. Here, that’s not as practical, so either with child milk and sugar or just a little raw honey.
Gordondesigns,
I just love the name of the tea without even tasting it. How exotic is that?
Becky,
I’ll send a sleeve over to you! It’s a robust black. We love it!
I enjoy both coffee and tea but tea has a special comforting appeal to me. I may be because that was the nice, warm liquid my mom would give us when we were sick. Depending on the sickness, it would either contain a little sugar or a little milk or a thinly sliced piece of lemon. My favorite flavors are Lemon Lift or Raspberry Royale. However, I still enjoy a good bag of Lipton tea with a thinly slice piece of lemon floating in it. Reminds me of mom. My girls used to sit around the dining room table after a big dinner and enjoy a cup of tea. I have many English ancestors in my family and I NEVER brewed, steeped or drank my tea properly, in their eyes. My maiden name was Cole, as in “Old King.” Oh well, I enjoy it my way. Glad you have come to appreciate the wonderfulness of tea. Also, I love iced tea – with lemon, of course, no sugar.
Mary,
I love that so many of your memories of your mom and your younger days are connected with tea drinking. So sweet!
Try looking up how to make a cup of English tea. It is very interesting how many different ways there are to steep a cup of tea.
Marsha,
I am downright AMAZED at the various methods of making tea. Who knew it could be so complicated and so different from person to person and even from culture to culture? I’m finding out through this post that tea is a very personal thing!
I do not really strain twice, the first is something that goes into the teapot (I guess that part was “lost in translation”) and the whole thing, including tealeaves, is lifted out and put aside when the tea’s finished.
As for loose tea: well, what goes into that is a higher quality than what goes into tea bags. So, it tastes better. Never would have thought so myself, until one day the grocery store was out of tea bags and just had the loose stuff, so I had to get that. Never went back to bags.
And black tea is a good supplement for respiratory dieseases, it’s bronchodilatative, so aids a little and it will certainly not hurt, so why not get a little extra help.
(I do not think I have to tell anyone that herbal remedies are not a substitute for conventional medicines, just sayin’ to be on the side of caution.)
best wishes Nadine from Germany
Nadine,
Okay–I’m following you better on the loose tea leaves subject. Glad it doesn’t require a whole bunch of extra straining. Life is complicated enough! 🙂
I love tea too. It’s so soothing. My comfort drink. I usually have caffeinated tea in the morning. Often green tea. Sometimes I make tea before I get in the shower, and then have it waiting for me to enjoy on the bathroom counter as I get ready for the day. In the evening I stick to herbal teas. Lately ginger is a favorite. I like the Yogi tea bags that all have quotes on them. Have you had Yogi tea?
Anonymous,
I have never even heard of Yogi tea but I’m all for any sort of product that has quotes on it!
I don’t drink tea or coffee, although I love the smell of coffee like you do. What does ‘steep’ mean?
Lesley,
Steeping is to let the tea sit in water for a few minutes so that the water becomes flavored by the tea. Some people steep tea long; some steep it shorter. And that’s the extent of my knowledge! 🙂
Black tea with sugar and mint in it. The way they make it in Jordan and Palestine. YUMMY. The mint is fresh, of course. Some folks in Jordan and Palestine put sage in it, but I prefer mint. And the sugar makes it even better. Oh, and yeah, it is caffeinated, so I can’t drink it at night. YUM.
I also do like red zinger tea, or rose hip tea. Yep, and sweetened. I’ve been drinking it for a long time, but I’m not a frequent tea drinker unless I’m with my beloved Arab friends – then I drink it as often as I can. 🙂
Oh, and as far as microwave vs boiling – I always boil it on the stove top. For the longest time I always had a tea pot to boil it water in, but now I have a pint sized turkish coffee pot – which is perfect for boiling water in – and making tea in. There is something about the ritual of using water that boils on the stove top vs the microwave that I love.
Also – why the vinegar? That I’ve never heard of doing either. 🙂
Brooke,
Having tea with Arab friends sounds like a wonderful thing to do! I add vinegar because it’s very healthy and I also love the “bite” it adds to the flavor of the tea.
I could probably live strictly off tea, especially green tea. I have at least one cup every day, often up to six…big cups…Pretty much the only thing I drink is lots and lots of tea!
However, I am in Canada, and here, we do not microwave the water, we boil it in a kettle. I always pour the water over the tea bag, and I typically steep my tea a long time-called until it is ready to drink! We don’t just have a tea shelf, we have a tea cupboard…Of three shelves. I figure we have some forty varieties of tea.
As for memories. Well, my family is a tea drinking family. My mom’s favourite tea mug is one that I couldn’t bear to use, so it is on display. Marvin the Martian-used only for black tea. I fell into drinking green tea during my second year of university when she got sick. Since then, it has been a daily thing except for three days after I got my wisdom teeth out. Those three days were torture! Not because of pain, as I really didn’t have much, but because I could only play my flute in short spurts, and because I wasn’t allowed to drink hot liquids.
MusicGirl,
Isn’t it amazing how tea has a way of becoming such a part of our lives, our routines, even our family history? And I love the fact that you have a tea cupboard, not just a tea shelf. Made me smile!
I, too, like the smell of coffee but not the taste. All I do is put a black tea bag in my 12 oz microwavable, portable travel mug add water, microwve for 1 1/2 mins and go. I also like plain black tea iced tea that I make in my iced tea maker. Nothing fussy foir me 🙂
Michele,
“Nothing fussy” is a nice way to go! Glad to meet another non coffee drinker! 🙂
I start my day with two cups of coffee (and reading the Bible). If I want a cuppa (as my Scottish penpals call it), I have it in the afternoon. However, I imagine true tea lovers would gasp at my way of brewing.
I put a tea bag of either Earl Grey or Vanilla Rum in the basket of my Mr. Coffee, add one packet of Sweet n’ Low, and then pour two cups of water in… and push the on button. But, I do put the milk in the mug (not teacup) before adding the tea. I actually have a lovely collection of teapots that I enjoying seeing, although they are seldom used as intended.
For iced tea I like to make sun tea with raspberry tea.
Mrs. Pam,
I love the idea of making iced tea with raspberry tea. Even though I don’t drink iced tea, I try to have some on hand when entertaining. Raspberry sounds delicious!
But you’re a Southerner!! I thought iced tea was almost a prerequisite!
I’m from Eastern Canada, and we are quite serious about our tea, too. I agree with anonymous from Ireland’s preparation method, except that we always put the milk in the tea cup/mug (which must be bone china) before the tea is poured in.
One interesting thing here is that almost everyone uses an electric kettle to boil water rather than a stove top one. When I lived in the US years ago, I could not find an electric kettle to buy anywhere. I hope that has changed: they’re so efficient!
I don’t think I would ever consider using a microwave, but if you do, the water must be boiling when you pour it over the teabag, except in the case of green tea where the water only needs to be about 89 degrees, as I understand it.
The ritual of making tea in a teapot is one of the great joys of the process. You should give it a try!
Margaret,
i think all of you teapot users are giving me the incentive to try that method instead of the microwave! I just looked at Amazon and it looks as though they have a lot of electric tea kettles at reasonable prices.
Hi Margaret –
It has indeed changed, much to my great joy! Electric kettles are readily available, both online and in stores, and they are the most wonderful invention since… well, possibly ever. I don’t even have a microwave, but I would be lost without my electric kettle.
Tea, oh how I love it, never go a day without one pot of it. Have been a tea drinker basically all my life, starting with the obvious fennel infusions (still love these with a bit of honey). I pretty much like all teas and infusions (except for these artificially flavored ones, like strawberry or vanilla). My favorite, though, is Twining’s Earl Grey Tea. Drink it (almost) every day in the evening (like: right now).
My preparation is as follows:
1. Set the water to a boil.
2. Measure the loose tea into the strainer of the tea pot. (1 teaspoon per mug, plus one extra.)
3. Pour the boiling water over the tea (pouring over the tea adds flavor) and let steep for five minutes (I like it strong).
4. Remove the strainer and strain the bits that have escaped the pot’s strainer through a finer one.
5. Add some sugar and milk.
I never heared of vinegar in tea before, I have to admit.
Also, one aspect of this hot beverage I love so much is even a medical one: the theophylline in black tea is a natural remedy for respiratory disease like COPD (interesting for you?) and asthma. And, from my own experience, I can say: I feel the difference when I didn’t have tea for a couple of days, not significant, but noticeable.
All the best to you and yours!
best wishes Nadine from Germany
Nadine,
Ok. I have to admit that the thought of having to strain tea twice to get out the escaping bits overwhelms me a bit. 🙂 I’m sort of hooked on my easy-to-use tea bags! But I think the loose tea gives more flavor–is that correct?
Interesting about the black tea being good for COPD. I’ll have to buy a box!
Dearest Becky,
As I sit here and type to you I am drinking my first cup of tea of the day – Irish breakfast, tea leaves only, made in a pre warmed tea pot, which is then poured into a (winter months only) pre warmed cup, one sugar and milk added last (though my mother would died of the horror of the milk not being added first). The first cup never touches the sides so is followed closely by a second cup.
I love my tea 🙂
Love from Bec in Sydney
Bec,
Yes, I do get the feeling you love your tea from your description of your routine in making it. 🙂 It’s funny how many tea drinkers feel that the ritual of making the tea is as comforting as drinking the tea. I love that!
I began drinking tea on a trip to England ten years ago. I don’t drink it all the time, but when I do, it’s always the same way; black tea, preferable English Breakfast, with a little milk and sugar. Can’t stand it any other way, or any other type of tea.
Megan,
A trip to England would be the absolutely perfect time to start drinking tea! 🙂
Ever since we traveled in England, the only way I can enjoy tea is to brew it the “correct way” as the Brits would say. That means boiling water in a kettle, warming a tea pot with hot water and discarding it, and then pouring the boiling water over tea bags or loose tea in a teapot. Let steep for at least four minutes, remove tea bags (or pour out through a tea strainer if loose) and pour yourself a delicious brew. So much better than water heated in the microwave! Cover the teapot with a tea cosy and the tea stays warm for a second cup. I’ve made myself thirsty for a cuppa myself! I like a little milk (not cream) with my English Breakfast tea.
Liz,
I’ve never even seen a “tea cosy” but I love the very sound of the words. Sounds like you’ve got your tea routine down pat!
Hi Becky! Sorry it’s been a while since I last posted a comment. I’ve been here, just not much to say (rare, I know!!) Anywho, I was raised by my grandparents and great-aunt in the 50’s and 60’s. Hot tea and toast was what you got when you were sick. Didn’t matter if it was a cold, stomach ache or ingrown toenail…….hot tea and toast was the remedy! My great-aunt Alma was a huge believer that a spoonful of sugar could take care of anything so my tea was super-sweet in the little china cup! I still drink tea today, tried to get my kids to drink it when they were little but it didn’t stick. I drink Lipton Green Tea as my “daily drink”, but still go to the tea kettle and big mug for hot tea and toast when I’m feeling puny. Have a great day!
Linda,
Tea and toast. Sounds like the repast of people in an English novel. 🙂
I love the picture of you as a child drinking your tea from a little china cup. I know those are special memories.
Here in Ireland we take tea drinking very seriously. I’m not a tea drinker but when making it for visitors I have to make it following strict guidelines. Tea bags or loose tea can be used. The kettle must be filled with fresh water and boiled, the teapot has be heated by rinsing in boiling water, then the tea can be added, then the freshly boiled water. It must be left for a couple of minutes at least. More depending on who you’re making it for. Then poured into the cup and milk added. Some people insist on the milk being added first. My mother in law will only drink it from a bone china mug or cup except when she has absolutely no other choice.
Adding a teabag to a mug of water heated in the microwave would lead to me being disowned from the family.
My own family would be as fussy, they always complain that I don’t make good tea because I don’t drink it, at this stage it’s more of a running joke as if it was that bad they’d drink coffee or make it themselves.
Here tea is the cure for everything.
Enjoy your tea however it’s made.
I should have read this comment before making mine, as this is spot on! I also drink Irish Breakfast tea.
Liz,
“Spot on” is a nice British phrase which goes well with a tea drinking post. 🙂
Anonymous,
Loved your stories! And it’s a good thing I’m not in your family or I would be disowned already! 🙂 It’s funny that they complain about your tea but still drink it–it must taste pretty good, after all!
I enjoyed the peak into Irish tea rituals!
First off I love the typewriter in the picture. I have always liked tea on occassion but now I drink it on an almost daily basis. I like my hot tea to taste like a good southern sweet tea just hot. I steep for two minutes and I am a dunker. I also never even thought to heat my water in the microwave I do mine in a tea pot on the stove. Totally agree with you on the coffee thing unless it is a white chocolate mocha with two extra shots from starbuck by the time I am done with it it doesn’t taste much like coffee anymore. I think you get up way to early I don’t like rising before nine. Anyway have a happy valentines day.
Ann,
Glad you like the typewriter; it’s one of my favorite things. I saw it at a thrift store but it was too expensive for my thrift-y tastes. Later that day, my husband went back and bought it and then hid it till Christmas and gave it to me then.
White chocolate mocha sounds good to me! 🙂
I am a tea snob! Most of my tea comes from Upton Tea Importers (look ’em up online) and I’m partial to Chinese green teas though sometimes I get the lighter Japanese teas.
I use bags at work for ease of use (180 degrees, 1 minute steep for Japanese and up to a 3 minute steep for Chinese) but at home I use loose leaf. It’s messier but feels more authentic. I don’t add anything to green tea, but if I’m drinking black tea I add a tiny bit of honey. My college-student son requests tea in all of his care packages. He’s partial to Irish Breakfast Tea. He refuses to use tea bags because his mama raised him properly!
I love coffee as well, but limit it because of the caffeine. I prefer that in a french press with just a little cream.
Jen,
I think it’s cool that your college son likes tea as much as you do. I bet he’s one of the few students who requests tea in a care package! As you said–you raised him right! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your tea-experience; I found it quite fascinating.
Hi Becky,
As a veteran UK based tea drinker (nothing better than afternoon tea, morning, noon and night), I’d like to add my two-pence worth.
In the UK, whilst we have many flavours of tea, most of us tend to stick with traditional English breakfast or similar – at work we drink Typhoo tea and at home I drink either PG Tips or a special brand called Thompsons. My mother-in-law always buys me Thompsons tea bags and when we lived with her last year, we drank many a cup together.
At work we probably drink far too much tea than is advised and we all have the traditional English variety. The process is as follows:
1. Boil kettle.
2. Add one tea bag and a sweetener (the non-aspartame variety) to cup (sweetener/sugar optional)
3. Pour water over bag and leave to stew (a nicer word would be “infuse”)
>don’t leave bag for too long as otherwise the tea is too strong<
4. Remove tea bag and squeeze into the side of the mug to ensure as much flavour is extracted as possible.
5. Pour in approx 2 tablespoons milk and stir.
Voila! The perfect tea!
When i visited Belarus, I came home with a box of strawberry green tea, which I have rarely but I did find that tasty. The Belarusians seem to drink a lot more herbal tea than we do.
When I visited America last year, I was amazed at the sheer variety of tea (and everything else, too). I'm afraid I did stick mainly to English breakfast (over-awed by everything else we were taking in during our Rt 66 trip) but i did try a couple of other flavours. I wish I had thought of the honey trick as I wasn't too sure on how they tasted with sugar.
A lot of coffee shops in the UK sell Earl Grey which I also saw a lot of in America so I guess that's a common one for you over there.
I'm not sure that shed any light, but I would definitely go for bag first then water!
Happy Valentines Day!
Becky
UK Becky – I’m American and we use PG Tips all summer to make iced tea. My husband drinks it hot during the winter. I bought it from Amazon.com.
Good choice Jen 🙂 You’ll never find my cupboard bare of PG Tips 🙂
Becky,
You took a Rt. 66 trip? How fun and something I have ALWAYS wanted to do.
it sounds like you UK folks are very serious about your tea imbibing! I’m sure I could learn a lot from you all in some Tea Tutorials if I was every lucky enough to visit there!
I’m a coffee drinker myself, and drink it hot and black. Drink tea only as a last resort or sometimes when i have a cold.
Jan,
Yes, tea is especially wonderful when you have a cold, isn’t it? Hot liquids in general are therapeutic although I have yet to try any coffee!
What a fun post today. 🙂 I totally agree with you about coffee–love the smell, don’t care for the taste. I started drinking tea in earnest a few years ago–first mostly iced but now I love hot tea also. I had an interesting experience recently that made me more careful about how I steep my tea. I have been drinking oolong for several months (supposed to help with metabolism and I have been working to lose a few pounds…at 51 they don’t come off easily!). I didn’t love the tea–it actually almost had a coffee taste too it–but I just kept drinking and usually steeped it with a bag of green tea as well. Our kids surprised me with a fancy tea maker for Christmas–something I would have never bought for myself. It is such fun! One “tells” the teamaker what kind of tea (black, oolong, green, etc) and the desired strength, and the machine does the work. You know what? The oolong tasted totally different (and much better!) when brewed properly! I couldn’t believe the difference! Here is a steeping chart you might find helpful: http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/how-to-make-tea. However, if you are happy with your tea the way you brew it–that is all that matters! 🙂
DeLynn,
I hear ya when it comes to the challenge of losing a few pounds at the age of 51. Wish there was some tea that dissolved pounds! 🙂
I didn’t know they even MADE tea makers–I’m sure learning a lot of stuff about tea. Love it!
No tea for me. I’m a decaf coffee drinker! And ‘gourmet’ flavors are a huge treat!!
LeeAnne,
I think the word “gourmet’ is lovely no matter what food (or drink) group it’s applied to! 🙂
My sister and I love to sit in the evening and drink hot tea, my favorite is peppermint, but I also love just plain tea, I add nothing to it. we have been tea drinkers for years I’ve now moved far away from her and when I go back to visit we fall right back in to our tea routine. I use our Keruig to make mine but sometimes I use the tea kettle because I love to hear it whistle when its ready! When we learn of someone we know having cancer the first thing we do is get them a pretty tea cup, saucer, some peppermint tea, and a box of crackers and do it up in a pretty basket and send it off. Some one sent me one when I found out I had kidney cancer and it still brings me comfort when I drink out of that cup! Hugs to you and Sarah 🙂
Peggy,
What a wonderful idea to get a tea basket together for a new cancer patient! I absolutely love that!
I also love the thought of you sitting with your sister in the evening and talking and drinking tea together. Tea seems to be a family experience in so many instances.
PS I’m sorry to hear about your kidney cancer; I hope you’re doing well these days. It’s a hard journey to get through, isn’t it?
oooooo…. I mentioned a couple of flavors I really enjoy in my first long post, but I forgot about peppermint. There is nothing better for a late-night cup of tea!
Kristina,
Peppermint is one of the flavors I have decided to branch out and try so that I get out of my “orange rut” a little bit. I’m looking forward to it!
I only drink coffee in the mornings, but I do like a cup of tea occasionally in the evening. I drink either Lemon Zinger or Sleepytime tea…no caffeine in the evening for me!! We have a Keurig, so that’s how I make it. Kind of takes all the guesswork out of it. 🙂
Gayle,
Hmmm. Lemon Zinger sounds like fun! I could use some zing in my life! 🙂
Dear Becky,
Like you, I love the smell of coffee but only could stomach the taste when our daughter was inpatient and there was nothing else to drink! My most favorite (hot) tea- which I only found within the last couple years -is English Breakfast Tea found at Trader Joes. Earl Grey is also a good one. I prefer to heat the water any other way than using the microwave (sorry Steve) and I vary between pouring water over the bag and dunking it. How long you ‘seep’ it depends on how dark or light you like your tea. A friend of mine loves her as dark as molasses and that is way too strong of a taste for me, so I seep it less. I never contaminate my tea with any additives 🙂 For some reason my taste buds are more fussy about my hot tea than my iced tea. Welcome to the world of tea!!
Mary
Mary,
Interesting that your taste buds have stronger opinions on hot tea that iced tea. Yet another piece of info to add to the Collected Tea Knowledge that we’ve all been acquiring this week.
Earl Gray is one of the few teas I have actually heard of! And since we don’t have a Trader Joes within many miles of Manteo, I’ll have to stick with the basic brands–which I’m good with. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Feel the same way about coffee – love the smell, hate the taste. Even with the abundance of flavorings and additives – still tastes like coffee. I feel the same way about tea – iced or hot. Do not like it at all. I know part of it is is because I did not grow up drinking it (because my mom did not like it, either!) but have several friends who are afficiandos and again, even with all the flavors and options, just do not care for it. Congratulations on your own new found enjoyment of it, though. A simple pleasure that brings peace and comfort is a blessing.
Janet,
That is a perfect way to describe it . . .”A simple pleasure that brings peace and comfort is a blessing. ” Love that.
I know very little about tea, but I agree with you about coffee – if only it tasted as good as it smells!
Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
Angela,
Yes, I’ve often wondered how something can smell so wonderful and taste so awful!
I like hot teas and usually put the tea bag in the water before I microwave, I know that is all wrong, I have a chocolate tea that I really like, and early grey I pit maybe a half teaspoon of sugar in the chocolate one, drink the earl grey with none. Please explain why the vinegar. I like a lot of other teas too. these are just the favorites
Sharon,
CHOCOLATE tea? Where has THAT been all my life! 🙂
As for the vinegar, I’d read that organic apple cider is very healthy for all sorts of things. My mom has always been a fan of vinegar for health reasons, so I started adding it and now I don’t like tea without it. It gives it a mild “burn” going down which I like!