Although
it’s a little late in the game, January is National Hot Tea Month. I’m not sure
how many writers have taken a strong stance in the coffee v. tea debate,
but I’m sure it’s a hot one! (Get it? Strong, hot coffee and tea! Hehe!)
Let me
make my position perfectly clear. I am a tea-drinker, although that’s not always
been the case. I used to drink coffee, but stopped during my second
pregnancy with my son. Coffee didn’t make me
sick, but for some reason, the mere mention or smell
of it was just wrong. So I switched to tea. Now
that my son is older, I can and do enjoy a cup of coffee occasionally, but my
natural instinct is to drink tea, and lots of it.
Turns
out, I’m in good company. George Orwell also enjoyed his tea, and wrote an
essay titled “A Nice Cup of Tea” that was first published in the London Evening
Standard on Jan. 12, 1946, in which he outlines the 11 steps* necessary to brew
tea:
1. Use Indian or Ceylonese tea
2. Brew tea in a china (ceramic) or earthenware pot
3. Warm the pot before adding the loose-leaf tea
4. Use strong tea
5. Place loose-leaf tea directly into the pot without a strainer, muslin bag, or other device to 'imprison the tea.' Take the teapot to the kettle to pour water that should be boiling
6. Stir or shake the pot
7. Drink the tea out of a cylindrical cup
8. Decant any cream off of the fresh milk before using
9. Pour tea into the cup, then pour in the milk
10. Drink tea without sugar
So you still have a few days left to read the entire essay (see link below) during the wintry January weather that is perfect for enjoying a steaming hot cup of tea.
1. Use Indian or Ceylonese tea
2. Brew tea in a china (ceramic) or earthenware pot
3. Warm the pot before adding the loose-leaf tea
4. Use strong tea
5. Place loose-leaf tea directly into the pot without a strainer, muslin bag, or other device to 'imprison the tea.' Take the teapot to the kettle to pour water that should be boiling
6. Stir or shake the pot
7. Drink the tea out of a cylindrical cup
8. Decant any cream off of the fresh milk before using
9. Pour tea into the cup, then pour in the milk
10. Drink tea without sugar
So you still have a few days left to read the entire essay (see link below) during the wintry January weather that is perfect for enjoying a steaming hot cup of tea.
Write
soon,
Mary
*Steps
from: http://www.teaandcoffee.net/0709/tea.htm
Read the
entire essay online at http://www.booksatoz.com/witsend/tea/orwell.htm
Image
from: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0077/8972/files/George-Orwell.jpg?2985
George Orwell: 'A Nice Cup of Tea' reprinted in The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell 1968
George Orwell: 'A Nice Cup of Tea' reprinted in The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell 1968
This was interesting. I do most of his points other than shake the pot. I used to but now I use a open mesh infuser and it is pretty good. Better than digging out leaves from the spout! Miss the straining in a silver strainer but ah, this Moon and Stars infuser is close to best.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely a better tea drinker than I am!
DeleteI do none of that. I microwave water, pour it in a cup, and throw in a bag. I guess I'm either lazy or not very particular...
ReplyDeleteI prepare mine the same way, although I insist on having a tea kettle sitting on my stove at all times!
DeleteI went to a tea room once and had the most delicious tea ever. Now I just select a tea bag out of a variety box, microwave my water and sip it every morning.
ReplyDeleteSounds good! I usually stick to black or green tea. I have boxes of flavored tea in my pantry, but, again, I rarely use them!
DeleteI'm a social outcast who does not like coffee. A nice cup of hot tea, however, is another story!
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
You are among friends here, Pat!
ReplyDelete