Tea Time is Special Time
Hello, again! The next time you make yourself a lovely cup of your favorite tea, I hope that you enjoy the whole experience of making the tea, as well as the pleasure of sipping your beverage. Tea Time can be an occasion (several times a day!) when you take time to be good to yourself. And it is so important to be kind to ourselves and take good care of ourselves. And other people whom we love – make them a nice cup of tea, too!
While I’m writing this post,
I’m drinking a hot cup of Rishi’s Turmeric Ginger Tea in my Bodum glass mug. The adorable metal canister that holds the Rishi’s tea says it is an organic loose leaf herbal tea. The loose leaves went into the plastic and nylon infuser that came with the Bodum mug. I steeped the tea for an extra minute – it’s a little stronger but not bitter. I then added a bit of Turbinado cane sugar to balance the flavors. Francine and Sue commented on Trader Joe’s turmeric/ginger tea. I’ll have to try that soon!
Sue’s Polish Tea Pot and Warmer
My dear friend Sue commented on the last blog about her beautiful Polish pottery teapot and glass tea warmer. She graciously sent photographs of the teapot and warmer for us to enjoy. Here they are! Whether you purchase a new teapot, as Sue did, which becomes a family treasure, or use a family heirloom teapot, the experience of using a beloved teapot adds to the Tea Time experience.
A warmer is a great idea to keep the tea from getting cold. I have never used one, but would love to try one. I use a cloth insulated tea cozy over the teapot, instead.
My Tea Pots
Teapots are so beautiful and come in many colors, designs, and materials.
I own and enjoy more teapots than comfortably fit in my cabinets! I select teapots on the feel of the ceramic and pottery – I love a smooth surface. I also like a handle that balances well when I pour.
The photograph shows four of my teapots which are used quite often. I really love my two Brown Betty teapots from England – one Brown Betty is on the left. I have two green teapots in different sizes from England – a green one is on the right. But I don’t know who made them – the bottom of the green teapot only says Made in England. Wish I knew the maker! The teapot in the front of the photograph is Buchan’s Thistle Stoneware Pottery from Scotland, which matches my everyday dishes. The white teapot with the gold trim in the rear of the photograph is more formal and it’s usually used with my more formal dinnerware. But sometimes I just use it when I’m in the mood for a white and gold teapot!
Choosing the teapot to use is an enjoyable morning task!
Cups and Mugs
How do I select which cup or mug to use? That depends on my mood, what type of tea (loose or bag), and how much tea that I want to steep and drink at that moment. That’s one of my first wonderful decisions of every morning.
I just can’t have too many styles, shapes, and colors of cups and mugs. But they all have to be lovely for me to look at and to hold. I love to use cups (and dishes and actually everything) that please my eye and my fingers.
There’s no extra space in my cabinets to store any more cups so I’ll have to be really discerning about any new purchases. It’s really collecting, not hoarding…
I have several types of cups and mugs with their own infusers, which makes it very easy to brew loose tea directly in them.
Bodum makes a great glass mug with a plastic and nylon tea infuser. I found it on sale at Barnes and Noble so I bought two.
One year Teavana made a set with adorable little covered mugs with metal infusers. I loved them so much that I bought three sets, giving me six little mugs with infusers and covers. The metal infusers happen to fit in many other cups and mugs, which is really useful.
The photograph shows some of my cups which also have tea infusers for brewing loose tea in the cup. I use these when I want just one cup of a loose tea. When I’m craving several cups of that tea, I brew them in a teapot.
I also have many lovely cups and saucers that are part of dinnerware sets. I inherited other matching very special cups and saucers; most of these were owned by my Mom who got them many decades ago. Some cups and saucers came from my husband’s two beloved grandmothers. When I use these cups and saucers, they inspire wonderful memories of these three special ladies.
On the right of the photograph is a two-cup plastic tea brewer from Teavana. Perhaps I should have put it in the photograph with the teapots since you don’t drink from it but brew the tea in it. Once the tea is steeped as I like it, I put the tea brewer on top of my cup and the tea flows down. It’s quite useful. But I usually prefer ceramic and porcelain, not plastic.
Tea Cozy
I have a very special Tea Cozy that we bought from an amazing shop that used to be called Margaret’s Fine Import Shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is now called Tea Pittsburgh Blue Monkey Tea. The Tea Cozy is made by Thistle Down Cozies. The fabric is beautiful – to look at and to hold. And yes, placed over the tea pot or mug, it keeps the tea (and the object. Be careful!) quite hot for hours. A well-made Tea Cozy is a great investment.
For our next tea party conversation, please comment…
Do you have favorite teapots, cups, or cozies to make your tea drinking that much more pleasurable? Or do you find yourself reaching for the same cup for your tea? Tell us!
And, as always, please let us know when you are drinking a favorite cup of tea. Let us know what you’re drinking! And perhaps if you’re having a nibble with it, too.
Please share vegan recipes for goodies that complement your tea!
