Monday, October 5, 2020

T Stands For Making Perfect Tea


Last week we celebrated National Coffee Day and I promised we would honor tea sometime in the future.  Little did I realize it would be this soon, but when the opportunity arose, I grabbed it.

Today we started at my dining room table

then I realized the image was not what I hoped for.  Besides T Tuesday, I'm also sharing this with Chris of Pear Shaped Crafting, our host this month at Art Journal Journey and her theme which is Hold the Line.

Remember how I said my scanner was on its last legs?  It was actually not set properly.  When I scanned at high res, I adjusted several settings and learned what I had done wrong.  Although I'll always have to make adjustments every time I scan, it will be worth it to get a great scan.

I wanted you to be able to read what I wrote, so I sorted this into five segments.  I hope you can read my writing.  This first group is pretty self-explanatory.  It tells what to use to make ONE cup of tea.
I messed up on this one.  This was only supposed to be about the use of fresh water when making tea.  Your water will go flat after it's been boiled, so never reheat water once it's boiled the first time.  As you can see, it loses oxygen once it boils.  To get the freshest and best boil, bring your tea pot to the tea kettle at the stove, not the kettle to the tea pot.  You lose much of the time you spent boiling the water when you take the kettle over to your teapot.  Also, never leave the kettle unattended.  Over-boiling will occur and you should throw the water away and start over.   

Then there is the adage for making a full pot of tea.  If you are making four cups of tea in your pot, add one bag or one spoon of loose tea per cup and one for the pot. 

This is where I intended to show that you heat the pot using hot tap water.   As noted above, your boiling water quickly cools if you add it to a cold pot.  I tried to compensate by showing right before you add the boiling water, remove the hot water from the teapot.  Carefully observe the steeping time.  If you don't steep the tea long enough, it will be weak.  Steep it too long and it will be bitter.

To add milk to your tea, place it in the cup first, then add the brewed tea.  That way you won't cool the tea too quickly, which apparently shocks it, and you won't crack your delicate and priceless china cup.  Of course, another site stated the exact opposite.  I'm going with putting the milk in the cup first and that way you have less stirring to accomplish, too.

If you are not British (because the British know how to make a proper cup or pot of tea), I hope you learned how to make tea properly.  I know I did.  To create this page, I started by stamping images sent me by CJ onto 110 lb cardstock, then sewed lines using black and white variegated thread for Chris's theme at Art Journal Journey.

Now you have the experts' tips on making perfect tea, it's time to share your own drink related post Your post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard, decorated card, or magazine image.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time, even months or years ago, if you choose.





25 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Fun page for AJJ and TSFT, Elizabeth, this is something different. I can really make tea, I had to learn that as a kid in England, but that doesn't mean I like it. But I can make perfect coffee, cappuccino and latte, and do so several times a day! Happy T Day, Valerie

Karen said...

Very clever! Love the page and the instructions ~ I'm so lazy I use a tea bag and the keurig to brew the hot water! Maybe someday I'll embrace the whole experience of tea ~ maybe ~ Happy T day! I actually got my post ready today so I'll be early for a change :)

Mae Travels said...

Tea is a ritual in many contexts! Like you, I'm amused at the controversy over milk-first or tea-first, which might make a difference to fine china (if I owned any, but I never got around to acquiring it).

I like your little stamps with cups and tea bags and tea pots. Thanks for hosting this fun bog event.

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Eileen Bergen said...

This is super clever, Elizabeth. I'm not a tea drinker, but I enjoyed reading your tips. You have very nice handwriting. I bet you got at least a B+ in cursive in school. I couldn't get the hang of slanting my cursive to the right. So the nuns always graded my handwriting C-.

Happy T-day! Stay safe and stay well. Hugs, Eileen

Lisca said...

Very good Elizabeth! You have been taught well. This is how we made tea in England. Yes, we pre-heat the tea pot with water from the kettle. And we have a whistle on the kettle, so you know when the water boils and you can then immediately make the tea.
Steeping times are not always strictly adhered to in England. Many people like it very black and leave the pot for a second cup of tea with a tea cosy to keep it warm.
You have the tea, I have the cake (on my blog), so we can really have a tea party.
Happy T-Day,
Lisca

Linda Kunsman said...

aaah, a proper way to make tea...I do drink much more tea in colder months and try to keep it more proper with my special little tea pot;)
love how you used the sweet stamping, and managed to make pages to also use for AJJ - quite nice handwriting too. Happy T day!

kathyinozarks said...

This is such a great entry for AJJ and I loved the information about tea-thanks much hugs and Happy T

Sharon Madson said...

Great tips. I love having tea, and we used to have tea parties before Covid!
As for your scanner; I had to break down and get a new printer. Finally got an HP for $39.00 at Walmart. So far I am happy with it. It was an HP and comes with Instant Ink.
They send it to me when needed and at a small price per month. free until December then, 99cents a month after that. Wouldn't you know it they just changed it from free to 99 cents. But it will be worth it that I don't have to go to the store and look for it. I always ran out at the most inopportune times! Anyway, I will let you know it that works for me.
Happy T Day!

CJ Kennedy said...

I'm a heathen. I use tea bags and since I'm the only one in the household who drinks tea, I used to nuke my cup of tea in the microwave. Especially good when running out the door because I didn't have to worry I left the kettle on. I have a small coffee pod machine and I use it to run the water through for tea. I put my cup on the base, toss in a tea bag, fill the machine with water and then ta-da tea! The micro water always had a foam on it, but the machine does not. A little nicer. When I have company, I boil water in the kettle. A friend from Australia had come up over, and there was also something about winding the pot. Loved this blog post, and I'm glad you are enjoying the teeny stamps.

Rita said...

I didn't know about adding the milk first. Had never heard of that but it makes sense. :)

Iris Flavia said...

Good tipp with the milk! I have some teas that are too bitter for my taste, this will help!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow Elizabeth! Your handwriting AND sewing - I absolutely love this page! Thanks so much for this great take on my theme! I won't be following your instructions though, I just can't drink tea without being sick! Tea making certain is a ritual! Happy T Day, Chrisx

Let's Art Journal said...

Great to know and so beautifully created! Loving the little images that you added and the lines for Chris' theme - perfect 😀. Wishing you a very happy T Day! Hugs, Jo x

RO said...

I enjoy putting milk in my tea, and i really love the little images you used throughout the recipe. Hugs, RO

Words and Pictures said...

Good grief, Charlie Brown - what a lot of instructions for hot water with leaves in! I'm British but give me coffee any day... really not a tea drinker. Love your handwritten tips, lines and lines of them.
Alison x

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Very informative Elizabeth. I didn't know all those things about making the perfect tea. And part of why I enjoy UK shows like Midsomer Murders is how frequently the people offer a cup of tea to the investigation officers, and they usually accept. :-)

Happy T-Day! (I've missed being here.)

baili said...

Interesting sharing my friend

My tea intake has been reduced though my longing for good tea is on :)

My name is Erika. said...

I did learn how to make tea. I haven't ever heard of this. Not sure it would be my favorite way as I don't like milk in tea. Yet I would do that if I was in England just to give it a try. It is a great page for AJJ as well as for T, and it is very clever! Hope you have a good Tuesday. Hugs-Erika

Barbara said...

Fun recipe with its little drawings and stitches! I believe it makes perfect tea, but I don’t think I’ll change putting a Lipton teabag in a cup and heating it with the microwave. Lol!

Darla said...

I'm late but it is 7a.m. on Tuesday morning in my part of the world. A useful instruction list and best of all created in such a clever way. I expect we will see those cute tiny stamps in future projects. I hope so anyway.

LA Paylor said...

I'm baaaaack... thanks for the opportunity to join you this Tuesday!
I like your handwritten directions!

Cloudia said...

Thanks You!

Kate Yetter said...

Loved seeing your beautiful handwriting.

I agree, overboiled water tastes terrible and must be discarded. I don't add milk or add any sweetener to my tea but I read that the British started adding milk because of the poor quality of tea that they had. We have a much better selection of quality teas at affordable pricing nowadays. I suppose adding milk is either a taste preference or a generational habit that has been passed down. Regardless, I enjoyed your post today.
Happy Tea day,
Kate

Divers and Sundry said...

Not even 3:00 here, so I can't possibly be late for tea :)

I hafta say I'm not picky about tea, and I do re-boil water. I do bring the pot or mug to the tea kettle, though, so I'm doing something right ;)

DVArtist said...

I love how you showed us the proper way to make tea. You are so cleaver.