Would you like a cup of tea?

[jujube]

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.”

― C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

 

[oscash]

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.”

― C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

jujube: We're like that over here in Oz. Ask if someone would like a cup of tea and the rigmarole begins. "Only if you're having one. "Can I give you a hand and can I bring out the cups and saucers for you"? "I should have bought a cake; don't worry I can make up a batch of Scones". I just love it. It's much better if all the good cups and saucers are put out on the table. The young ones today hand you a mug and that's it.

 

[Warrigal]

The best tea is made in a teapot. Tea bags are an abomination.

 

[oscash]

The best tea is made in a teapot. Tea bags are an abomination.

How true.

 

[Capt Lightning]

'You'll have had your tea' is a long running Scottish joke about the supposed miserliness of the Scottish people. It was popularised by
Hamish and Dougal two characters from the long-running BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

It implies that since you will already have had your tea, you won't be offered another.

 

[Oldeagle66]

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.”

― C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

 

[Oldeagle66]

The best tea is made in a teapot. Tea bags are an abomination.

I started drinking more tea recently to help with diabetes. I actually didn't know there was any other way than tea bags. I'm interested now.

 

[Warrigal]

How to make a pot of tea.

You need boiling water, a teapot and loose black ceylon tea.
You also need some kind of strainer and cups and saucers.

First pour some of the boiling water into the teapot to warm it.
(Necessary for a china teapot but not so much for a metal one).
Pour the warm water down the sink.
Use a teaspoon to measure out the loose tea into the teapot - one teaspoon for each teacup and one more for the pot.
Take the teapot to the kettle, not the kettle to the pot and pour boiling water over the loose tea.
Allow a couple of minutes for the tea to draw. The time depends on whether you like weak or strong tea.

Pour the brewed tea into the teacups using a strainer. If tea with milk is preferred the milk can be added before or after pouring tea from the teapot. Add sugar if desired and stir in the cup using a teaspoon.

That is more or less the English way to make and serve tea.

Then there is billy tea, made over a campfire, Aussie style.

 

[Tommy]

The best tea is made in a teapot. Tea bags are an abomination.

If (may be a big IF) the tea in the tea bag is identical to the loose tea, is there a reason the tea bag tea is not as good? Just curious.

 

[gruntlabor]

The best tea is made in a teapot. Tea bags are an abomination.

Tea bags contain billions of poisonous particulates, or so I am advised.

 

[Grampa Don]

If (may be a big IF) the tea in the tea bag is identical to the loose tea, is there a reason the tea bag tea is not as good? Just curious.

I think the common perception is that the best tea doesn't go into bags. There is probably something to that. My experience with green teas is that it seems to be true.

Some people give loose tea a hot rinse before brewing. I never bother. I'm sipping my morning cup of Dragon Well. Delicious.

 

[Warrigal]

If (may be a big IF) the tea in the tea bag is identical to the loose tea, is there a reason the tea bag tea is not as good? Just curious.

Dipping a tea bag in a cup of water that is not at boiling point does not bring out the full flavour of the tea. Using teapot bags in a tea pot that has been warmed up is much better, but the water should be at boiling point.

Cafes these days seem to have no idea. You order a pot of tea and get a tea cup, a tea bag and a small pot of water at about 80oC.

There's a reason why Capt. Picard orders, "Earl Grey tea. Hot!" from the replicator.

 

[hollydolly]

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.”

― C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

they do exactly the same in Scotland in many places...

 

[hollydolly]

'You'll have had your tea' is a long running Scottish joke about the supposed miserliness of the Scottish people. It was popularised by
Hamish and Dougal two characters from the long-running BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

It implies that since you will already have had your tea, you won't be offered another.

..ah yes but you're missing the fact they weren't talking about liquid tea, they were talking about Dinner...

 

[hollydolly]

jujube: We're like that over here in Oz. Ask if someone would like a cup of tea and the rigmarole begins. "Only if you're having one. "Can I give you a hand and can I bring out the cups and saucers for you"? "I should have bought a cake; don't worry I can make up a batch of Scones". I just love it. It's much better if all the good cups and saucers are put out on the table. The young ones today hand you a mug and that's it.

oh no..I mut be young then, because I always drink tea out of a mug.... tea served in china cups might taste nice but it gets cold super fast

 

[oscash]

Tea bags contain billions of poisonous particulates, or so I am advised.

I heard the same thing only the tea bags have some type of plastic in it, so the bag doesn't collapse with the hot water.

 

[Twostep]

I heard the same thing only the tea bags have some type of plastic in it, so the bag doesn't collapse with the hot water.

Use a coffee filter or slurp it.

 

[gruntlabor]

A telephone repairman once told me that since moving to Alaska, he had not entered a home once where he was not offered refreshment. He said that had not been the case where he came from.

 

[gruntlabor]

Use a coffee filter or slurp it. s

I just pour it through a sieve.

 

[Capt Lightning]

..ah yes but you're missing the fact they weren't talking about liquid tea, they were talking about Dinner...

It's one of those things... what do you call the meal?... Thinking back a long way, it was dinner at around midday and 'tea' in the early evening.
Now, we say 'Lunch' around midday and then 'dinner' in the evening. A cup of tea could be had anytime.

I don't really like tea, although Mrs. L likes her 'Earl Grey'. She also has a collection of fruit 'teas', though I suspect they're not 'tea'.
I'm a coffee man myself. Do you remember 'Camp' coffee ?

 

[hollydolly]

It's one of those things... what do you call the meal?... Thinking back a long way, it was dinner at around midday and 'tea' in the early evening.
Now, we say 'Lunch' around midday and then 'dinner' in the evening. A cup of tea could be had anytime.

I don't really like tea, although Mrs. L likes her 'Earl Grey'. She also has a collection of fruit 'teas', though I suspect they're not 'tea'.
I'm a coffee man myself. Do you remember 'Camp' coffee ?

I do remember Camp coffee.. yes, in the ''sauce bottles'' .. my father wouldn't drink any other coffee

 

[Tommy]

oh no..I mut be young then, because I always drink tea out of a mug.... tea served in china cups might taste nice but it gets cold super fast

That's what I do too Holly. I like hot tea to be hot. I pour boiling water directly from the electric kettle into a 14-18 ounce heavy ceramic mug that already contains the teabag. A heavy ceramic mug keeps the tea nice and warm for quite a while.

Loose tea, I do make in a teapot but it seems to cool more quickly. Maybe I should try pre-warming a ceramic mug with boiling water while the tea steeps in the teapot.

 

[hearlady]

That's what I do too Holly. I like hot tea to be hot. I pour boiling water directly from the electric kettle into a 14-18 ounce heavy ceramic mug that already contains the teabag. A heavy ceramic mug keeps the tea nice and warm for quite a while.

Loose tea, I do make in a teapot but it seems to cool more quickly. Maybe I should try pre-warming a ceramic mug with boiling water while the tea steeps in the teapot.

This is why I asked for a mug warmer for Christmas. I hate when my coffee or tea turns cold. I like them hot!