Could well be off topic: better tea

"SpamTrapSeeSig" wrote in message
. ..
In article , Paul Ratcliffe
writes
On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 03:55:15 +0100, Bill Wright

wrote:

If you have to make two cups or mugs of tea, get one 'one cup' teabag
and
hold it in a spoon. Make a small hole in the middle of the top surface
of
the bag. Pour the boiling water slowly onto the teabag (which is still
on
the spoon) putting about half a cupful into each cup, then do it again
so
you have gone cup 1, cup 2, cup 1, cup 2. You have to pour slowly so the
water goes into the bag and doesn't just flow over its surface. The hole
helps air escape from the bag. The results are wonderful. The tea tastes
much fresher than normal, without being weak, and there is a doubling of
economy.

Or you could just use a teapot. It needs to be clean of course, as do the
drinking receptacles, otherwise the taste is off.

Wurr!

I have been 'instructed' in our household, that the teapot's patina is a
crucial element in the process of obtaining the 'right' taste. Tea is
almost always made in a device with a spout, and, since there is but a
solitary tea drinker, there is usually half a pot 'left over.' I do what
I'm told.

The Amaryllis plants are the biggest beneficiaries of this process.
Apparently no amount of cold tea is too much, and the one in the biggest
pot now boasts eight leaves. It has recently developed a smug look. I am
now watching it closely, in case some carnivorous mutation has occurred,
but I still have high hopes of five or more trumpets simultaneously
appearing around mid-winter.

The second biggest beneficiaries are the fruit flies that live in the
Amaryllis' compost. The advantage they gain is but temporary, however,
since they are subject to Apocalypse-now-and-then, in the form of a 'Raid'
spray. Natural selection (apparently) now means we are largely left with a
breed which is excellent at skulking on the ceiling and up the folds of
the dining room curtains, out of reach of the aerosol. I will, however,
happily tolerate that if it means they no longer invade our meals.

The spiders that inhabit the corners of the windowsill are likewise happy,
insofar as I can ascertain, since they are tolerant of 'Raid'
(apparently), and seem to appreciate such opportunistic snacks as the less
aerobatic fruit flies might offer them.

As for the taste of the tea, which is the input to the process, I have no
idea what that might be since I never drink the vile stuff. I am content
with whatever causes no complaints, however.

Nature is always in delicate balance.
--
SimonM
----- TubeWiz.com -----
Video making/uploading that's easy to use & fun to share
Try it today! (now with DFace blurring)

my Gran used to throw the old tea leaves at the base of a gooseberry bush
right outside the kitchen door. She had the biggest bush this side of Epping
Forest and goosgogs the size of apples, with which we enjoyed the most
delightful tarts...

In article , mikeos
wrote:
Nick wrote:
"Bill Wright" wrote:

...

Use loose tea Bill. Seriously, I used teabags for years then tried PG
Tips loose tea - it's so much better.

Even better, go to the Algerian Coffe Stores in Old Compton Street,
Soho, for the best, freshest selection of teas anywhere.Forget PG Tips!

Alternatively the pure Darjeeling teas sold by our local 'Coffee House' in
St Andrews are pretty good. One advantage of good tea is that you only need
a small amount per person as the flavour is so good. Pleasing scent as well
as taste. So despite the cost per gram, can be economic if your interest is
flavour rather than getting the spoon to stand up unassisted. :-)

Afraid I can't comment on 'Assam' based blended teas as I don't like them
much. But I regard tea bags as foul. Taste like wet paper and usually
contain dust sweepings. And 'PG Tips' as a title seems to me like an
example of the old maxim, "If a country or party has 'democratic' in its
name, that warns you that it isn't!" :-)

FWIW I stopped drinking 'supermarket teas' decades ago when I found out
what decent tea tastes like. Bit like the discoveries that 'CDM' doesn't
have 'chocolate' in the title for a good reason, and that single malt
whiskeys are somewhat different to branded label blends. Curious that in
the UK people make a fuss about the quality and taste of beer, and even
coffee, but tend to take tea for granted.

Slainte,

Jim

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"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , Jerry Whatever their
other faults, those Yorkshiremen do seem to know a thing or two about tea.
--
Ian

What other faults, pal?

Bill

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:

[Snip]

FWIW I stopped drinking 'supermarket teas' decades ago when I found out
what decent tea tastes like. Bit like the discoveries that 'CDM' doesn't
have 'chocolate' in the title for a good reason, and that single malt
whiskeys are somewhat different to branded label blends. Curious that in
the UK people make a fuss about the quality and taste of beer, and even
coffee, but tend to take tea for granted.

whiskey? some mishtake, shurely 'whisky'?

But this reminds me of a story my mother told me. At the outbreak of WW2,
my father's TA regiment was posted to the Scottish Borders - I believe to
forestall any paratroop invasion. My mother as a wife of only 3 months
found accomodatiopn in Lauder to be near him. Friends in India sent her a
parcel containing substantial amount of tea. My mother felt that she ought
to pass this to the landlady, who went completely overboard. "My, my,
Indian tea, who'd have thought it, etc...." So my mother asked what sort
of tea she normally had. "We have Lauder tea, from the grocers".

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
If you have to make two cups or mugs of tea, get one 'one cup' teabag and
hold it in a spoon. Make a small hole in the middle of the top surface of
the bag. Pour the boiling water slowly onto the teabag (which is still on
the spoon) putting about half a cupful into each cup, then do it again so
you have gone cup 1, cup 2, cup 1, cup 2. You have to pour slowly so the
water goes into the bag and doesn't just flow over its surface. The hole
helps air escape from the bag. The results are wonderful. The tea tastes
much fresher than normal, without being weak, and there is a doubling of
economy.

Bill

That's not making tea, that's a ceremony

You're turning Japanese Bill

Steve Terry

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , Jerry Whatever
their other faults, those Yorkshiremen do seem to know a thing or two
about tea.
Ian

What other faults, pal?
Bill

Mushy peas for a start ;-p

Steve Terry

"The Old Man" wrote in message
...

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
If you have to make two cups or mugs of tea, get one 'one cup' teabag and
hold it in a spoon. Make a small hole in the middle of the top surface of
the bag. Pour the boiling water slowly onto the teabag (which is still on
the spoon) putting about half a cupful into each cup, then do it again so
you have gone cup 1, cup 2, cup 1, cup 2. You have to pour slowly so the
water goes into the bag and doesn't just flow over its surface. The hole
helps air escape from the bag. The results are wonderful. The tea tastes
much fresher than normal, without being weak, and there is a doubling of
economy.

Bill


I use a tea pot with one bag and get at least 4 cups out of it...

Treat yourself, steal some teabags from a neighbour and live a little,
have one per cup!

Steve Terry

On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:43:29 +0100, "Steve Terry"
wrote:


"Bill Wright" wrote in message
.. .
If you have to make two cups or mugs of tea, get one 'one cup' teabag and
hold it in a spoon. Make a small hole in the middle of the top surface of
the bag. Pour the boiling water slowly onto the teabag (which is still on
the spoon) putting about half a cupful into each cup, then do it again so
you have gone cup 1, cup 2, cup 1, cup 2. You have to pour slowly so the
water goes into the bag and doesn't just flow over its surface. The hole
helps air escape from the bag. The results are wonderful. The tea tastes
much fresher than normal, without being weak, and there is a doubling of
economy.

Bill

That's not making tea, that's a ceremony

You're turning Japanese Bill

At least he's not turning Chinese and using Feng shui to decide where to
position and point TV aerials and dishes.

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

"Peter Duncanson" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:43:29 +0100, "Steve Terry"
wrote:


"Bill Wright" wrote in message
. ..
If you have to make two cups or mugs of tea, get one 'one cup' teabag
and
hold it in a spoon. Make a small hole in the middle of the top surface
of
the bag. Pour the boiling water slowly onto the teabag (which is still
on
the spoon) putting about half a cupful into each cup, then do it again
so
you have gone cup 1, cup 2, cup 1, cup 2. You have to pour slowly so the
water goes into the bag and doesn't just flow over its surface. The hole
helps air escape from the bag. The results are wonderful. The tea tastes
much fresher than normal, without being weak, and there is a doubling of
economy.
Bill

That's not making tea, that's a ceremony
You're turning Japanese Bill

At least he's not turning Chinese and using Feng shui to decide where to
position and point TV aerials and dishes.
Peter Duncanson


They would look nice though, far too many dishes on the front of houses
pointing south east for my liking, they should be out the way on the back
of the house pointing north, and TV aerials should be put inside nice dry
metal lined lofts out of the way.

Steve Terry

charles wrote:

whiskey? some mishtake, shurely 'whisky'?

"Whiskey" specifically refers to Irish I believe?





But this reminds me of a story my mother told me. At the outbreak of WW2,
my father's TA regiment was posted to the Scottish Borders - I believe to
forestall any paratroop invasion. My mother as a wife of only 3 months
found accomodatiopn in Lauder to be near him. Friends in India sent her a
parcel containing substantial amount of tea. My mother felt that she ought
to pass this to the landlady, who went completely overboard. "My, my,
Indian tea, who'd have thought it, etc...." So my mother asked what sort
of tea she normally had. "We have Lauder tea, from the grocers".