The Ritual of Tea …

Mary_Cassatt_-_Afternoon_Tea_Party

Tea and conversation

One of the great ceremonies of Regency life, one that defined gentility, was the taking of tea.

The Regency is sorta midway in the story of tea in England. We’re past the Seventeenth and early Eighteenth Century with its careful, stingy measuring of tea by the mistress of the household, the leaves locked up safe in a decorative caddy. We haven’t reached the Victorian era where tea was the daily drink of every working man and city housewife.

John MacDonald, a footman in the last half of the Eighteenth Century, would negotiate a salary that included an allowance for tea and sugar. But when he writes:

“My master had always plenty of fine tea, of which I drank some in the afternoon, and with which I treated the maid, and the maid also at the next house.”

I’m pretty sure he’s helping himself to the household store. At this time, tea is still a particular treat belowstairs.

When we come to early Victorian times … Henry Mayhew, in London Labour and the London Poor, speaking of the 1840s, describes the street sellers.

Coffee and tea stall

Tea for sale, click for closeup

“There are, moreover, peculiar kinds of stalls — such as the hot eels and hot peas-soup stalls, having tin oval pots, with a small chafing-dish containing a charcoal fire underneath each, to keep the eels or soup hot. The early breakfast stall has two capacious tin cans filled with tea or coffee, kept hot by the means before described.”

In 1840, tea had ceased to be a servants’ perquisite, reluctantly granted by the employer and pilfered by the staff. Now it’s on the street. It’s Everyman’s drink.

But back to the parlor …

The taking of tea in the parlor meant slow, stylized ritual and unnecessary elaboration. It’s the opposite end of the spectrum from the hurried dipping tea out of a capacious tin can.

Consider this spread of tea complication.

Jean liotard still life tea set 1783

A pretty wild tea party, looks like

Going along from the left:

Teapot with its lid. Behind it, the tea caddy where the tea leaves live. In front of the tea pot, a cup, saucer, and silver spoon. The center spot on this tray is a shallow plate with orange slices. It might just as easily hold scones or muffins.

Working our way in from the right:

We have the slops bowl in back. That is a lovely useful thing to have, isn’t it? I kinda wish we had slops bowls for our lives where we could clear all the mess neatly away and go on with the tea party.

What else? There’s the bowl of sugar cubes. These cubes were not neatly square. They were nipped off the two-foot-high cone of sugar kept in the kitchen and came out irregular and all nobbly shaped. Over the sugar bowl are the sugar tongs. And here at the front of the sugar bowl is the milk jug.

Missing from this set is the strainer. About all the paintings I find of folks drinking tea,

Tea strainer 1780s V &A

Tea strainer

the tea strainer is nowhere in evidence. Yet they had them. They’re in museums. One would certainly have strained the tea leaves out of the drink at some point. Maybe they were considered too messy to put in the picture.

Also missing from this array is the kettle of hot water that sat over on the hearth

Tea kettle by the fire

The copper water kettle is by the fire click for closeup

keeping warm. The water would be used to warm up and dilute the tea in the teapot. You couldn’t hoist the teabags out of the water and put an end to the brewing, there not being any teabags yet. However long the tea party lasted, that was how long the tea steeped.

Here we have folks taking tea and the kettle is right there in evidence. One could also have a tea urn or samovar with coals under it, keeping warm, right there on the table.

 

Tea wter kettle on stand 1753

Silver kettle to heat water

This here is a silver tea kettle that would have had pride of place. The comment on this piece at the Victoria and Albert:

“The tea kettle and stand would have been the most expensive part of the tea service. For example, Mrs. Coke paid the goldsmith … £25 13s 1d for her kettle and lamp. Her teapot cost just £10 1s 8d.”

That comparative value is not set in stone. The best porcelain would cost more than uninspired silver,  but all things being equal, a silver tea service was the conspicuous consumption of the time. When the aged retainer staggers in with a tea tray full of silver teapots and silver slop bowls and what have you, it’s not just heavy. It’s (staggeringly) expensive.

But by the Regency, not all tea was drunk in the parlor with such magnificent display.

Monet_tea_set-

Be nice to have somebody bring this to your desk

We also have a cozier, more informal tea taking. One little pot of tea, prepared in the kitchen and brought up with a cup or two at the side. That was the tea laid down at the hero’s elbow while he worked on his accounts or the tea brought to the heroine and her sister as they put their heads together and plotted.

Making tea

Morning tea. Yellow and red tea caddies at the back
Chardin_ladytakingtea

Chardin 1735

This is my tea service there on the left. Rough and ready. But see that tea pot? It is of an ancient design. See it there in the painting by Chardin? And the little tea bowl is handmade by an artist in such things. I’m happy using this set. It makes me feel good, every time.

 

Do you have a tea set or a coffee service that is a joy to hold in your hands? Maybe something you inherited or bought at a special time of your life. Maybe a present.

170 thoughts on “The Ritual of Tea …”

  1. Love tea and have it multiple times a day, but making it properly is too much work most of the time. 🙂
    I inherited my grandmother’s very fancy Royal Doulton tea service when she died last year, but it is living at my aunt’s house until I have a decent place to keep it. I have no idea how my Baba afforded it, as a refugee from Ukraine – and the Nazis – and the Russians!
    I just looked up Royal Doulton, and I didn’t realise it had been bought out last year. Exactly two hundred years of history, and now it’s gone. 🙁

    Reply
  2. Love tea and have it multiple times a day, but making it properly is too much work most of the time. 🙂
    I inherited my grandmother’s very fancy Royal Doulton tea service when she died last year, but it is living at my aunt’s house until I have a decent place to keep it. I have no idea how my Baba afforded it, as a refugee from Ukraine – and the Nazis – and the Russians!
    I just looked up Royal Doulton, and I didn’t realise it had been bought out last year. Exactly two hundred years of history, and now it’s gone. 🙁

    Reply
  3. Love tea and have it multiple times a day, but making it properly is too much work most of the time. 🙂
    I inherited my grandmother’s very fancy Royal Doulton tea service when she died last year, but it is living at my aunt’s house until I have a decent place to keep it. I have no idea how my Baba afforded it, as a refugee from Ukraine – and the Nazis – and the Russians!
    I just looked up Royal Doulton, and I didn’t realise it had been bought out last year. Exactly two hundred years of history, and now it’s gone. 🙁

    Reply
  4. Love tea and have it multiple times a day, but making it properly is too much work most of the time. 🙂
    I inherited my grandmother’s very fancy Royal Doulton tea service when she died last year, but it is living at my aunt’s house until I have a decent place to keep it. I have no idea how my Baba afforded it, as a refugee from Ukraine – and the Nazis – and the Russians!
    I just looked up Royal Doulton, and I didn’t realise it had been bought out last year. Exactly two hundred years of history, and now it’s gone. 🙁

    Reply
  5. Love tea and have it multiple times a day, but making it properly is too much work most of the time. 🙂
    I inherited my grandmother’s very fancy Royal Doulton tea service when she died last year, but it is living at my aunt’s house until I have a decent place to keep it. I have no idea how my Baba afforded it, as a refugee from Ukraine – and the Nazis – and the Russians!
    I just looked up Royal Doulton, and I didn’t realise it had been bought out last year. Exactly two hundred years of history, and now it’s gone. 🙁

    Reply
  6. I have no fancy tea set. When I have tea it is the Bigelow tea bag type – raspberry flavor (yum). But I do have some special memories of time spent at my great aunt’s farm when I was a child. We were of Irish decent, but afternoon tea time was always observed.
    No tea bags for her. I remember her using a strainer when she poured it in our cups from the teapot. We usually had cookies too. Store bought most of the time because she was up in years and didn’t bake as much as she used to.
    We would sit at the kitchen table talking quietly and just listen to her reminisce about life in the early 1900s. Loved it.

    Reply
  7. I have no fancy tea set. When I have tea it is the Bigelow tea bag type – raspberry flavor (yum). But I do have some special memories of time spent at my great aunt’s farm when I was a child. We were of Irish decent, but afternoon tea time was always observed.
    No tea bags for her. I remember her using a strainer when she poured it in our cups from the teapot. We usually had cookies too. Store bought most of the time because she was up in years and didn’t bake as much as she used to.
    We would sit at the kitchen table talking quietly and just listen to her reminisce about life in the early 1900s. Loved it.

    Reply
  8. I have no fancy tea set. When I have tea it is the Bigelow tea bag type – raspberry flavor (yum). But I do have some special memories of time spent at my great aunt’s farm when I was a child. We were of Irish decent, but afternoon tea time was always observed.
    No tea bags for her. I remember her using a strainer when she poured it in our cups from the teapot. We usually had cookies too. Store bought most of the time because she was up in years and didn’t bake as much as she used to.
    We would sit at the kitchen table talking quietly and just listen to her reminisce about life in the early 1900s. Loved it.

    Reply
  9. I have no fancy tea set. When I have tea it is the Bigelow tea bag type – raspberry flavor (yum). But I do have some special memories of time spent at my great aunt’s farm when I was a child. We were of Irish decent, but afternoon tea time was always observed.
    No tea bags for her. I remember her using a strainer when she poured it in our cups from the teapot. We usually had cookies too. Store bought most of the time because she was up in years and didn’t bake as much as she used to.
    We would sit at the kitchen table talking quietly and just listen to her reminisce about life in the early 1900s. Loved it.

    Reply
  10. I have no fancy tea set. When I have tea it is the Bigelow tea bag type – raspberry flavor (yum). But I do have some special memories of time spent at my great aunt’s farm when I was a child. We were of Irish decent, but afternoon tea time was always observed.
    No tea bags for her. I remember her using a strainer when she poured it in our cups from the teapot. We usually had cookies too. Store bought most of the time because she was up in years and didn’t bake as much as she used to.
    We would sit at the kitchen table talking quietly and just listen to her reminisce about life in the early 1900s. Loved it.

    Reply
  11. I am so glad you had that time with your great aunt. And the Irish tea time sounds just right.
    I haven’t spent much time in Ireland but I loved the time I was there. It included the wonderful teas in tea shops or in people’s houses. Great bread and butter. Very fine (strong) tea.

    Reply
  12. I am so glad you had that time with your great aunt. And the Irish tea time sounds just right.
    I haven’t spent much time in Ireland but I loved the time I was there. It included the wonderful teas in tea shops or in people’s houses. Great bread and butter. Very fine (strong) tea.

    Reply
  13. I am so glad you had that time with your great aunt. And the Irish tea time sounds just right.
    I haven’t spent much time in Ireland but I loved the time I was there. It included the wonderful teas in tea shops or in people’s houses. Great bread and butter. Very fine (strong) tea.

    Reply
  14. I am so glad you had that time with your great aunt. And the Irish tea time sounds just right.
    I haven’t spent much time in Ireland but I loved the time I was there. It included the wonderful teas in tea shops or in people’s houses. Great bread and butter. Very fine (strong) tea.

    Reply
  15. I am so glad you had that time with your great aunt. And the Irish tea time sounds just right.
    I haven’t spent much time in Ireland but I loved the time I was there. It included the wonderful teas in tea shops or in people’s houses. Great bread and butter. Very fine (strong) tea.

    Reply
  16. I didn’t realize Royal Doulton was gone. Heck.
    It dates to 1815, so I can’t generally use it in my own writing, but anyone who moves into the Victorian era as a good, solid table detail. I tend to fall back on Sèvres since the manufactury long predates the Regency.
    I enjoy the process of making tea, but, like you, I may not have time for it. I have my teabags ready.

    Reply
  17. I didn’t realize Royal Doulton was gone. Heck.
    It dates to 1815, so I can’t generally use it in my own writing, but anyone who moves into the Victorian era as a good, solid table detail. I tend to fall back on Sèvres since the manufactury long predates the Regency.
    I enjoy the process of making tea, but, like you, I may not have time for it. I have my teabags ready.

    Reply
  18. I didn’t realize Royal Doulton was gone. Heck.
    It dates to 1815, so I can’t generally use it in my own writing, but anyone who moves into the Victorian era as a good, solid table detail. I tend to fall back on Sèvres since the manufactury long predates the Regency.
    I enjoy the process of making tea, but, like you, I may not have time for it. I have my teabags ready.

    Reply
  19. I didn’t realize Royal Doulton was gone. Heck.
    It dates to 1815, so I can’t generally use it in my own writing, but anyone who moves into the Victorian era as a good, solid table detail. I tend to fall back on Sèvres since the manufactury long predates the Regency.
    I enjoy the process of making tea, but, like you, I may not have time for it. I have my teabags ready.

    Reply
  20. I didn’t realize Royal Doulton was gone. Heck.
    It dates to 1815, so I can’t generally use it in my own writing, but anyone who moves into the Victorian era as a good, solid table detail. I tend to fall back on Sèvres since the manufactury long predates the Regency.
    I enjoy the process of making tea, but, like you, I may not have time for it. I have my teabags ready.

    Reply
  21. What a lovely story of tea! As a Southerner in the US, I grew up drinking iced sweet tea, and since I do not typically care for hot drinks, that’s what I still drink. I love it. However, I once went out with a man who lived next door to me while we were both in grad school. He was a native of Kenya, and grew up with the British traditions there. He made a proper British tea for me once, with steeped tea in a pot and a small plate of biscuits (the British kind). That was the best tea I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  22. What a lovely story of tea! As a Southerner in the US, I grew up drinking iced sweet tea, and since I do not typically care for hot drinks, that’s what I still drink. I love it. However, I once went out with a man who lived next door to me while we were both in grad school. He was a native of Kenya, and grew up with the British traditions there. He made a proper British tea for me once, with steeped tea in a pot and a small plate of biscuits (the British kind). That was the best tea I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  23. What a lovely story of tea! As a Southerner in the US, I grew up drinking iced sweet tea, and since I do not typically care for hot drinks, that’s what I still drink. I love it. However, I once went out with a man who lived next door to me while we were both in grad school. He was a native of Kenya, and grew up with the British traditions there. He made a proper British tea for me once, with steeped tea in a pot and a small plate of biscuits (the British kind). That was the best tea I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  24. What a lovely story of tea! As a Southerner in the US, I grew up drinking iced sweet tea, and since I do not typically care for hot drinks, that’s what I still drink. I love it. However, I once went out with a man who lived next door to me while we were both in grad school. He was a native of Kenya, and grew up with the British traditions there. He made a proper British tea for me once, with steeped tea in a pot and a small plate of biscuits (the British kind). That was the best tea I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  25. What a lovely story of tea! As a Southerner in the US, I grew up drinking iced sweet tea, and since I do not typically care for hot drinks, that’s what I still drink. I love it. However, I once went out with a man who lived next door to me while we were both in grad school. He was a native of Kenya, and grew up with the British traditions there. He made a proper British tea for me once, with steeped tea in a pot and a small plate of biscuits (the British kind). That was the best tea I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  26. I do have a fancy tea set – several – which I inherited when my grandmother passed away. However, they all live in the china cabinet, to be admired (by me), instead of enjoyed, and I’m starting to think that is just plain silly.
    When I want a cup of tea, which is often, I use my Keurig for the hot water and just drop a tea bag in a coffee mug. I feel like a barbarian after reading this! I think I will break into the china cabinet and actually use some of my tea cups!

    Reply
  27. I do have a fancy tea set – several – which I inherited when my grandmother passed away. However, they all live in the china cabinet, to be admired (by me), instead of enjoyed, and I’m starting to think that is just plain silly.
    When I want a cup of tea, which is often, I use my Keurig for the hot water and just drop a tea bag in a coffee mug. I feel like a barbarian after reading this! I think I will break into the china cabinet and actually use some of my tea cups!

    Reply
  28. I do have a fancy tea set – several – which I inherited when my grandmother passed away. However, they all live in the china cabinet, to be admired (by me), instead of enjoyed, and I’m starting to think that is just plain silly.
    When I want a cup of tea, which is often, I use my Keurig for the hot water and just drop a tea bag in a coffee mug. I feel like a barbarian after reading this! I think I will break into the china cabinet and actually use some of my tea cups!

    Reply
  29. I do have a fancy tea set – several – which I inherited when my grandmother passed away. However, they all live in the china cabinet, to be admired (by me), instead of enjoyed, and I’m starting to think that is just plain silly.
    When I want a cup of tea, which is often, I use my Keurig for the hot water and just drop a tea bag in a coffee mug. I feel like a barbarian after reading this! I think I will break into the china cabinet and actually use some of my tea cups!

    Reply
  30. I do have a fancy tea set – several – which I inherited when my grandmother passed away. However, they all live in the china cabinet, to be admired (by me), instead of enjoyed, and I’m starting to think that is just plain silly.
    When I want a cup of tea, which is often, I use my Keurig for the hot water and just drop a tea bag in a coffee mug. I feel like a barbarian after reading this! I think I will break into the china cabinet and actually use some of my tea cups!

    Reply
  31. There are some places one can go OUT to tea and have it served at a table with a cloth and fine china. They generally provide a choice of masses of pastries and other treats.
    Special treat for me when I visit family sometimes.

    Reply
  32. There are some places one can go OUT to tea and have it served at a table with a cloth and fine china. They generally provide a choice of masses of pastries and other treats.
    Special treat for me when I visit family sometimes.

    Reply
  33. There are some places one can go OUT to tea and have it served at a table with a cloth and fine china. They generally provide a choice of masses of pastries and other treats.
    Special treat for me when I visit family sometimes.

    Reply
  34. There are some places one can go OUT to tea and have it served at a table with a cloth and fine china. They generally provide a choice of masses of pastries and other treats.
    Special treat for me when I visit family sometimes.

    Reply
  35. There are some places one can go OUT to tea and have it served at a table with a cloth and fine china. They generally provide a choice of masses of pastries and other treats.
    Special treat for me when I visit family sometimes.

    Reply
  36. That’s a cool idea. Even if you heat water with a coffee maker and put tea bags in the cup it’s still worth the extra minute or two to pull a beautiful object from the cabinet and enjoy it.
    Makes the tea taste better, jo maintains stoutly.

    Reply
  37. That’s a cool idea. Even if you heat water with a coffee maker and put tea bags in the cup it’s still worth the extra minute or two to pull a beautiful object from the cabinet and enjoy it.
    Makes the tea taste better, jo maintains stoutly.

    Reply
  38. That’s a cool idea. Even if you heat water with a coffee maker and put tea bags in the cup it’s still worth the extra minute or two to pull a beautiful object from the cabinet and enjoy it.
    Makes the tea taste better, jo maintains stoutly.

    Reply
  39. That’s a cool idea. Even if you heat water with a coffee maker and put tea bags in the cup it’s still worth the extra minute or two to pull a beautiful object from the cabinet and enjoy it.
    Makes the tea taste better, jo maintains stoutly.

    Reply
  40. That’s a cool idea. Even if you heat water with a coffee maker and put tea bags in the cup it’s still worth the extra minute or two to pull a beautiful object from the cabinet and enjoy it.
    Makes the tea taste better, jo maintains stoutly.

    Reply
  41. I did not have much exposure to tea until I went to live in England for many years. Then I fell in love. Learned about warming the pot, tea cozies, putting milk in the cup first and, of course, scones and clotted cream. Even when I make a full pot, and not just a mug, it never tastes like it did during those wonderful 12 years in England.

    Reply
  42. I did not have much exposure to tea until I went to live in England for many years. Then I fell in love. Learned about warming the pot, tea cozies, putting milk in the cup first and, of course, scones and clotted cream. Even when I make a full pot, and not just a mug, it never tastes like it did during those wonderful 12 years in England.

    Reply
  43. I did not have much exposure to tea until I went to live in England for many years. Then I fell in love. Learned about warming the pot, tea cozies, putting milk in the cup first and, of course, scones and clotted cream. Even when I make a full pot, and not just a mug, it never tastes like it did during those wonderful 12 years in England.

    Reply
  44. I did not have much exposure to tea until I went to live in England for many years. Then I fell in love. Learned about warming the pot, tea cozies, putting milk in the cup first and, of course, scones and clotted cream. Even when I make a full pot, and not just a mug, it never tastes like it did during those wonderful 12 years in England.

    Reply
  45. I did not have much exposure to tea until I went to live in England for many years. Then I fell in love. Learned about warming the pot, tea cozies, putting milk in the cup first and, of course, scones and clotted cream. Even when I make a full pot, and not just a mug, it never tastes like it did during those wonderful 12 years in England.

    Reply
  46. My family were tea drinkers (my mother born in Scotland), and I still drink tea every day. I have an antique tea service that my mother bought someplace, and the sugar bowl is huge. She told me it was because of the large lumps of sugar that came from the cones as you mentioned, and also because the sugar was less refined than what we use today. Afternoon teas that I remember fondly include those at Marshall Fields in Chicago and at The Homestead resort in Virginia.

    Reply
  47. My family were tea drinkers (my mother born in Scotland), and I still drink tea every day. I have an antique tea service that my mother bought someplace, and the sugar bowl is huge. She told me it was because of the large lumps of sugar that came from the cones as you mentioned, and also because the sugar was less refined than what we use today. Afternoon teas that I remember fondly include those at Marshall Fields in Chicago and at The Homestead resort in Virginia.

    Reply
  48. My family were tea drinkers (my mother born in Scotland), and I still drink tea every day. I have an antique tea service that my mother bought someplace, and the sugar bowl is huge. She told me it was because of the large lumps of sugar that came from the cones as you mentioned, and also because the sugar was less refined than what we use today. Afternoon teas that I remember fondly include those at Marshall Fields in Chicago and at The Homestead resort in Virginia.

    Reply
  49. My family were tea drinkers (my mother born in Scotland), and I still drink tea every day. I have an antique tea service that my mother bought someplace, and the sugar bowl is huge. She told me it was because of the large lumps of sugar that came from the cones as you mentioned, and also because the sugar was less refined than what we use today. Afternoon teas that I remember fondly include those at Marshall Fields in Chicago and at The Homestead resort in Virginia.

    Reply
  50. My family were tea drinkers (my mother born in Scotland), and I still drink tea every day. I have an antique tea service that my mother bought someplace, and the sugar bowl is huge. She told me it was because of the large lumps of sugar that came from the cones as you mentioned, and also because the sugar was less refined than what we use today. Afternoon teas that I remember fondly include those at Marshall Fields in Chicago and at The Homestead resort in Virginia.

    Reply
  51. I drink tea all the time, and I am less concerned with the pot than with the cup. My coffee can stand up to a mug, but I would much rather drink my tea (no milk or sugar, only an occasional slice of lemon) from a delicate china cup.
    To be a bit picky though, I really don’t think Regency ladies would be having scones with their tea. What we call cookies, yes, and sponge cakes or yeast cakes, but not what we think of as scones. Our scones require baking powder, which isn’t around until the 1840s. There were things called scones earlier, but they were flat cakes of oat or barley meal and water cooked on a griddle—for for the poor, not the tea table.

    Reply
  52. I drink tea all the time, and I am less concerned with the pot than with the cup. My coffee can stand up to a mug, but I would much rather drink my tea (no milk or sugar, only an occasional slice of lemon) from a delicate china cup.
    To be a bit picky though, I really don’t think Regency ladies would be having scones with their tea. What we call cookies, yes, and sponge cakes or yeast cakes, but not what we think of as scones. Our scones require baking powder, which isn’t around until the 1840s. There were things called scones earlier, but they were flat cakes of oat or barley meal and water cooked on a griddle—for for the poor, not the tea table.

    Reply
  53. I drink tea all the time, and I am less concerned with the pot than with the cup. My coffee can stand up to a mug, but I would much rather drink my tea (no milk or sugar, only an occasional slice of lemon) from a delicate china cup.
    To be a bit picky though, I really don’t think Regency ladies would be having scones with their tea. What we call cookies, yes, and sponge cakes or yeast cakes, but not what we think of as scones. Our scones require baking powder, which isn’t around until the 1840s. There were things called scones earlier, but they were flat cakes of oat or barley meal and water cooked on a griddle—for for the poor, not the tea table.

    Reply
  54. I drink tea all the time, and I am less concerned with the pot than with the cup. My coffee can stand up to a mug, but I would much rather drink my tea (no milk or sugar, only an occasional slice of lemon) from a delicate china cup.
    To be a bit picky though, I really don’t think Regency ladies would be having scones with their tea. What we call cookies, yes, and sponge cakes or yeast cakes, but not what we think of as scones. Our scones require baking powder, which isn’t around until the 1840s. There were things called scones earlier, but they were flat cakes of oat or barley meal and water cooked on a griddle—for for the poor, not the tea table.

    Reply
  55. I drink tea all the time, and I am less concerned with the pot than with the cup. My coffee can stand up to a mug, but I would much rather drink my tea (no milk or sugar, only an occasional slice of lemon) from a delicate china cup.
    To be a bit picky though, I really don’t think Regency ladies would be having scones with their tea. What we call cookies, yes, and sponge cakes or yeast cakes, but not what we think of as scones. Our scones require baking powder, which isn’t around until the 1840s. There were things called scones earlier, but they were flat cakes of oat or barley meal and water cooked on a griddle—for for the poor, not the tea table.

    Reply
  56. Some of the difference in taste may be an actual difference in the tea. I suspect even the British tea companies use different blends for the United States, under the impression that we like … I dunnoh … different.
    The best tea I ever bought was in Hungary. Lovely black tea.
    My local coffee shop sells tea on the side. I was teaching the barista how to warm the tea pot. I am an emissary from tea land.

    Reply
  57. Some of the difference in taste may be an actual difference in the tea. I suspect even the British tea companies use different blends for the United States, under the impression that we like … I dunnoh … different.
    The best tea I ever bought was in Hungary. Lovely black tea.
    My local coffee shop sells tea on the side. I was teaching the barista how to warm the tea pot. I am an emissary from tea land.

    Reply
  58. Some of the difference in taste may be an actual difference in the tea. I suspect even the British tea companies use different blends for the United States, under the impression that we like … I dunnoh … different.
    The best tea I ever bought was in Hungary. Lovely black tea.
    My local coffee shop sells tea on the side. I was teaching the barista how to warm the tea pot. I am an emissary from tea land.

    Reply
  59. Some of the difference in taste may be an actual difference in the tea. I suspect even the British tea companies use different blends for the United States, under the impression that we like … I dunnoh … different.
    The best tea I ever bought was in Hungary. Lovely black tea.
    My local coffee shop sells tea on the side. I was teaching the barista how to warm the tea pot. I am an emissary from tea land.

    Reply
  60. Some of the difference in taste may be an actual difference in the tea. I suspect even the British tea companies use different blends for the United States, under the impression that we like … I dunnoh … different.
    The best tea I ever bought was in Hungary. Lovely black tea.
    My local coffee shop sells tea on the side. I was teaching the barista how to warm the tea pot. I am an emissary from tea land.

    Reply
  61. The sugar bowl is huge (I think) for a couple reasons.
    Sugar was expensive, so it was a display of your prosperity and a kind offering of something special to the guests.
    Sugar lumps were large and the sugar was less refined. My Aunt used to serve what they now call turbinado sugar but which she called brown sugar — though it wasn’t like the brown sugar I had at home, an early lesson in cultural awareness.
    Sugar lumps were not uniform. There’d be big ones and small ones and lopsided funny-looking ones. The big bowl let you make a considered and lengthy choice in this important aspect of the tea drinking.
    I’ve never been to The Homestead which is not all that distant. Perhaps someday.

    Reply
  62. The sugar bowl is huge (I think) for a couple reasons.
    Sugar was expensive, so it was a display of your prosperity and a kind offering of something special to the guests.
    Sugar lumps were large and the sugar was less refined. My Aunt used to serve what they now call turbinado sugar but which she called brown sugar — though it wasn’t like the brown sugar I had at home, an early lesson in cultural awareness.
    Sugar lumps were not uniform. There’d be big ones and small ones and lopsided funny-looking ones. The big bowl let you make a considered and lengthy choice in this important aspect of the tea drinking.
    I’ve never been to The Homestead which is not all that distant. Perhaps someday.

    Reply
  63. The sugar bowl is huge (I think) for a couple reasons.
    Sugar was expensive, so it was a display of your prosperity and a kind offering of something special to the guests.
    Sugar lumps were large and the sugar was less refined. My Aunt used to serve what they now call turbinado sugar but which she called brown sugar — though it wasn’t like the brown sugar I had at home, an early lesson in cultural awareness.
    Sugar lumps were not uniform. There’d be big ones and small ones and lopsided funny-looking ones. The big bowl let you make a considered and lengthy choice in this important aspect of the tea drinking.
    I’ve never been to The Homestead which is not all that distant. Perhaps someday.

    Reply
  64. The sugar bowl is huge (I think) for a couple reasons.
    Sugar was expensive, so it was a display of your prosperity and a kind offering of something special to the guests.
    Sugar lumps were large and the sugar was less refined. My Aunt used to serve what they now call turbinado sugar but which she called brown sugar — though it wasn’t like the brown sugar I had at home, an early lesson in cultural awareness.
    Sugar lumps were not uniform. There’d be big ones and small ones and lopsided funny-looking ones. The big bowl let you make a considered and lengthy choice in this important aspect of the tea drinking.
    I’ve never been to The Homestead which is not all that distant. Perhaps someday.

    Reply
  65. The sugar bowl is huge (I think) for a couple reasons.
    Sugar was expensive, so it was a display of your prosperity and a kind offering of something special to the guests.
    Sugar lumps were large and the sugar was less refined. My Aunt used to serve what they now call turbinado sugar but which she called brown sugar — though it wasn’t like the brown sugar I had at home, an early lesson in cultural awareness.
    Sugar lumps were not uniform. There’d be big ones and small ones and lopsided funny-looking ones. The big bowl let you make a considered and lengthy choice in this important aspect of the tea drinking.
    I’ve never been to The Homestead which is not all that distant. Perhaps someday.

    Reply
  66. Yes. Yes. Delicate china cup. I haz ’em.
    I have all kindsa different cups, one for each mood (and one that the kids made for me that is lopsided.)
    I will keep what you say about scones in mind. I had almost sorta known this in the back of my mind but I had not focused on the knowledge.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  67. Yes. Yes. Delicate china cup. I haz ’em.
    I have all kindsa different cups, one for each mood (and one that the kids made for me that is lopsided.)
    I will keep what you say about scones in mind. I had almost sorta known this in the back of my mind but I had not focused on the knowledge.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  68. Yes. Yes. Delicate china cup. I haz ’em.
    I have all kindsa different cups, one for each mood (and one that the kids made for me that is lopsided.)
    I will keep what you say about scones in mind. I had almost sorta known this in the back of my mind but I had not focused on the knowledge.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  69. Yes. Yes. Delicate china cup. I haz ’em.
    I have all kindsa different cups, one for each mood (and one that the kids made for me that is lopsided.)
    I will keep what you say about scones in mind. I had almost sorta known this in the back of my mind but I had not focused on the knowledge.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  70. Yes. Yes. Delicate china cup. I haz ’em.
    I have all kindsa different cups, one for each mood (and one that the kids made for me that is lopsided.)
    I will keep what you say about scones in mind. I had almost sorta known this in the back of my mind but I had not focused on the knowledge.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  71. I have just seen that the teapot I’ve had my eye on, and which I put on my wedding list, has been bought for us which is very pleasing. Count me as another tea addict, and I do like to drink it from a pretty cup.
    One thing that does pull me out of a story is when I read of someone putting *cream* in tea: I’m English and don’t understand this at all. Cream in coffee for sure, but cream in tea – is this an American thing?

    Reply
  72. I have just seen that the teapot I’ve had my eye on, and which I put on my wedding list, has been bought for us which is very pleasing. Count me as another tea addict, and I do like to drink it from a pretty cup.
    One thing that does pull me out of a story is when I read of someone putting *cream* in tea: I’m English and don’t understand this at all. Cream in coffee for sure, but cream in tea – is this an American thing?

    Reply
  73. I have just seen that the teapot I’ve had my eye on, and which I put on my wedding list, has been bought for us which is very pleasing. Count me as another tea addict, and I do like to drink it from a pretty cup.
    One thing that does pull me out of a story is when I read of someone putting *cream* in tea: I’m English and don’t understand this at all. Cream in coffee for sure, but cream in tea – is this an American thing?

    Reply
  74. I have just seen that the teapot I’ve had my eye on, and which I put on my wedding list, has been bought for us which is very pleasing. Count me as another tea addict, and I do like to drink it from a pretty cup.
    One thing that does pull me out of a story is when I read of someone putting *cream* in tea: I’m English and don’t understand this at all. Cream in coffee for sure, but cream in tea – is this an American thing?

    Reply
  75. I have just seen that the teapot I’ve had my eye on, and which I put on my wedding list, has been bought for us which is very pleasing. Count me as another tea addict, and I do like to drink it from a pretty cup.
    One thing that does pull me out of a story is when I read of someone putting *cream* in tea: I’m English and don’t understand this at all. Cream in coffee for sure, but cream in tea – is this an American thing?

    Reply
  76. I’m so happy you’ll be getting this teapot that you want and that it will be part of such a happy time.
    The ‘cream in tea puzzles’ me as well. I mean — it wouldn’t even taste good, leaving aside British custom. Milk (at room temperature) in tea. Or, like, yak butter.
    Some of it may be American coffee drinkers, well meaning but ignorant. But I wonder. Could this possibly come from folks who have heard of ‘cream teas’?
    A cream tea, for those to whom this is not everyday terminology, is (where would we be without wikipedia) “a form of afternoon … light meal, consisting of tea taken with a combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam.”

    Reply
  77. I’m so happy you’ll be getting this teapot that you want and that it will be part of such a happy time.
    The ‘cream in tea puzzles’ me as well. I mean — it wouldn’t even taste good, leaving aside British custom. Milk (at room temperature) in tea. Or, like, yak butter.
    Some of it may be American coffee drinkers, well meaning but ignorant. But I wonder. Could this possibly come from folks who have heard of ‘cream teas’?
    A cream tea, for those to whom this is not everyday terminology, is (where would we be without wikipedia) “a form of afternoon … light meal, consisting of tea taken with a combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam.”

    Reply
  78. I’m so happy you’ll be getting this teapot that you want and that it will be part of such a happy time.
    The ‘cream in tea puzzles’ me as well. I mean — it wouldn’t even taste good, leaving aside British custom. Milk (at room temperature) in tea. Or, like, yak butter.
    Some of it may be American coffee drinkers, well meaning but ignorant. But I wonder. Could this possibly come from folks who have heard of ‘cream teas’?
    A cream tea, for those to whom this is not everyday terminology, is (where would we be without wikipedia) “a form of afternoon … light meal, consisting of tea taken with a combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam.”

    Reply
  79. I’m so happy you’ll be getting this teapot that you want and that it will be part of such a happy time.
    The ‘cream in tea puzzles’ me as well. I mean — it wouldn’t even taste good, leaving aside British custom. Milk (at room temperature) in tea. Or, like, yak butter.
    Some of it may be American coffee drinkers, well meaning but ignorant. But I wonder. Could this possibly come from folks who have heard of ‘cream teas’?
    A cream tea, for those to whom this is not everyday terminology, is (where would we be without wikipedia) “a form of afternoon … light meal, consisting of tea taken with a combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam.”

    Reply
  80. I’m so happy you’ll be getting this teapot that you want and that it will be part of such a happy time.
    The ‘cream in tea puzzles’ me as well. I mean — it wouldn’t even taste good, leaving aside British custom. Milk (at room temperature) in tea. Or, like, yak butter.
    Some of it may be American coffee drinkers, well meaning but ignorant. But I wonder. Could this possibly come from folks who have heard of ‘cream teas’?
    A cream tea, for those to whom this is not everyday terminology, is (where would we be without wikipedia) “a form of afternoon … light meal, consisting of tea taken with a combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam.”

    Reply
  81. I love this post! I’ve been looking for the perfect teapot for nearly 30 years and finally found one this year Denby from its Peveril line: http://m.denbyusa.com/pev091d.html. I’ve also handed down to my daughter my grandmother’s ritual of “waking up” and rinsing the teapot before setting the tea to steep all snugly warm in tea towel. We even observed the Dowager Grantham doing the same on Downton Abbey!

    Reply
  82. I love this post! I’ve been looking for the perfect teapot for nearly 30 years and finally found one this year Denby from its Peveril line: http://m.denbyusa.com/pev091d.html. I’ve also handed down to my daughter my grandmother’s ritual of “waking up” and rinsing the teapot before setting the tea to steep all snugly warm in tea towel. We even observed the Dowager Grantham doing the same on Downton Abbey!

    Reply
  83. I love this post! I’ve been looking for the perfect teapot for nearly 30 years and finally found one this year Denby from its Peveril line: http://m.denbyusa.com/pev091d.html. I’ve also handed down to my daughter my grandmother’s ritual of “waking up” and rinsing the teapot before setting the tea to steep all snugly warm in tea towel. We even observed the Dowager Grantham doing the same on Downton Abbey!

    Reply
  84. I love this post! I’ve been looking for the perfect teapot for nearly 30 years and finally found one this year Denby from its Peveril line: http://m.denbyusa.com/pev091d.html. I’ve also handed down to my daughter my grandmother’s ritual of “waking up” and rinsing the teapot before setting the tea to steep all snugly warm in tea towel. We even observed the Dowager Grantham doing the same on Downton Abbey!

    Reply
  85. I love this post! I’ve been looking for the perfect teapot for nearly 30 years and finally found one this year Denby from its Peveril line: http://m.denbyusa.com/pev091d.html. I’ve also handed down to my daughter my grandmother’s ritual of “waking up” and rinsing the teapot before setting the tea to steep all snugly warm in tea towel. We even observed the Dowager Grantham doing the same on Downton Abbey!

    Reply
  86. I drink tea, but nowadays I drink an odd combination of very very weak tea combined with a fizzy soda-water (either Diet Fresca or a brand called LaCroix, which is really fizzy water with flavor but no sweetener This is served cold). I like this, and the flavor varies daily. I created this form of drink because it meets some health issues for me. It certainly wouldn’t fit into any proper tea service of Regency or Victorian times! (And I have always preferred weak tea — just a personal trait.)
    As to tea sets. I own an incomplete Victorian service which was my Grandmother’s. We don’t use it because it is truly an heirloom, complete with family story about how my grandmother saved the set from a house fire. We display it as a proud possession. The pattern is an old U. S. pattern called flow ware and the sugar bowl and milk pitcher are nearly as large as the teapot!. The cups have no handles.

    Reply
  87. I drink tea, but nowadays I drink an odd combination of very very weak tea combined with a fizzy soda-water (either Diet Fresca or a brand called LaCroix, which is really fizzy water with flavor but no sweetener This is served cold). I like this, and the flavor varies daily. I created this form of drink because it meets some health issues for me. It certainly wouldn’t fit into any proper tea service of Regency or Victorian times! (And I have always preferred weak tea — just a personal trait.)
    As to tea sets. I own an incomplete Victorian service which was my Grandmother’s. We don’t use it because it is truly an heirloom, complete with family story about how my grandmother saved the set from a house fire. We display it as a proud possession. The pattern is an old U. S. pattern called flow ware and the sugar bowl and milk pitcher are nearly as large as the teapot!. The cups have no handles.

    Reply
  88. I drink tea, but nowadays I drink an odd combination of very very weak tea combined with a fizzy soda-water (either Diet Fresca or a brand called LaCroix, which is really fizzy water with flavor but no sweetener This is served cold). I like this, and the flavor varies daily. I created this form of drink because it meets some health issues for me. It certainly wouldn’t fit into any proper tea service of Regency or Victorian times! (And I have always preferred weak tea — just a personal trait.)
    As to tea sets. I own an incomplete Victorian service which was my Grandmother’s. We don’t use it because it is truly an heirloom, complete with family story about how my grandmother saved the set from a house fire. We display it as a proud possession. The pattern is an old U. S. pattern called flow ware and the sugar bowl and milk pitcher are nearly as large as the teapot!. The cups have no handles.

    Reply
  89. I drink tea, but nowadays I drink an odd combination of very very weak tea combined with a fizzy soda-water (either Diet Fresca or a brand called LaCroix, which is really fizzy water with flavor but no sweetener This is served cold). I like this, and the flavor varies daily. I created this form of drink because it meets some health issues for me. It certainly wouldn’t fit into any proper tea service of Regency or Victorian times! (And I have always preferred weak tea — just a personal trait.)
    As to tea sets. I own an incomplete Victorian service which was my Grandmother’s. We don’t use it because it is truly an heirloom, complete with family story about how my grandmother saved the set from a house fire. We display it as a proud possession. The pattern is an old U. S. pattern called flow ware and the sugar bowl and milk pitcher are nearly as large as the teapot!. The cups have no handles.

    Reply
  90. I drink tea, but nowadays I drink an odd combination of very very weak tea combined with a fizzy soda-water (either Diet Fresca or a brand called LaCroix, which is really fizzy water with flavor but no sweetener This is served cold). I like this, and the flavor varies daily. I created this form of drink because it meets some health issues for me. It certainly wouldn’t fit into any proper tea service of Regency or Victorian times! (And I have always preferred weak tea — just a personal trait.)
    As to tea sets. I own an incomplete Victorian service which was my Grandmother’s. We don’t use it because it is truly an heirloom, complete with family story about how my grandmother saved the set from a house fire. We display it as a proud possession. The pattern is an old U. S. pattern called flow ware and the sugar bowl and milk pitcher are nearly as large as the teapot!. The cups have no handles.

    Reply
  91. Oh my. That’s a lovely teapot. So jaunty and such an organic shape.
    How wonderful to pass the ‘tea knowledge’ on to a next generation. I have a knitted tea cozy for my pot and I feel quite cherishing and protective when I settle it over the brewing tea.

    Reply
  92. Oh my. That’s a lovely teapot. So jaunty and such an organic shape.
    How wonderful to pass the ‘tea knowledge’ on to a next generation. I have a knitted tea cozy for my pot and I feel quite cherishing and protective when I settle it over the brewing tea.

    Reply
  93. Oh my. That’s a lovely teapot. So jaunty and such an organic shape.
    How wonderful to pass the ‘tea knowledge’ on to a next generation. I have a knitted tea cozy for my pot and I feel quite cherishing and protective when I settle it over the brewing tea.

    Reply
  94. Oh my. That’s a lovely teapot. So jaunty and such an organic shape.
    How wonderful to pass the ‘tea knowledge’ on to a next generation. I have a knitted tea cozy for my pot and I feel quite cherishing and protective when I settle it over the brewing tea.

    Reply
  95. Oh my. That’s a lovely teapot. So jaunty and such an organic shape.
    How wonderful to pass the ‘tea knowledge’ on to a next generation. I have a knitted tea cozy for my pot and I feel quite cherishing and protective when I settle it over the brewing tea.

    Reply
  96. There seem to be many shapes and patterns to the Victorian ‘flow ware’ teapots, all of them quite lovely. The handleless cups would seem to say this is an old set indeed.
    Your ‘iced tea’ sounds quite lovely. I live in the South and we are inventive with out teas.
    Oddly, our Regency folks never seem to have invented iced tea, or cooled tea, or tea-with-ale …

    Reply
  97. There seem to be many shapes and patterns to the Victorian ‘flow ware’ teapots, all of them quite lovely. The handleless cups would seem to say this is an old set indeed.
    Your ‘iced tea’ sounds quite lovely. I live in the South and we are inventive with out teas.
    Oddly, our Regency folks never seem to have invented iced tea, or cooled tea, or tea-with-ale …

    Reply
  98. There seem to be many shapes and patterns to the Victorian ‘flow ware’ teapots, all of them quite lovely. The handleless cups would seem to say this is an old set indeed.
    Your ‘iced tea’ sounds quite lovely. I live in the South and we are inventive with out teas.
    Oddly, our Regency folks never seem to have invented iced tea, or cooled tea, or tea-with-ale …

    Reply
  99. There seem to be many shapes and patterns to the Victorian ‘flow ware’ teapots, all of them quite lovely. The handleless cups would seem to say this is an old set indeed.
    Your ‘iced tea’ sounds quite lovely. I live in the South and we are inventive with out teas.
    Oddly, our Regency folks never seem to have invented iced tea, or cooled tea, or tea-with-ale …

    Reply
  100. There seem to be many shapes and patterns to the Victorian ‘flow ware’ teapots, all of them quite lovely. The handleless cups would seem to say this is an old set indeed.
    Your ‘iced tea’ sounds quite lovely. I live in the South and we are inventive with out teas.
    Oddly, our Regency folks never seem to have invented iced tea, or cooled tea, or tea-with-ale …

    Reply
  101. I’ve heard it said that much of the tea sold in America would be “floor sweepings” from the processing factory. The real, whole leaf tea tastes so much better. It may also have something to do with the water.

    Reply
  102. I’ve heard it said that much of the tea sold in America would be “floor sweepings” from the processing factory. The real, whole leaf tea tastes so much better. It may also have something to do with the water.

    Reply
  103. I’ve heard it said that much of the tea sold in America would be “floor sweepings” from the processing factory. The real, whole leaf tea tastes so much better. It may also have something to do with the water.

    Reply
  104. I’ve heard it said that much of the tea sold in America would be “floor sweepings” from the processing factory. The real, whole leaf tea tastes so much better. It may also have something to do with the water.

    Reply
  105. I’ve heard it said that much of the tea sold in America would be “floor sweepings” from the processing factory. The real, whole leaf tea tastes so much better. It may also have something to do with the water.

    Reply
  106. It’s the tea bag that rang the death knell for good tea.
    A teabag makes usable the broken bits, the veritable crumblings, even the dust, of tea. They contain lord knows what mixture.
    I’m careful what sort of tea bags I buy and much prefer the loose tea.

    Reply
  107. It’s the tea bag that rang the death knell for good tea.
    A teabag makes usable the broken bits, the veritable crumblings, even the dust, of tea. They contain lord knows what mixture.
    I’m careful what sort of tea bags I buy and much prefer the loose tea.

    Reply
  108. It’s the tea bag that rang the death knell for good tea.
    A teabag makes usable the broken bits, the veritable crumblings, even the dust, of tea. They contain lord knows what mixture.
    I’m careful what sort of tea bags I buy and much prefer the loose tea.

    Reply
  109. It’s the tea bag that rang the death knell for good tea.
    A teabag makes usable the broken bits, the veritable crumblings, even the dust, of tea. They contain lord knows what mixture.
    I’m careful what sort of tea bags I buy and much prefer the loose tea.

    Reply
  110. It’s the tea bag that rang the death knell for good tea.
    A teabag makes usable the broken bits, the veritable crumblings, even the dust, of tea. They contain lord knows what mixture.
    I’m careful what sort of tea bags I buy and much prefer the loose tea.

    Reply
  111. I was brought up in Ireland and the ‘cup of tea’ was the panacea for all ills and troubles. I drank a lot of tea. Two years ago I had to give up dairy and just could not drink tea black. I drink nettle tea now. And even though I’ve gotten used to it and enjoy it I still sometimes just wish I could sit down in the afternoon with a big mug of milky tea. It’s amazing the memories the mention of tea drinking has brought back to people reading the blog.

    Reply
  112. I was brought up in Ireland and the ‘cup of tea’ was the panacea for all ills and troubles. I drank a lot of tea. Two years ago I had to give up dairy and just could not drink tea black. I drink nettle tea now. And even though I’ve gotten used to it and enjoy it I still sometimes just wish I could sit down in the afternoon with a big mug of milky tea. It’s amazing the memories the mention of tea drinking has brought back to people reading the blog.

    Reply
  113. I was brought up in Ireland and the ‘cup of tea’ was the panacea for all ills and troubles. I drank a lot of tea. Two years ago I had to give up dairy and just could not drink tea black. I drink nettle tea now. And even though I’ve gotten used to it and enjoy it I still sometimes just wish I could sit down in the afternoon with a big mug of milky tea. It’s amazing the memories the mention of tea drinking has brought back to people reading the blog.

    Reply
  114. I was brought up in Ireland and the ‘cup of tea’ was the panacea for all ills and troubles. I drank a lot of tea. Two years ago I had to give up dairy and just could not drink tea black. I drink nettle tea now. And even though I’ve gotten used to it and enjoy it I still sometimes just wish I could sit down in the afternoon with a big mug of milky tea. It’s amazing the memories the mention of tea drinking has brought back to people reading the blog.

    Reply
  115. I was brought up in Ireland and the ‘cup of tea’ was the panacea for all ills and troubles. I drank a lot of tea. Two years ago I had to give up dairy and just could not drink tea black. I drink nettle tea now. And even though I’ve gotten used to it and enjoy it I still sometimes just wish I could sit down in the afternoon with a big mug of milky tea. It’s amazing the memories the mention of tea drinking has brought back to people reading the blog.

    Reply
  116. There’s nothing, really, like milk in tea or coffee. The substitutes are not the same. If I can’t get milk, I’d rather drink tea or coffee black than use soymilk of the artificial creamers.
    I’m lucky in that I don’t mind drinking it black. Lucky also in the variety and excellence of herb teas these days.
    I like my herb teas in delicate little china cups, rather than the hand-thrown pottery I generally use. I make some of those cups myself.
    My favorite herbal is simple peppermint. I don’t think I’ve ever had nettle tea. I understand it’s supposed to be good for you.

    Reply
  117. There’s nothing, really, like milk in tea or coffee. The substitutes are not the same. If I can’t get milk, I’d rather drink tea or coffee black than use soymilk of the artificial creamers.
    I’m lucky in that I don’t mind drinking it black. Lucky also in the variety and excellence of herb teas these days.
    I like my herb teas in delicate little china cups, rather than the hand-thrown pottery I generally use. I make some of those cups myself.
    My favorite herbal is simple peppermint. I don’t think I’ve ever had nettle tea. I understand it’s supposed to be good for you.

    Reply
  118. There’s nothing, really, like milk in tea or coffee. The substitutes are not the same. If I can’t get milk, I’d rather drink tea or coffee black than use soymilk of the artificial creamers.
    I’m lucky in that I don’t mind drinking it black. Lucky also in the variety and excellence of herb teas these days.
    I like my herb teas in delicate little china cups, rather than the hand-thrown pottery I generally use. I make some of those cups myself.
    My favorite herbal is simple peppermint. I don’t think I’ve ever had nettle tea. I understand it’s supposed to be good for you.

    Reply
  119. There’s nothing, really, like milk in tea or coffee. The substitutes are not the same. If I can’t get milk, I’d rather drink tea or coffee black than use soymilk of the artificial creamers.
    I’m lucky in that I don’t mind drinking it black. Lucky also in the variety and excellence of herb teas these days.
    I like my herb teas in delicate little china cups, rather than the hand-thrown pottery I generally use. I make some of those cups myself.
    My favorite herbal is simple peppermint. I don’t think I’ve ever had nettle tea. I understand it’s supposed to be good for you.

    Reply
  120. There’s nothing, really, like milk in tea or coffee. The substitutes are not the same. If I can’t get milk, I’d rather drink tea or coffee black than use soymilk of the artificial creamers.
    I’m lucky in that I don’t mind drinking it black. Lucky also in the variety and excellence of herb teas these days.
    I like my herb teas in delicate little china cups, rather than the hand-thrown pottery I generally use. I make some of those cups myself.
    My favorite herbal is simple peppermint. I don’t think I’ve ever had nettle tea. I understand it’s supposed to be good for you.

    Reply
  121. They absolutely do use different teas in other countries! When I was in the Middle East, even the ordinary Lipton tea was better, I believe it was their Yellow Label export brand.

    Reply
  122. They absolutely do use different teas in other countries! When I was in the Middle East, even the ordinary Lipton tea was better, I believe it was their Yellow Label export brand.

    Reply
  123. They absolutely do use different teas in other countries! When I was in the Middle East, even the ordinary Lipton tea was better, I believe it was their Yellow Label export brand.

    Reply
  124. They absolutely do use different teas in other countries! When I was in the Middle East, even the ordinary Lipton tea was better, I believe it was their Yellow Label export brand.

    Reply
  125. They absolutely do use different teas in other countries! When I was in the Middle East, even the ordinary Lipton tea was better, I believe it was their Yellow Label export brand.

    Reply
  126. Artificial creamers are awful, and ubiquitous in the American South! Sometimes it’s hard to even get real milk. But for chai, there is nothing like canned evaporated milk.

    Reply
  127. Artificial creamers are awful, and ubiquitous in the American South! Sometimes it’s hard to even get real milk. But for chai, there is nothing like canned evaporated milk.

    Reply
  128. Artificial creamers are awful, and ubiquitous in the American South! Sometimes it’s hard to even get real milk. But for chai, there is nothing like canned evaporated milk.

    Reply
  129. Artificial creamers are awful, and ubiquitous in the American South! Sometimes it’s hard to even get real milk. But for chai, there is nothing like canned evaporated milk.

    Reply
  130. Artificial creamers are awful, and ubiquitous in the American South! Sometimes it’s hard to even get real milk. But for chai, there is nothing like canned evaporated milk.

    Reply
  131. Yep. And the evaporated milk is — so far as I know — perfectly authentic. It’s one of the options used in the Middle East for chai.
    I even like evaporated milk in coffee. That’s the way they drink it in the back woods in Maine where you can’t get out to buy fresh milk. And the way one drinks it in Africa where fresh milk is a great luxury and often unavailable.
    I much prefer evaporated milk to those strange little creamers. (Hey. That’s just me. Other folks appreciate the special flavors.)

    Reply
  132. Yep. And the evaporated milk is — so far as I know — perfectly authentic. It’s one of the options used in the Middle East for chai.
    I even like evaporated milk in coffee. That’s the way they drink it in the back woods in Maine where you can’t get out to buy fresh milk. And the way one drinks it in Africa where fresh milk is a great luxury and often unavailable.
    I much prefer evaporated milk to those strange little creamers. (Hey. That’s just me. Other folks appreciate the special flavors.)

    Reply
  133. Yep. And the evaporated milk is — so far as I know — perfectly authentic. It’s one of the options used in the Middle East for chai.
    I even like evaporated milk in coffee. That’s the way they drink it in the back woods in Maine where you can’t get out to buy fresh milk. And the way one drinks it in Africa where fresh milk is a great luxury and often unavailable.
    I much prefer evaporated milk to those strange little creamers. (Hey. That’s just me. Other folks appreciate the special flavors.)

    Reply
  134. Yep. And the evaporated milk is — so far as I know — perfectly authentic. It’s one of the options used in the Middle East for chai.
    I even like evaporated milk in coffee. That’s the way they drink it in the back woods in Maine where you can’t get out to buy fresh milk. And the way one drinks it in Africa where fresh milk is a great luxury and often unavailable.
    I much prefer evaporated milk to those strange little creamers. (Hey. That’s just me. Other folks appreciate the special flavors.)

    Reply
  135. Yep. And the evaporated milk is — so far as I know — perfectly authentic. It’s one of the options used in the Middle East for chai.
    I even like evaporated milk in coffee. That’s the way they drink it in the back woods in Maine where you can’t get out to buy fresh milk. And the way one drinks it in Africa where fresh milk is a great luxury and often unavailable.
    I much prefer evaporated milk to those strange little creamers. (Hey. That’s just me. Other folks appreciate the special flavors.)

    Reply
  136. My neighbor’s mother, who was born in England, lived with them and she and I became friends. Our visits always ended with Tea. She now lives in a Nursing Home. I am making a quilt for her with teapots.

    Reply
  137. My neighbor’s mother, who was born in England, lived with them and she and I became friends. Our visits always ended with Tea. She now lives in a Nursing Home. I am making a quilt for her with teapots.

    Reply
  138. My neighbor’s mother, who was born in England, lived with them and she and I became friends. Our visits always ended with Tea. She now lives in a Nursing Home. I am making a quilt for her with teapots.

    Reply
  139. My neighbor’s mother, who was born in England, lived with them and she and I became friends. Our visits always ended with Tea. She now lives in a Nursing Home. I am making a quilt for her with teapots.

    Reply
  140. My neighbor’s mother, who was born in England, lived with them and she and I became friends. Our visits always ended with Tea. She now lives in a Nursing Home. I am making a quilt for her with teapots.

    Reply
  141. Jo-
    What an insightful post and fabulous following exchange! I’ve mourned the loss of places that serve tea. Tea is so civilizing, somehow. All those coffee places…Sigh…
    Binnie Syril Braunstein

    Reply
  142. Jo-
    What an insightful post and fabulous following exchange! I’ve mourned the loss of places that serve tea. Tea is so civilizing, somehow. All those coffee places…Sigh…
    Binnie Syril Braunstein

    Reply
  143. Jo-
    What an insightful post and fabulous following exchange! I’ve mourned the loss of places that serve tea. Tea is so civilizing, somehow. All those coffee places…Sigh…
    Binnie Syril Braunstein

    Reply
  144. Jo-
    What an insightful post and fabulous following exchange! I’ve mourned the loss of places that serve tea. Tea is so civilizing, somehow. All those coffee places…Sigh…
    Binnie Syril Braunstein

    Reply
  145. Jo-
    What an insightful post and fabulous following exchange! I’ve mourned the loss of places that serve tea. Tea is so civilizing, somehow. All those coffee places…Sigh…
    Binnie Syril Braunstein

    Reply

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