ENJOYING TEA

Recipe Rating:	1 Rating5
Categories:	Hot Drinks, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Other Drinks, Other Non-Edibles, Healthy

Ingredients

1 qt	rapidly boiling water
5 tsp	leaf tea, or 5 teabags
1	china teapot, warmed with hot water
1	tea infuser or tea strainer

Pinched by JaneNettoGrannyGoodCooker, and 74 more.

Susan Feliciano

Cooked to Perfection

Clinton, TN (pop. 9,841)

frenchtutor

Member Since Jan 2011

Susan's Notes:

I have a very British streak in me, which comes from my ancestral history. We have usually had Tea as a meal at our house in the afternoons, and if I can find a Tea Shop to visit in my travels, I always enjoy it.
This recipe for making tea includes much more than just how to boil water. I hope you enjoy the information.

Be sure to check out my new cookbook on Just A Pinch, named "Let's Have Tea."

Directions

Tea is best made with loose leaves, but good quality teabags are also available. Your flavor options are almost endless.
**START** with properly heated water. Place tea or teabags in a teapot that has been warmed with hot water. Pour the water slowly over tea leaves or teabags, then stir. Let steep 5 minutes for most BLACK TEAS. See below for variations on steeping time for different types of teas.

After steeping, strain leaves out of tea with a tea strainer as you pour each cup, or just remove the teabags. A tea infuser could also be used to contain the leaves, just remove it. This prevents the tea from becoming too strong and bitter. Serve with sugar and milk, or use honey to sweeten, and lemon if not using milk.

GREEN TEA: green tea is processed without being oxidized and retains its natural green color and a leafy or plant flavor. Green tea is full of phytochemicals and antioxidants which are supposed to be good for your immune system and fight the effects of aging.
Water does not have to be at full boil for green tea; the recommended temperature is 180°, and steep for only 3 minutes. Be sure to stir well before straining and pouring, to get all the health benefits from green tea.

WHITE TEAS are a type of green tea that contain the buds of the tea plant, immediately fired or steamed after withering. It is the least processed of any tea and has the least caffeine of true teas; some claim it also has the greatest antioxidant properties. It has a light, sweet taste. Brew as for green tea.

BLACK TEAS are the most popular teas in America. The leaves are rolled and fermented, giving them a rich dark red-to-brown color when brewed. While Lipton tea is a mixture of Orange Pekoe and Pekoe black teas, there are several different types of black tea, each with its own distinctive flavor. Some examples are Assam, Ceylon, and Darjeeling. Steep black teas for 4 - 6 minutes in fully boiling water.

OOLONG TEAS: These teas are only partly fermented, and range in color from near-green to near-black. Oolongs are often scented with flowers and herbs to take advantage of the lightness of their flavor. Almost all Oolong teas come from China. Tea purists recommend Oolongs be drunk straight without milk or sugar, to preserve the unique flavor. Water should be just starting to boil, and tea should be steeped for 3-4 minutes.

SCENTED TEAS: Chai, Earl Grey, Jasmine, and Lapsang Souchong are examples of black or Oolong teas that have been flavored with flowers and/or herbal oils. These are popular with those who find plain tea a bit bitter. Sweetening enhances the flavor of these teas, and Chai traditionally has milk added. Brew as for black teas.

There are basically two types of Tea meals.
The HIGH TEA in Britain is a full meal served after 5:00, and may include sausages, eggs, fish, or other main dishes in addition to scones and vegetables.
The AFTERNOON TEA is served around 4:00 and includes small scones, biscuits or cakes, dainty sandwiches, and bread with butter and jam or Devonshire Cream.

About Devonshire or Clotted Cream: This delicacy is not imported anymore due to issues with Mad Cow Disease. However, it is wonderful spread on scones, muffins, or toast. Here is a recipe for an acceptable substitute:
Soften 6 ounces of cream cheese, and beat until light and fluffy. Fold in 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt, and 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar until well blended. Refrigerate until serving time.

Comments

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Phyllis Lively PhyllisBaker

May 14, 2012

I love tea. I love hosting tea parties for my lady friends. Nothing like drinking a great cup of tea from a pretty delicate china teacup! I have a beautiful collection of teapots too...... thank you for sharing "enjoying tea" with me.

Susan Feliciano frenchtutor

May 15, 2012

Phyllis, I have a teapot collection, too - some were my grandmother's and even great-grandmother's. I've been collecting them, as well as cups and saucers, for years. I love a very dainty, thin-lipped teacup for tea.

Susan Feliciano frenchtutor

I shared a photo of this recipe.

Phyllis Lively PhyllisBaker

May 15, 2012

Let's see if I can post pictures of my partial collection too. Unfortunately mine are all crammed into one cabinet and "display" doesn't do justice to individuality.... many from generational hand-me-downs also. Those are the truly the best story.

Phyllis Lively PhyllisBaker

I shared a photo of this recipe.

Phyllis Lively PhyllisBaker

I shared a photo of this recipe.

Phyllis Lively PhyllisBaker

I shared a photo of this recipe.

Phyllis Lively PhyllisBaker

I shared a photo of this recipe.

Susan Feliciano frenchtutor

May 16, 2012

Phyllis, a lovely collection! Mine are scattered all about the house, too. Lots of them I don't use, like the ones with odd shapes. But most of the round ones that aren't too antique I use on a regular basis.
We had a tea for a church ladies function once, and I supplied the tea and brought 6 of my teapots to brew several different kinds of tea. I've also used several of them for a recent baby shower.

Susan Feliciano frenchtutor

Susan Feliciano [frenchtutor] has shared this recipe with discussion groups:
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jamie Beecham jamie4cakes

May 16, 2012

Susan this is so nice and we had a T Room in Wakeforest, NC it was so nice to go and look through the collections. She got tired of having this shop and now closed a few months back.
My daughter has started a collection of t-cups and we have bought 24 so far from a monthly aution we attend. It is so much fun colleting them. We gave her a t-party bridal shower when she was getting married and it was wonderful and full of fun. Everyone said it was the best shower idea they had ever been too. Love to share the pics with you some time.

Susan Feliciano frenchtutor