A good cup of tea...

What can be said about a nice hot cup of tea? On those cold nights, when the wind is whipping
‘round the side of the house and rattling the shutters it warms and comforts. After a really rotten day it soothes the nerves and quiets the voices in your head (sometimes).

Drinking tea is as much a ritual of contemplation and conversation as it is a delicious way to warm the body and refresh the mind. Tea enthusiasts can be passionate about the details: What kind of teapot to use, when were the tea leaves picked, how hot the water should be. Others simply enjoy a cup when an old friend stops by.

But how do you know if it's a good cup of tea? Is one type of tea really better than another? I suppose that decision is up to you but in order to find out this is what you need to do.



Things You Will Need:
* Loose Tea.....Here is a excellent Tea Site to make your choice from
* Insulated Pot or Tea Cozy
* Teaspoon or Mesh Tea Ball
* Teapot
* Teakettle

Step 1…Start with cold water, which retains more oxygen for fuller flavor. If your tap water is hard, use filtered or bottled water.

Step 2…Preheat your teapot: While the water is heating, fill your teapot with hot tap water, let it warm, then drain it completely.

Step 3...Measure into the teapot 1 tsp. of loose tea for every cup you plan to pour. Some tea drinkers, especially those who take milk with their tea, add an extra spoon for the pot. If you're using a mesh tea ball, don't fill it more than halfway, to allow for complete expansion of the tea leaves.

Step 4…For black teas, bring the water to a full boil. Remove the tea kettle from the heat as soon as the water begins to boil. Boiling all the oxygen out of the water will flatten the tea's flavor.

Step 5…For more delicate green teas, remove the tea kettle from the heat before the water begins boiling, at 165-170 degrees F (74-77 degrees C). Or you can add 1 part cold water to 4 parts boiling water to cool it to the ideal temperature range.

Now sit back, warm cup in hand and savor that first sip because the next post is all about Tasseography or Tasseomancy or better known as.....*cue spooky music*.....Tea Leaf Reading.