Monday, February 26, 2018

“TRADITIONAL TEA"


WELCOME  to teatime ...  Today, I am contemplating my Mother's  Birthday which is February the  twenty-sixth.  In her honour,  I have chosen to drink some traditional tea  from one of her favourite tea cups.





Here it is ...  a pretty pink set that is “crazed" with lots of tea sipping love. I guess “ crazing" makes the heart grow fonder( ha ha) because I love drinking my morning tea from it too.
Crazing is a network of fine lines and cracks  that appear on the glazed surface of some china. Often, it develops during firing or through years of usage and extreme temperatures ... like hot and cold. In this case, I think it adds charm to the term "vintage”. 



I researched the trademark and discovered that mom’s set is  part of the Royal Leighton 
 collection ( 1946-54) in England .  It’s notable characteristics are the thickness of the ceramic  ... even the handle and the cups' lower rim reflects a much heavier pottery than normal. Maybe, that it why it has endured the test of time.


 I love the nosegay of roses that encircle the centre of saucer.
Don’t you think that the pattern is  reminescent of a chintz ?



Chintz or not , the teaset is a brilliant old girl that seems to perk me up , so  I thought that a traditional English Tea would  compliment it nicely. Of course, I did imagined that maybe, my  Scottish Granny might have used a similar blend of tea, in a tea bag many years ago ... BUT ... Did they have teabags then?
 ( Ha Ha)


WELL ... If there is anyone who knows how to make tea, it is the British. Funnily enough, I started to question myself about brewing tea ....  Do I pour the tea over the bag or do I simply drop the teabag into the already filled cup? 
Does anyone know  how long a pot of tea should steep it for  ?

(H-m-m-m-m-m)

 GOODNESS ... I even wondered, if I should squeeze the teabags with a spoon when it was finished steeping? 

 Believe it or not, there is a right way and a wrong way of making tea, so I asked my ninety-five year old mother, Gracie.


She mentioned, that if you steep it properly, the tea would be mellow and the flavour would shine through, but if you do it wrong, the tea will would be terribly bitter.


After doing a little research, I found what might be a  perfect way of brewing 
"English” tea. 
First boil the water. Add one teabag for every three and half ounces of water. A seven-ounce teacup  should be made with TWO teabags. When the water is between 140 and 185 degrees, you can pour it over the teabags and steep it for approximately five to six minutes. 

IMPORTANT

REMOVE the teabags and DON'T squeeze it. Now, you can pour it into your favourite teacup and add milk if you wish. The tea should be strong but not bitter ...  hot but not scorching and 
perfect with some tasty scones.

"THANKS MOM "


OK, Ladies  “ LET’S HAVE  TEA !!!!


ENJOY !!!!




I am sharing with : Friends Sharing Tea
                               Tuesday Cuppa tea
                                 RoseChintz Cottage
       Dwellings: The Heart of Your Home

42 comments:

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Hello Zaa,
What a beautiful tea to celebrate your dear Mom!! Happy Birthday to her, and doesn't she look wonderful?! I just celebrated a birthday myself on the 24th. Your figurine, teacup are just perfect to have for a party. Thank you for sharing your mom's knowledge of preparing tea. We must always listen to our mothers!

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Oh your mom is beautiful!!! How lucky you are to have her and for her to be so able to enjoy you as well. I actually love crazing in my vintage cups because I agree, it makes me think about all of the teas and friendships that have probably been shared through the years with that cup. I learned years ago how to brew loose leaf tea so that's pretty much all I use now but you are definitely right that squeezing a teabag is not a good thing. Happy Birthday to your sweet mom!!

Zaa said...

Happy Belated Birthday Kitty.... I’ll bet your little Cissy made you a super B’Day cake... Thanks for the kind visit my Friends.. Enjoy your day....xoxoxox

Zaa said...

Thank You Lauren ... I agree crazed cups are really endearing ..I normally drink loose tea so bagged tea is a whole special brewing art( ha Ha) I’ll pass on your kind B’Day wishes... Big Hugs

Henny Penny said...

Happy Birthday to you mom! She is beautiful! The teacups are beautiful! This post is beautiful! I'm so glad you posted how to make a good cup of tea. Being from North Carolina, and always drinking sweetened ice tea, I've never know the right way to make a cup of tea. It has always seemed too weak for my taste...so, I will try using two tea bags. :)

Zaa said...

Thanks for your kind visit Henny ... I’m so glad that the post was helpful..I normally use tea leaves so I needed a little brushing up in the tea bag brewing ( ha Ha) ... Sweetened ice tea sounds wonderful too, especially on a hot day ... Hugs

Granny Marigold said...

Happy birthday to your lovely mom. You picked such a pretty tea cup to have your tea in her honour! I have a large collection of odd saucers and I went to look if by chance I had that particular saucer but sadly I don't. But I'm always on the look-out for any I like and don't yet have.
Have a great week!!

Zaa said...

Thanks Marigold... I so enjoyed you visit and your lovely post today ... Your violets are outstanding...Hugs

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

What a lovely tea cup - and such sweet memories. I love the info about brewing tea. I am a big fan of crazy quilting - and found that the term refers not to the different sizes of patches in a crazy quilt - but from the pattern of the crazing in tea cups and other pieces of china. Aren't connections wonderful - so many things linked together to bring us joy. Have a grand week ahead.

Margie said...

Happy Birthday to your tea-loving and knowledgeable mom! Your pink teacup is perfect for a birthday tea. I've always like teacups that feature designs or colours inside.

Zaa said...

Thanks JoAnn .. I love crazy quilting too .... Maybe I just love that crazed look ha ha... Thanks for you kind visit...Please do come again ...Hugs

Zaa said...

Hey Margie ... Thanks for the birthday wishes ...I will pass them along.... I’m so happy that you stopped by and that I got a chance to browse with you on your antique excursions via the blog.... Have a HAPPY Day !!!

Louca por porcelana said...

Hi Zaa!What a darling teacup and a darling Mom!Happy Birthday to her and thanks for the tips!That figurine is just gorgeous too.Visiting your blog is a pleasure,I almost can hear your laughs,haha!xoxoxo.

Louca por porcelana said...

I came back to say the doll is adorable!Hugs!

baili said...

Happy birthday to your 95 years old dear mom who still describes so well how to make perfect tea my friend!
i found your sharing so lovely and delightful:)
Loved this royal beauty either ,what a springy feel this very pretty cup brings in!

thank you for charming post

baili said...

Oh i LOVED the doll!!!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Oh, how wonderful to celebrate your beautiful Mother's 95th birthday! Her tea cup is lovely, and I can see why it is a favorite. Thank you for sharing the proper way to prepare the tea - questions I've often wondered about, too. Your doll and figurine are beautiful. My great-grandmother was Scots, too :) xx Karen

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

What a beautiful celebration of your Mother's Birthday!! Lovely tea cup!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb

Zaa said...

Dear Maristella...Thanks again for your sweet visits You make me smile...Hugs

Zaa said...

Dear Bailli.. Thank You for your kind words and lovely visit...Please do come for tea again... Hugs

Zaa said...

Thank You Beatrice... You are always a delightful teatime guest .... I hope that you have a Happy Day !!!!

Zaa said...

Hey Debbie ... I’m so happy to reconnect with you for teatime... Hugs

Curtains in My Tree said...


Oh so wonderful to have a mother 95 years old!Happy Birthday to her
And us all have a cup of tea in her honor
Love the rose tea cup also


Janice

Zaa said...

Thanks for the sweet visit Janice ...Please do come again, soon...Hugs

Bernideen said...

Oh what a beauty Gracie is! I love see her all dressed so sweet. Thank you for sharing and Happy Birthday Gracie!!

Zaa said...

OH Bernideen ... Thank You

My Mother would love you, sweet girl...and quite frankly she’d settle quite nicely for a grand cup of tea in your company ...
BIG HUGS

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a wonderful post! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

Happy birthday to your mother and I hope she enjoyed the special tea you made for her. I'll never squeeze a teabag again now that i know that shouldn't be done--thank you!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Zaa, your mother is lovely! I only use teabags when I'm out (always use loose leaf at home), and I so agree with your mother that you need two teabags - nothing worse than a cup of weak tea (except a cup of weak tea with milk!).

Zaa said...

Ha ha Pat... Your blog was a delight and I’ll share an unsqueezed teabag with you anytime... Thanks for the visit..Hugs

Zaa said...

Thanks for you sweet visit Jean ... It’s a delight!!!! ...Hugs

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

I use to frequent a tea shop in Poulsbo Washington when I lived there. It was run by a British lady and her husband. They made a wonderful cup of tea.

Zaa said...

Thanks for your sweet visit... I can’t wait to see what you write on your Piggie Chalk Board... Please stop over again...Hugs

Anonymous said...

Hi Zara thankyou for your lovely visit to my blog and your sweet comment. I enjoyed your post about tea very much and loved the advice your grandma gave and wow how good does she look. Thankyou for sharing your information,I am your newest follower and I hope you will follow me,enjoy your day my friend xx

Crystal Grandeur said...

Thank you for sharing a sweet post. Loved reading it. My wishes to your mom. Love to you. Sujatha:)

Marilyn Miller said...

What a lovely teacup. Your grandmother is quite lovely too. What an interesting way of making tea. I think I would want a full boil for an English black tea and then not so long on the steep time, but then that would be my preference. Thanks so much for your kind comments on my blog posts today. I loved them.

Zaa said...

Hey Shez... You blog was a delight and I’m definately a follower..Please come for tea again ....Hugs

Zaa said...

Thank You Sujatha... Your visit are such a joy and I loved reading your beautiful poetry...xoxox

Zaa said...

Hey Marilyn... Delighted to see that you danced yourself over for a cup of tea... and Yeas...I will make sure that you’re tea comes to an extra full boil..my Friend. ENJOY your day !!!

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh, your post made my heart sing, as I love tea time too. Wow, your mother is 95, how wonderful! And how sweet she is giving you advice on making the proper tea. I've never tried two tea bags, cause I usually like mine not too strong. And guess what? English Breakfast Tea is my favorite. Your mother's tea cup is so pretty, and this is such a treasured picture of her. Oh my, I have been looking all over for these porcelain figurines. Your lady dressed in Purple is gorgeous. What a lovely post, and Happy Birthday to your beloved mother.

~Sheri

Zaa said...

Thanks Sheri ... I’m trying to make the macaroons( ha Ha) ...to have with afternoon tea... however... They are good but a little shy of gorgeous... Hugs

Karen said...

Oh Zaa,
That teacup is absolutely gorgeous ~ love the pink and chintz. Your grandmother certainly knows how to make a delicious cup of tea. Your Royal Doulton figurine is a treasure too! Blessings, Karen

Zaa said...

Thank You Karen .... I always love your visits...hugs