MomTips: At Tea Time

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Tea is So Very Civilizing!

Whether it's "Earl Grey: hot," as Captain Picard likes it, coffee, or some herbal concoction you stew together yourself, a hot drink is a wonderful and soothing beverage. In the kitchen and around the house, all my MomTips are actually used and tested by me and my family and found to be useful or can't-do-withoutable.

Look for my special FRUGALICIOUS TIPS!



Thanks to stargazer00 for the lovely dividers.

What's Your Favorite Cuppa? 

Is there a tea flavor you savor? Or is it coffee in your cup?

Tea, herbal tea, coffee, or chocolate? What's your favorite hot beverage?

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Take Your Tea Along With You 

... or coffee or hot chocolate or what-have-you.

Organically Grown Ceramic Travel MugORGANICALLY GROWN CERAMIC TRAVEL MUG: $23.99

A fanciful, daisy filled, organically grown design; whimsical and fun! Drink this up, because our eye-catching ceramic tumbler is a work of art. Plus it's a workhorse, thanks to a solid design with steel inner sleeve that's ideal for hot or cold beverages. Holding a full 15 oz. and fitting into most vehicle's cup holders (includes snap-tight lid), it's also a great choice for travel.

Measures 7" tall, holds 15 oz. Ceramic outer shell, with stainless steel inner sleeve. Gasket-sealed lid, with snap-tight closure. Hand wash.

 

Tea Bag Tongs 

Squeeze your teas!

Tea Bag Tongs

I don't often like single-use items, but I was looking for a small gift for my mother-in-law's Christmas stocking. This was too cute to pass up, so I got one for her and one for myself. Somewhat to my surprise, I really do use it! I used to wrap the tea bag string around a spoon and squeeze, but if the tea bags don't have a string, I often burn my fingers. Now I keep my tea tongs in a drawer near my tea and tea cups. A squeeze of the tea bag, a quick rinse of the tongs as I take the tea bag to the trash, and the job is done neatly and completely!


..

RSVP Mini Tea Tong

Stainless steel, polished finish, 5-1/2". Perfect for extracting tea bags from hot water.

Amazon Price: $3.71 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

RSVP Italian Espress Round Tea Tongs

Sized for tea service, 6.75" long; dishwasher-safe stainless steel. Perfect for removing and squeezing excess tea from a round or square teabag.

Amazon Price: $9.73 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Copco Tea Bag Squeeze

Comfortable santoprene rubber provides a no-slip grip. 18/8 stainless steel with santoprene accents. Dishwasher safe.

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

T Squeeze - Tea Cup Lid and Bag Squeezer by Evriholder Products

Unique tea squeezer not only wrings the last drop out if the bag, but also acts as a lid to keep the water hot and securely hold the bag in place while it steeps. Multifunctional holder, squeezer, and lid aids in making tea time mess-free and relaxing.

Amazon Price: $3.49 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Tupperware Orange Tea Bag Squeezer/holder Gadget

Handy little Tupperware gadget doubles as a tea squeezer and a saucer for the tea bag after it is squeezed. Peach/creamy orange plastic, sized to go with you in your purse or pocket.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Afternoon Tea 

by: Susannah Blake

Afternoon Tea

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/08/2009)Buy Now

Whether it's a tea party in the garden or a cosy gathering by the fire, afternoon tea is a treat at any time of year. Teatime should begin with Sandwiches and Savouries - delectable savoury morsels that range from traditional fare such as Finger Sandwiches to the more exotic flavours of Quick Blinis with Wasabi Cream and Caviar. Scones and Teacakes features some new takes on old classics. Try Blueberry and Lime Drop Scones or Orange and Walnut Scones with Mascarpone and Fig Preserve. For the ultimate tea-time indulgence, tuck into Fancies - sweet morsels such as Baby Eclairs with Coffee Creme Patissiere and Coffee Sauce or Orange Tuiles with Flaked Almonds. Finally, Cakes are the crowning glory of any tea party and there are a range of delicious flavours to choose from. Tried and tested recipes include Lemon Drizzle Cake, Coffee and Walnut Cake and Victoria Sandwich Filled with Cream and Strawberries. Afternoon Tea features delicate bite-size treats that are guaranteed to charm your guests. Bring out your best china, fill up the teapot and enjoy this wonderful tradition. *An irresistible collection of sweet and savoury recipes, from little toasts to finger sandwiches and scones to baby pavlovas. *Packed with information about preparing a tea-time feast, including how to make the perfect cup of tea. *Irresistible photography by Martin Brigdale.

My Favorite Teas 

Herbal teas are delicious and so good for you, too!

Alvita, Seelect, Stash, and Herbal Medicinals are all high quality organic herbal teas. Bigelow and Celestial Seasonings are easier to find and also quite good. All of my favorite teas, listed below, are very mild and pleasant tasting. Mint tea is probably the strongest flavor of these, and the one that tastes least like regular tea.

Tea Burdock Root 24 Bag By Alvita

Burdock has a delicate, delicious flavor, slightly sweet. It is considered a blood purifier and is good for general health. I try to enjoy a cup several times a week.

Amazon Price: $3.79 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Traditional Medicinals Organic Raspberry Leaf Herbal Tea, 16-Count Wrapped Tea Bags (Pack of 6)

Raspberry leaf tea, which tastes exactly nothing like raspberries, is a natural muscle relaxant. It is great for headaches, muscle spasms, and cramps. It is also a general tonic for all things female. A cup every day will help prevent PMS and cramping.

Amazon Price: $25.38 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Seelect Organic Tea, Tea Bags, Nettle, 24-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

Nettle is another blood purifier. I enjoy a cup with a bag of raspberry and nettle together. Steep about 6 minutes only; it will get bitter if left too long.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Stash Premium Chamomile Herbal Tea, Tea Bags, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

Chamomile has a very mild, pleasant flavor. It is excellent for stomach and digestive complaints, and a teaspoon of chamomile tea is an old remedy for a colicky baby. It is also generally soothing and calming, and especially good at bedtime to help wind down from the day.

Amazon Price: $15.32 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Bigelow Mint Medley Herbal Tea, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

Mint is a most excellent digestive tea! Mild stomach upset may often be remedied without using antacids, with just a cup of delicious, tingly mint tea. If you enjoy mint in anything, you will love mint tea!

Amazon Price: $14.77 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Herbal Tea for Health 

by: Kathleen Brown, Jeanine Pollak

Herbal Teas: 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health & Vitality

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/08/2009)Buy Now

Herbalists Kathleen Brown and Jeanine Pollak present instructions and recipes for concocting herbal teas for good health and spirit. The instructions are simple to follow, and the recipes have catchy names, such as Raging Moods Tea, Heartthrob Cordial, Kiddie Calm, Hormone Helper, and Yummy Tummy-Tamer Tea. "Herbal Teas" is fun and easy to use. The aspiring herbalist will find information about gathering and storing herbs, and a 38-page reference section details the health benefits of 70 herbs. Ultra Books, Oakland, NJ, January/February 2000.

 

Tea Ball or Tea Infuser 

... if you have no tea bag to use your tongs on!

A tea ball is indispensable if you are using loose tea, or if - horrors! - your tea bag tears! Just pop it into the tea ball and drop it into your cup. Some of these are more high tech than any I've used yet but the principle is the same.


FRUGALICIOUS TIP: Herbal tea is cheaper bought in bulk than in individual tea bags, so purchase it loose and use a tea ball!

Progressive Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball 2"

A simple stainless stell mesh ball. Just flip the locking tab, add your tea, lock it and drop it in. The chain has a hook for the edge of the cup, so you can fish it out dry.

Amazon Price: $2.25 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Stainless Steel Tea Infuser

Another simple tea ball, no mesh this time but holes drilled in the ball. This one screws open.

Amazon Price: $4.26 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Norpro Grip-EZ Tea Infuser With Cup

Very nice design, just squeeze the handle and the ball pops open. The handle sticks out of the cup, making it very easy to remove.

Amazon Price: $3.83 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Fresco Titanium Tea Ball

Titanium is a more neutral metal than stainless and prevents any flavor transfer from the metal. This will sit in the top of your cup, but has a chain for retrieving from larger cups or pots.

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

Bodum New YoYo Stainless Steel Tea Infuser with Lid

Unique design! The lips around the infuser sit on the edge of your cup, so no balls to fumble and potentially spill your tea. Plus, the lid has double function: it holds in the heat and tea essence, but lift it off and set the infuser in it when you're done to catch the drips!

Amazon Price: (as of 12/08/2009) Buy Now

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by tandemonimom

As a homeschool mom of four, finding time- and labor-saving tips is something of a hobby for me!

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