Tea is So Very Civilizing!
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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- Michey Michey Sep 20, 2009 @ 9:24 pm
- My favorite breakfast is a cup of green tea with bread and cheese, then start working with a coffee on my desk. Don't ask how many coffees ... per day!
Michey
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- OhMe OhMe Sep 18, 2009 @ 4:01 am
- I love my morning POT of coffee.
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- sandyspider sandyspider Sep 14, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
- I'm a coffee drinker. But I love a good cup of tea.
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- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Sep 14, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
- It is definitely tea in my cup, orange pekoe tea, that is!
(If you're going to Scandinavia, take it with you.)
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- stargazer00 stargazer00 Sep 14, 2009 @ 11:19 am
- I like tea better than coffee. Peppermint tea is a favorite.
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- Joan4 Joan4 Sep 14, 2009 @ 10:38 am
- I am definitely a coffee drinker! Love my big ol comfortable mugs of coffee in the mornings!
Take Your Tea Along With You
... or coffee or hot chocolate or what-have-you.
ORGANICALLY 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!
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!
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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) 
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)
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)
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)
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)
Afternoon Tea
by: Susannah Blake
Afternoon Tea
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/08/2009)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Get More MomTips!
"MomTips: At Tea Time" is one in a series.
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MomTips: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices from My House to Yours
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MomTips: Baby Wearing - All the Best Babies are Doing It!
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My babies lived in a sling from the moment they were born. So comfortable for them and me too! I tried other baby carriers but always came back to slings. They are much more versatile than most other carriers, but at the same time far simpler to use....
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MomTips: In the Closet
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MomTips: In the Kitchen
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You may love cooking or hate it, but the tips and gadgets on this page will make your kitchen time easier! 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-without...
Leave Your Calling Card Here!
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- OhMe OhMe Sep 18, 2009 @ 4:01 am
- I wish I did like tea because you make it sound so wonderful
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- sandyspider sandyspider Sep 14, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
- Nice work.
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- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Sep 14, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
- Nicely done, Carma.
Blessed & lensrolled to Whittards of Chelsea Coffee Mugs, Cups & Teapots.
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- stargazer00 stargazer00 Sep 14, 2009 @ 11:20 am
- Yes, I like those tea tongs too. Enjoyed reading your Tea Time Tips!
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- Joan4 Joan4 Sep 14, 2009 @ 10:39 am
- Those tea tongs will make a great gift for my tea-drinking friends!
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Tea Tweets!
Who's twittering about tea?
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- mz_christiana_d
- @DSKJewelry yup. =] i use to work at a boba/tea/yogurt shop and we made our green tea fresh everyday & sweetened it w/ logan honey. =D
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- aimsaskier
- Ahh cookie dough and a cup of tea before bed...
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- HarryLyme
- ...wondering about her mum's philanthropic 'tea leaves' ... ironically: 'metrics' probably closer to mine :)
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- kangleh
- Saw one guy drinking koi's bubble tea.. Oh my god so tempted lor! :( green milk tea wit small pearls is super nice!
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- spinsterknit
- Link: Facebook | Inaugural Spinsters' Knitting Club Craftinoon Tea http://tumblr.com/xmp4jc7pt
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- varunshridhar
- Gawd I need some tea! and ...a chocolate fantasy from CCD. some1 here wishes to help a poor soul and send em?
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- noreasonn
- peppermint tea & honey. totally makes my night
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- Jethica
- I came bearing gifts of hummus, tea, and wheatables.
by tandemonimom
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