There's nothing quite like a strong cup of Irish tea with lashings of milk. Add a plate of buttery short bread and Irish soda bread with homemade jam or lemon curd, and you're sure to impress your guests and please their taste buds. Combine this with small sandwiches filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese and you've got an all out event.
So let us address the basics. How do you brew that strong, delightful beverage known as a "cuppa" or cup of Irish tea?
- Fill your tea kettle with fresh, cold water. Place your tea kettle on the stove and turn on the burner. In old Ireland, this oft repeated task was referred to as "putting the tea on the hob." It brings visions of fireplaces and cast iron cookware to mind, but today's tea kettles serve just as well.
- Warm your teapot with hot water by swirling it around in the pot then pouring it out. Do the same with your tea cups. This allows your tea to stay warm longer as the warm pot and cups don't absorb as much of the heat from the boiling water of the tea kettle as cool ones would.
- Bring water to a rolling boil then shut off immediately. Do not let the water boil for a long time. This depletes the oxygen in the water and your tea will simply not taste as good.
- Some tea drinkers like to place their milk in the tea cup first, before adding the tea bag and hot water. This is simply a matter of preference. I personally think it doesn't steep as well this way but it does prevent the milk from cooling my tea too quickly.
- Place tea bags or loose tea in the tea pot. Pour water over the tea bags or loose tea and allow black tea to steep for three to five minutes. Stir the tea and allow it to steep for another minute or two. Do not steep for longer than five to seven minutes as the tea may taste bitter.
- Note - dunking your tea bag does not allow the tea to steep properly. The result will be weak, tasteless tea.
- Remove the tea bags with a spoon or strain the loose tea. You may press the tea bag against the spoon if you like a stronger brew.
- If the tea is too strong for any of your guests, simply add more water or milk.
- Add milk and sugar to your liking.
- Sip and enjoy!
A word about dunking cookies or biscuits in your tea... some may not consider it polite but it can taste delightful - especially with a plain, sweet, crunchy tea cookie. You may consider me gauche, but I highly recommend it!
Not sure which tea to choose? Most Irish teas are of excellent quality because the Irish are serious about their tea. Common Irish brands are Bewleys, Barrys or Lyons.
Copyright Janet McGrane Bennett 2010
Janet McGrane Bennett has run and operated Celtic Reader Irish Bookstore since 2002. Her life long passion for Irish history and literature encourage her to share this love of books and all things Irish and Celtic. She is a graduate of Drew University English Literature undergraduate program and studied Irish history, theatre and literature at St Patrick's College Maynooth in County Kildare, Ireland. Every year she travels to Irish and Celtic festivals on the East Cast of the US to set up her traveling book shop under the sunny summer skies. Visit Celtic Reader online at http://www.celticreader.com
Cast Iron Kettles
Staub Cast iron Cookware & ceramic. Manufacturing process
Frequently Asked Questions...
Who mfg. cast iron kettles with name Piqua stamped on the bottom.?
Pot is about 10 inches around , has 3 legs, a wire handle and signs it had hung over an open fire.
Answer:
Favorite Stove Co., Piqua Ohio. Maybe? I did a Google search for Piqua and cast iron.
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