Happy 100th Birthday, Tea Bag
Photograph from bugsandfishes by lupin on Flickr
That's if you believe Giles Hilton, the "nose" of fine tea company Whittard of Chelsea, who believes the tea bag's birth was in 1908. Though, the Guardian points out that it could be the 104th birthday, or somewhere in the 50s, depending on how you look at it. (Mass production of the paper tea bag didn't accelerate until the 1950s.) Either way, what's the harm in celebrating the porous pocket of leaves?
To honor the birthday, Hilton tried to figure out what kind of tea is best for a "fry-up," or traditional British breakfast spread of fried eggs, black pudding, baked beans, fried bread, bacon, and other heart attack foods. Hilton recommends Sri Lankan Orange Pekoe since the fry-up needs a "punchy tea." The "orange" here doesn't actually refer to an orange, but the Royal House of Orange (a moniker assigned by Dutch traders). Earl Grey, he warns, is the worst pairing.
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2 Comments:
Sorry, but the tea bag was the worst thing to happen since sliced bread (before sliced bread? Whatever)
It doomed us to crappy tea dust instead of high quality whole leaves. Even "high quality" bagged tea stands to be stale and who knows what else ends up in there. For the love of god, buy loose leaf tea. (Adagio.com, o-cha.com, teaspring.com are just a few options)
lawofmurphy at 3:10PM on 09/17/08
Has anyone tried disposable tea sticks (www.petittea.com). Tea sticks give you best of both worlds -quality of loose leaf tea with convenience of Tea Bag.
Tea Sticks are semi-rigid perforated metal foil tubes filled with premium loose leaf teas. Placed in a cup, hot water is poured directly over the tea stick to brew a cup. No tea pot, strainer or stirrer needed. Unlike tea bags Tea Sticks do not collapse and compress when dipped in water, allowing tea leaves the desired space to uncurl and release delicate flavors aroma and perhaps healthy anti-oxidants. TEA STICKS also tend to hold back bitterness causing tannins. This means your tea will not become bitter even if you let the stick steep in your cup for a long time. You get a Perfect Cup of tea, every time, any time.
An elegantly modern alternative to the tea bag and loose leaf tea, Tea Sticks bring you a tea experience that is contemporarily relevant to your modern lifestyle.
Here is the web link www.petittea.com
Teatotlar at 11:14AM on 09/24/08