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Just out of curiosi-tea...
Why do some people pour milk first into their teacup before pouring the tea?
I say, why pour milk into the teacup at all? Take a sip and enjoy tea in its purest form! Nevertheless, to answer the question, it is believed that the practice of adding milk first into the teacup came about to help prevent the delicate china teacups from cracking by the scalding hot water. However, this is really not necessary since fine bone china is rather resilient. Others believe that milk blends better with the tea if poured in first. My concern with adding milk in first is how well can you gauge how much milk to put in without weakening the tea too much? Tea drinkers will continue to be divided on this practice of whether one is a miffy ora tiffy. Do you pour milk first or tea first into your teacup? In the end, I truly believe that it is a personal preference. If you are looking for a good example to follow - Her Majesty The Queen is a tiffy!
What is "sweet" tea?
Most southern states when referring to tea mean iced tea, not hot tea. A further distinction is made between pre-sweetened and unsweetened iced tea by calling one sweet tea and the other black or regular. The key to making sweet tea is to add sugar while the tea is still hot. The most basic recipe is to boil the water, use an unflavored black tea (such as Assam) and steep the tea for about five minutes, remove the tea leaves (or tea bags), add the desired amount of sugar and stir until totally dissolved. Add cold water and let cool before pouring over ice. You can further garnish with lemons and other citrus fruits.
What is a "yixing" teapot?
Yixing is actually a region in China located about 120 miles northwest of Shanghai. The teapots, named after this region, are made of the local purple or red clay called zisha. This clay gives these unglazed teapots the ability to absorb the tea flavor with continued usage. Therefore, it is recommended that each Yixing teapot should be dedicated to a single type/flavor of tea. These small teapots, which are usually made for individual use (1-2 cups servings), come in unusual and distinctive designs and are very much sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
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