Tea Etiquette

According to www.gone-ta-pott.com tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world! Is coffee or water first? I am not sure. January was National Hot Tea month, but rest assured tea is a consumable beverage year round. At least it is in my house.

Here’s a little something most people don’t know about me. I have yet to drink an entire cup of coffee. Yup, that’s right! I’ve sipped it, and with puckered lips, I put the coffee right back down and say, “I can’t do it.” You can’t image how saddened I was while in Italy in May of 2012, I couldn’t finish an Italian cappuccino. I tried! I am told that the best cappuccinos in the world are made in Italy, and I wimped out. For a half-Italian woman like myself, I feel as if I have let my motherland country down. Thankfully, my Northern Ireland grandparents introduced me to tea.

While in Ireland in 2003, I was further introduced to Barry’s Tea, and consumed more of that tea that I ever thought possible.  Last I checked, World Market stocked Barry’s Tea. Personally, I bounce between Chinese green tea, Ceylon and blended black teas like Earl Grey. I hear Queen Elizabeth II drinks Earl Grey too.

I will host a tea etiquette and manners class someday, because I’m absolutely enthralled by tea culture. From the history of tea, to tea times, to tea varieties and etiquette, spreading the art of tea to fellow aficionados sounds like a really good time. While you wait for me to post a tea etiquette program on www.tiffanynielsen.com, here are a few of my favorite tea etiquette tips:

1.  Formally speaking, tea is usually reserved for four o’clock. Depending on where we live or where we travel too, one and five o’clock also serves well for tea time. Frankly, I prefer to have my tea between 8 and 9 am every morning, otherwise I might reach for a soft drink to help wake me up!

2.  Clinking and clanking the spoon against a tea cup makes for unnecessary noise. Back and forth, in the center of the cup, move the spoon in a small semicircle like fashion.

3.  Filling the cup to the brim leaves no room for milk and sugar. Leave a little room at the top to avoid spillage.

4.  Pour your tea first. Then add your milk.  Too much milk will take away from the flavor of the tea.

5.  There is no need to extend your pinky when drinking tea from a tea cup. Personally, I think the pinky finger naturally extends, because the tea cup handle is sometimes small, making it difficult to grasp it without twitching the pinky outward. If you find your pinky waving at your neighbor, tuck it back in and carry on.

If you would like to join me for an Afternoon or Full Tea etiquette class, please let me know by writing “Yes, please invite me, Tiffany!!!” in the comments section below. I will round up my tea pots and cups and wash the china and serving pieces while I await your RSVP.

Graciously Yours,

 

Tiffany

 

Copyright 2013 Tiffany Nielsen|Premier Etiquette. All Rights Reserved.