• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives
  • 100 Words

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: How to Make the Perfect Cup of Tea

By Aunt Doris

Doris

Aunt Doris

We English do love a good cup of tea (or, as we like to say, a cuppa)!

I’m not talking about that panther pee they serve in most restaurants here in the States. You know — a thick cup with a tea bag on the side! Oh, no!

Here’s how to make a perfect cup of tea:

First off, the tea must be served in a nice thin china cup, not a mug.

Then, you put the teabag in the cup and poor fiercely boiling water over it. (That’s the secret. Let that kettle shriek!)

Let the tea bag stay in the boiling water for a few seconds. You can tell when the tea is ready by its rich color.

Next, add a dash of milk — not cream — and sugar to taste, and you’ve got a cuppa fit for the Queen!

My mom used to say a good cup of tea would cure a broken leg. I know I’d take a good cup of tea over an aspirin any day.

As for me, my idea of a good snack is a cuppa and a Kit Kat bar (which, by the way, was created in England).

Uh oh! The kettle’s boiling … got to go!

Aunt Doris

***

(This repost from January 10th, 2012, is by my dear Aunt Doris, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 94.)

December 18, 2020

Comments

  1. 1

    tracee says

    hahaha panther pee!!! that’s great. i just had my first cup of “proper” tea at an english tea house about a year ago and i have to agree there is a huge difference.
    although being from the south i still think sweet iced tea is the best thing ever….. 😉

  2. 2

    Suzanne says

    You make me wish I was English, Aunt Doris! 🙂

  3. 3

    Dr Dean says

    I make a pot, but still use a mug. Those real china cups are just too small and my wife won’t let me take ’em to work anyway.

    I’m from the south too, but I like my hot tea plain, no sugar, no milk…I do like my iced tea sweetened, but only slightly. Don’t ask me why.

  4. 4

    Aloysa @ My Broken Coin says

    I always wanted to try a real English tea but milk in tea scares me. I guess it is a matter of taste. My Russian grandmother would put sugar in a black tea but never milk. Some of my Russian friends would add milk. I love my tea plain. Great post by the way. 🙂

  5. 5

    maria@moneyprinciple says

    Being Bulgarian in England is not easy; when people like me they offer me tea. All I can think of saying is ‘No thanks, I am not poorly.’ Bulgarians drink tea only when poorly, you see, otherwise we have coffee. Talking of which, coffee in the US is not very good either.

    My English husband, though, always insists on brewing tea in a tea pot (with boiling water) and then pour milk first. Apparently this is ‘proper’ and there is a difference in taste.

  6. 6

    Annette says

    Thank you for Aunt Doris’ guest post. The only thing that made me smile today 🙂

  7. 7

    Millie says

    Whilst I love your aunt’s posts, if she served a tea that had only been brewed for a few seconds in my office (I’m English) she’d get sent straight back to the U.S! I live in the Midlands and we like our tea like Northerners – dark and strong enough to melt a spoon in. Your aunt must be from the south (of England, not the U.S!). I like my tea brewed for at least 2 or 3 mins, then you get all the tea flavour. Yum yum.

    • 8

      Len Penzo says

      You are correct, Millie. Aunt Doris is from Kensington.

      And if you tried to send her “back to the US” because of her tea, I’m sure she wouldn’t take offense — she’d just smile and give you a two-fingered salute. 😉

  8. 9

    TM says

    Hey Len,
    No offense to your Aunt Doris or the Brits, but Indians make the best tea, hands down. If you only put a bag in for a few seconds, there is no way you’re going to get a rich, flavorful tea. It’s just not possible. Take strong black tea (Tetley makes a very good one called British Blend) and boil with water and cardamom. Once it’s been boiling for a few minutes, add milk, preferably whole or evaporated milk or a combo of the two. Boil some more until it is thick and creamy. Add sugar to taste. Strain out the tea bags and serve. Better yet, use loose leaf tea and save money because it is cheaper!.

    • 10

      Len Penzo says

      Yes, I’ll have to ask Aunt Doris to clarify what she meant by “a few” seconds. I’ve watched her make tea before and it seems to me her tea bag sits in the cup for longer than that.

      Personally, I don’t like tea. At all. LOL!

  9. 11

    Frank Finazzo says

    I remember Aunt Doris fondly…tell her Frankie says hello.

  10. 12

    Janet says

    Aunt Doris is spot on about the thin china tea cups….even better… is a whole pot of tea …porcelain china teapot of course. First heat the teapot by pouring in very hot water…then empty out so you can refill with teabags (or loose tea) and extremely hot (just reached a boil) water. Right again, Aunt Doris. then steep tea for several minutes. Pour a little milk into your teacup first, then pour in tea. Sugar..none or very little. Make sure your teapot has a hand- crocheted “tea cozy” to keep your tea piping hot..for the second cuppa. This is the Irish/Scottish Canadian angle on making a proper cuppa.

Trackbacks

  1. Why Folgers Coffee Is More Expensive Than You Think – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    November 22, 2018 at 7:05 am

    […] The bottom line: Yes, Folgers is still cheaper than Starbucks. But if you really want to save money — try drinking tea. […]

The Question of the Week:

Do you think credit unions are safer than traditional banks?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • The Big Advantages of Natural Gas Appliances
  • Is a Master’s Degree in Education Worth It? 7 Key Questions to Ask
  • Comparing the Flat Tax, Fair Tax, and Progressive Tax Systems
  • Are Energy Efficient CFL Bulbs Worth Paying More For?
  • Black Coffee: Pushing the Panic Button
  • The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 10
  • 3 Ways That Make Credit Cards Vulnerable to Fraud
  • Common Financial Mistakes in Manufacturing (and How to Avoid Them)
  • Blind Taste Test: Does Bottled Water Really Taste Better Than Filtered Tap?
  • Black Coffee: Banking on the Future

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. 18 Personal Finance Facts About US Presidents
  2. 2. Credit or Debit: Which One Is Actually Better?
  3. 3. Why Buying Gasoline in the Morning Can Save You Money
  4. 4. Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake
  5. 5. What Defines True Financial Success?
  6. 6. A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print
  7. 7. Debt Elimination: The Pros and Cons of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps
  8. 8. Home Repair Scams: Here Are the 9 Biggest
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodities
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2023 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2023