How to Use a Tea-for-One?

What am I supposed to do with this set? It's a Brown Betty w/ Rockingham glaze so it's excellent in that I'll pro'lly never notice it getting tea-stained but...

I preheat the pot and keep it sitting on the cup while brewing to preheat the cup. Next, I put in my tea and water and let steep...good, fine.

Then, I strain out the tea into the cup. That's where the problem arises. There's still about 1/2 cup of tea left in the pot w/ the leaves which we all know will continue to steep and get bitter as well as stronger. Can't use a brew basket 'cause the opening's too small. Not going to use a teaball or other highly restrictive infuser.

How are these things supposed to be used? With teabags only? (gahh!)

Reply to
Bluesea
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Use less water.

dmh

Reply to
David M. Harris

I didn't want to state the obvious.

If that's my only option, I may as well break up the set and use a larger mug.

I was just wondering what people do with these things since this is my first experience.

Reply to
Bluesea

I didn't see the original post only this echo. A single pot and cup for all in one don't match well. There is an addage leave something for the pot. Every drop isn't that important. If it's tea you want to infuse again you'll have to decant the remainder into another cup. I use a styrofoam cup for any overflow. You can appreciate the color,smell and taste. That is the tease for the regular cup. You should only fill your pot at most 3/4 and preferably 2/3 for brewing in any case. It helps with pouring and swirling. I don't like the Western all in one style. The Koreans make a 'pumpkin' style with saucer,cup,infuser,lid. The only drawback it isn't much volume but self contained all in one.

Jim

David M. Harris wrote:

Rockingham

getting

(gahh!)

Reply to
Space Cowboy

Thanks for responding. I got to read your post before I lost connection, I think 'cause they're moving the phone lines up the road, and my phone just started working again. In the meantime, I tried an idea that you gave me.

I got the set for black tea because BB has a great reputation for heat retention and the Rockingham glaze absolves me of watching a white interior turn dark and having to make it white again. You're absolutely right about the pieces of the set not matching well. The useable capacity of the cup is 8 oz. The capacity of the pot is 16 oz to the rim. I was steeping w/

12 oz to be able to put the lid on and for the pourability factor. But, 1/2 cup is too much tea to waste, IMO, as is half the pot's capacity were I to steep with only 8 oz.

Your mentioning appreciating the color, etc. made me think of why I've gone to steeping in glass: to be able to watch the agony of the leaves and the brew's change in color as well as minimal cleaning. So, I steeped 16 oz in glass and when done, strained 8 oz into the BB cup and the rest into the BB pot to keep warm while I enjoy the cup. That way, I get 2 full cups of great tea and the glass doesn't get as stained as my other teaware.

Still, the whole setup seems rather peculiar although I may still be missing something about the concept. Are these sets supposed to be for steeping only

1 cup at a time?
Reply to
Bluesea

LOL. A year or so ago, I purchased a Blue Willow tea for one set because I love tea and I love Blue Willow china. After using the setup a few times, I came to the conclusion that the best use for the tea for one set was to sit on a display shelf with the rest of the seldom used Blue Willow pieces I have collected over the years.

Reply to
Walpurgis-9

Well, I tried.

I've since gone back to brewing my morning black tea in glass and straining all 12 oz into a mug. While I wanted all 12 oz when I was using the BB set, I've yet to feel deprived by not having 4 oz more. Evidently, I don't need

16 oz of black tea to start my day so using the BB set as I thought would work, doesn't really matter.
Reply to
Bluesea

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