Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-30
THE ART OF TEA MAKING.
Some Minute Directions of Interest
TO Housekeepers-The Rival Pro-
ducts of India and China.


| ducts of India and China.
The ancient Chinese legend relating
to the origin of the tea plant tells as
that the first tea oush sprang up from
the spot where Confucius had thrown
his eye lids, which he had cut off in
anger secause sleep had overtaken
him when he had vowed to keep
awake. Humanity owes an enormous,
an lncalculable debt of gratitude to
those eyelids, and one which is &C
knowledged by young and old, rich
and poor, statesman and pauper,
duchess and aairymaid Many of US
would be but poor creatures without
our tea. Were we deprived of that
wonderful little leaf what could we
fall back upon as substituted Coffee
is the next best beverage, but coffee
IN some temperaments induces sleep.
Without tea the weary watcher oy
the sick bed would fad her task
doubly heavy .one. Without it the
1 brain worker would be still more
heavily handicapped than he already
is IN world Of dreary noises" How
many examinations would have been
missed but for the refreshing and
stimulating properties of the fragrant
evergreen; how many chances lost;
how much work ill-done! Have no
the poets sung of tea IN lines too often
quoted to bear repetition? Could we
but trace the inspiration to its source
we should probably find that their
happiest phrases, their most neatly
turned couplets, are due to the magic
infusion. Do we not all, thinkers,
toilecs, oilers, fly to cup of tea when
we want to make any unusual exer-
ton, intellectual, physical, or merely
frivolous? And yet the curious point
is that out of tie millions who use
this valuable beverage and &C
knowledge it's mighty influence, but
a small proportion understand how to
prepare it, while many abuse the gift
by INDUCING in IL too freely, or by
drinking it under conditions that not
only deprive it of its value, but ron~
der it absolutely harmful. Few per-
sons can with impunity drink tea
twice day; and not the toughest
constitution in the world can fail to
be eventually injured by constantly
imblbing tea that has been overdraw n.
| Yet this latter is the usual condition
in which it is parJaken. The water
ia which the leaf is infused should
not be allowed to boil for more than
minute before being poured upon
the tea. With every moment beyond
that time the property of boiling
, water that acts upon the fragrant leaf
evapOrates more and more, and even
, tually disappears. 1t seems simple
thing enough to make the tea, and
! there are persons who even allow
children and servants to perform that
important office for them. The true
disciple of the teapot treats the art
with more respect. He has studied it
} from every point of view, and in
every stage of the process. The
idiosyncracy of kettle and teapot is to
him a matter of importance. Both
} must be Immediately clean and of a
shining radiance. He knows that the
, little brown earthenware teapot, des-
!; pissed of the aesthetic Of the earth be-
cause comfortably easy to live up to,
is the very flower of teapots for his
; purpose. It becomes thoroughly i'm
pregnated with the flavor and redol-
ent of the aroma of the plant. A sill
; yer teapot is next best, but there is q
natural hesitation about exposing the
) precious, metal to the fire, which mill
} tates against its usefulness in this re-
} gard. For heat is one of the great
essentials ia making good cup" 1t
is more important than the novice
, might imagine to have the teapot
; made thoroughly hot before the tea is
} put into it. The connoisseur will half
, fill it with hot water, put on the lid.
i. and set it by the fire until the handle
, can be touched with impunity from
heat. After this has been carefully
attended to good tea can be produced
, from less quantity of the leaf than
, if a thorough heating of the recepta~
: Gle had been neglected. Opinion is
J divided as to the precise number of
minutes which should be devoted to
the process of drawing" Some au-
) thorities say five minutes, others
seven. A few even go so far as to
, recommend ten. 1t is, however, a
matter that depends in great measure
, on the quality of the tea, and even
) more upon that of the water. Only
ex Experience can afford a safe guide.
The slightest taste of bitterness may
, be accepted as sure indication of
overdrawing, a condition that renders
tea alike hurtful to the nerves and di-
, gestive organs. Cozies are dangerous,
/ If occasionally articles. Their MISSION
) is misunderstood. Originally intend
, ed to keep the teapot hot during the
process xof drawing. they have been
utilized for maintaining the tempera>
, ture during the greater part Of an af-
ternoon. The facilities they offer are
but temptations to avoid the trouble
of making fresh tea for every fresh set
: of callers, and the wise man ard pru-
dent woman will do well to beware of
the tea that comes from under coy.
It is almost certain to be overdrawn.
: Indian tea is both fuller and purer
: in flavor than Chinese. Two spoon
: fuls of the former make stronger
infusion than three of China. An
, unanswerable proof Of the superiority
of that which comes from Hinduism