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Making Tea with Alfred Pennyworth

 

 

A tutorial in the time-honoured method of brewing a proper pot of tea.
 

One is gratified that one's humble efforts to bring Miss Selina some distraction and comfort during the events of Polishing Silver seem to have struck such a chord among readers that one has so often been asked to repeat the lesson in the proper brewing of a tea.  Rest assured that it is not necessary to have a fine silver tea set or delicate Limoge cups to enjoy the full psychological benefit.  It is necessary, however, to have some cup, mug or vessel that has particular significance to you

 

The Pennyworth Method is for good black tea. 

For green and herbals, you must go elsewhere for instruction. 

I recommend Twinings, which bears the royal warrant.  If it is good enough for Her Majesty, it is good enough for Wayne Manor, though there are of course many quality suppliers of loose tea.  You will want to acquire one tin of Darjeeling and one of Lapsang Souchong.  It is also desirable to have a strainer, unless one is built into your tea pot or you employ an infusion ball.

 

This needn't be a terribly expensive silver affair, but one believes the experienced is enhanced by investing in items of quality. 

 

You begin, naturally, by boiling water.  In  most parts of the United States, that which comes from the tap is quite good, but if you have especially 'hard' water you may prefer to buy bottled, or if your tap water is in some other way undesirable, you might filter it.  That is your own choice, only you know what is coming out of your tap.

 

It is vital the water be brought to a full boil. If your water is not hot enough, there is nothing I can do for you. 

Once it has come to a full boil, remove the kettle from the heat.  Over-boiling deprives the water of oxygen and will inhibit the flavor of the tea. 

 

Pour a little hot water into the teapot to warm it, and then pat it dry.  Alternately, you may pour the hot water over the outside of the pot, or warm the pot over a candle if it is the sort that comes with a special heating base.  The point is you must warm the pot

 

Now add your tea.  The Pennyworth method calls for one teaspoon of Darjeeling per cup, plus one teaspoon of Lapsang Souchong "for the pot,"  which is to say, an extra spoon.  If there are more than four cups being brewed, you may wish to use a four-to-one ratio rather of darjeeling to lapsang than the strict ‘one for the pot’ formula.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your water has now been off the heat for about 1 minute, which should allow the temperature to fall to around 195 degrees F.  Just about perfect for good black tea.  Pour the hot water over the tea, give it the briefest of stirs, and allow it to steep for four to five minutes. 

 

Do not under-steep as persons from the continent and others may attempt to persuade you.  You will produce a meek unsatisfying infusion.  If you want weaker, less flavorful tea, you may add hot water later.  If you wish to explore the tea ceremonies and practices of the "gung fu" tea culture, kindly go elsewhere.  These are instructions for a proper, British afternoon tea.    

 

Similarly, do not over-steep or the brew will acquire an unpleasant tannic flavor. 

 

When the tea is ready, pour through a strainer into the cup.

Add a splash of milk if desired. It is excellent with black tea - and it is properly added after the tea is poured in the cup. 

 

Sugar may be added as well, if desired.  Honey is not a customary sweetener, but serve your own palate. 

Lemon may be offered with an Earl Grey or certain heavily scented Parisian tea blends.  Never use milk if you take lemon.  Never add lemon if you take milk.  That is all there is to be said about lemon.

 

I hope you will enjoy this excellent beverage, and when time allows, I may add a few thoughts for traditional and non-traditional accompaniments.

 

 

 

#NationalHotTeaDay

 

In honor of this admirable hashtag, one held a very pleasant afternoon taking questions on social media, with the promise that if one was impressed with the queries received, one would reveal the one additional secret to Pennyworth tea-making disclosed to Miss Selina but not chronicled in Polishing Silver. 

 

The results of that days Q&A are recorded here.

Milk poured into a cup of tea. Tea is properly poured first among people of quality, milk last.

Milk in first or last, and other matters of importance in Ask Alfred.

This is where Alfred omits a secret that was not even revealed in the pages of Polishing Silver, but was shared with Cat-Tales readers on National Hot Tea Day.

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