Have a cuppa Rosy Lea.

A Cup of Rosy Lea.

******************

My guess today there are very few of these old Tea Caddy’s around, most likely to be found in an antique shop. I remember my mother had one that would hold a full pound of tea when full. It was mahogany with rosewood inlay, and was given to her when she and my father were married.

Today, one would have to go a long way to find those like myself that still insists on good loose tea like my favourite Queen Mary pekoe blend of tea. Tea Bags an American invention seems to lose the pure tea taste in the package and being ground up into a fine dust.

I can remember we had several different sizes of teapots, depending on how many cups were required. Also the count was a teaspoon full for each cup and one teaspoon full for the pot. Also to heat the pot first with boiling water before putting the tea in the pot. Then it had to Mask or Brew before pouring out. Of course one placed a Tea Cozy over the pot to keep the contents hot.

Besides tea coming in ¼, ½, and 1 pound packets. It used to arrive at the local grocers in large plywood tea chests with a silver foil lining. Here the grocer would package up and weigh the loose tea. Of course a great deal of this tea came from Ceylon, now named Sri Lanka. Of course of the blending of tea is quite an art, and very few blenders ever attained being in the top ranks, which of course was a very well paid profession.

There are a few places where you can still buy loose tea, most can be found on the internet. Now, as my Cockney friends would say, now is the time for a nice cup of “Rosy Lea.”