I remember learning to make tea when I was growing up
boiling water in a kettle on the gas burner
the kettle would whistle when it was ready
adding a little hot water to the teapot to warm the insides
emptying that water before adding the dry tea leaves
then pouring over boiling water to fill the tea pot
covering the tea pot with an insulating cosy to keep it warm
some of our cozies were hand made affairs either knitted or crocheted
the more elaborate ones had a hole for the spout
so they could stay on while pouring
the brewing time was absolutely critical
too short and the tea was weak and insipid
we described weak tea as maiden’s water
too long a brew and the tea would be strong and bitter
that was called steeped tea
milk was always added to the cup before pouring the tea
the theory being that milk dissolves better when hot tea is added
this required skill to add the exact amount of milk
too much would make the tea taste milky
too little and it would be too dark
then we added sugar to make the tea sweet
the spoon never stayed dry so the loose sugar would form soggy clumps in the bowl
I always tried to lick to sugar sticking to the wet spoon
inevitably I got caught and scolded by my parents
after pouring three or 4 cups you could add more boiling water to get a second brew
when the tea was drunk it left loose leaves in the bottom of the cup
we would swirl around the remaining tea and quickly invert the cup over the saucer
leaving a pattern of tea leaves inside the cup
my grandmother would study the leaves in our cups
telling us what our tea leaves were saying to her
it was classic fortune telling but we soaked it up
for me it was the best part of tea drinking
I wanted to know what my future would be
so now many years later I am living in that future
I cannot remember all the things my grandmother predicted
but she was right in saying my life would be long, happy and healthy
today I have no interest in having my fortune told
but even if I did it would be impossible
we no longer make tea with loose leaves
our tea leaves today are imprisoned in small bags
I wonder what my grandmother would say about that