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