Do you use an electric kettle?

Oh my, that is funny.LOL

;oD

I have a stove-top kettle, but it's a very cheap one and the stainless steel is already discolored. We do have a terribly cheap electric kettle made of plastic. I'd really like to replace it with one of the nice metal electric kettles which has the removeable pot (the element is contained in the base and the bottom of the removeable pot stays cool). It looks really nice!

Sad to say, I haven't drunk tea on a daily basis for the last 10 years. The Old Tom Cat is a coffee drinker, so that is the morning drink, and by evening, a cocktail is in order. However, I have enjoyed tea in years past. Here are my memories of tea.

As a child, my father brewed tea in a little aluminum pot with a ratan wrapped handle. The water was boiled in an enameled tea kettle that my mother also used to make drip style coffee. My father and I would have a cup of tea with honey while putting together a puzzle.

Years later, I lived with a man who loved tea. While weathering a particularly disturbing divorce, I found refuge in his little house, where we shared Samovar Tea, a spicy orange/cinnamon tea purchased from Kobuk Coffee in Anchorage, Alaska. He drank tea most every evening, and we drank all kinds... Earl Grey, Mint, Black Currant, Oolong and many others I can't recall. We generally purchased loose tea by the pound and used a tea ball to brew it. We drank it without sweetner or cream. I miss tea.

I'm going to cause a storm here no doubt but I use tea bags or a tea ball straight in the mug too (very unEnglish LOL)

So get yourself another ball Weez, or buy some bags - and off you go

There are so many moods and situations that the different types fit into. From a child I thought I didn't like tea, but once I realised it was just strong Indian tea I wasn't so keen on and started drinking more delicate ones without milk I find they're very useful

Most of the time I still drink (and enjoy) water. Mid morning I like coffee (though I'm a philistine with this too and prefer instant - real gives me TOO much of a buzz, so is saved for the odd occasion).
My first cup of the morning today is a camomile, honey and vanilla flavoured one (I don't take honey or sugar in drinks). I also have a very zingy ginger one which is warming and picks you up. Then there's Lady Grey - more delicate than Earl, Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine...
and endless others out there to try
:)

I've never got to the bottom of the 'milk first or second' debate either golddog. In my family the milk always goes in first. As I don't put any in any more I haven't pondered too long on this one...

cream in tea!? In Belize they put condensed milk into tea which is sooooo disgusting. Weezy you gotta try some tea like Lady Grey without milk (but one level sugar for me. LOL)

I had an aunt who used to drink weak China tea with cream!!
YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The trouble was, she thought that was how everyone else liked it too...

Mark, that's what my Scottish great granny used - condensed milk! I don't think she'd ever been to Belize, however. That particular bit of my past came to the US in the very late 1800s. Grandfather Houston was a chemist and worked for Standard Oil.

I am an non purist as well Philomel - tea bags in the morning, a vanilla flavored black tea that eases me into the day. I do love GOOD Earl Grey, but it is often hard to find. Has to be loose tea. Louisa got me some decaf E.G. that was very good, and the best I've ever had came as a gift From England - I believe it was Williamson and Magor. Lovely stuff.

Twinnings is another good make

Except it's Twinings and I prefer Sainsbury's anyway LOL
(I know, more phillistine tendencies surfacing ;)

I do like Twining's 'Lady Grey' though Kathleen
That vanilla flavour one sounds good - who makes that?

I only frequent Chinese restaurants where the small cup (no handle) is brought to the table with hot tea. A nice way to welcome guests. Occasionally a pot will be left on the table or the waiter/waitress will come back with refills. It sets the mood, and prepares one for the awaited chicken cashew.

Let's see, 8:12 AM. No, they probably won't be open just yet.:)

Aaaaaaahh I often enjoy jasmine tea after a chinese meal. None here (that I've been to at least) serve tea beforehand. What a pleasant aperitif :)

I've only been to a Chinese restaurant once (poor little provincial me! hehe), and don't recall the tea.

I think the vanilla is Bigelow's. The Earl Grey I have now is Twinings. They do occasionally have that in loose form here.

Poor Bostonians need a soothing cup of tea after last nights defeat to the Yankees. Another Boston Tea Party>--nah.

BIRD

Lol Bird

We all seem to have strayed somewhat from gardendragon's first question, not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that, but
..........are you still lurking gardendragon? It's a fun thread thanks

gardendragon, we did stray a bit. An electric kettle? I wouldn't know one if it bit me.:)

I thought I didn't like hot tea, either, but it was because of Lipton's bitter taste. I like Twining's, too. And Meijer stores have a tasty orange pekoe in their store brand.

My gootness, GW, youse got Meijer stores down in Ohio too. They are expanding I guess. We do lots of trade with em. They started out in this area of Michigan.

Now what I am waiting for is the new Home Depot to open on the site of the old Meijers building. And I am still hoping for a Tim Horton's. I hear tell they are coming into Ohio.

BIRD

Briefly hijacking: Oh, we've had Meijer for a long time -- I believe the one in Newark was built in 1985. We have two Tim Horton's in town, too. And...AND...a Super Wal-Mart. Be still my heart! No Home Depot, however - just a Lowe's.

Sometimes I think I am so far behind that I will never catch up. Methinks I will go out and smell a rose from Lowes.

A Lowe's by any other name
Cannot compete

Do you have Menards in your area? I prefer them to Lowes, because they have cleaner rest rooms.

The only Home Depot that I have visited was abysmally dismal. I could not wait to get out of it. I guess if they have what you are looking for it would be ok. Many times I go to our local lumber dealer just to get some value added advice.

Lowe's and Home Depot are more for the contractor and home repair person that know where everything is, and what it is used for.

BIRD, the local lumber dealer, no doubt, will have straight lumber. Lowe's and Home Depot do not. I get so frustrated looking for straight wood; wood that does not have a bend to the left or right. It's always a battle to find it.

PS Lowe's still hasn't discounted there larger shrubs. They must be going to over winter the stuff at the store.

Oh, yes, you can't go in a Lowe's or Home Depot unless you have at *least* an hour to spare. If you can find help, the help often can't help and you're off on your own again! We are fortunate to have a few mom & pop hardware stores around. I have to admit I shop based on price and convenience when it's something I know I can easily find, though.

Now, back to kettles...This is something like I was talking about. I saved a couple to my wishlist and just linked ya'll to that since it let me show you a couple different models at one shot: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/registry/2WYFGCPMWOLDZ/ref%3Dwl%5Fs%5F3/104-6588392-6343964

Hope the link works. They're really neat products, I think!

Those are very kool gw! I particularly like #3 :)

Here's my happy chappy, complete with base
(how sad can I get??????!)

I am wondering if your Happy Chappy heats faster with 220 volts. Could that be a reason that we don't see them in the USA?

BIRD

Certainly doesn't take long
If only heating one cupful it's pretty well boiled by the time you've got out the cup and tea/coffee etc.
I think takes only three minutes to boil the full litre

The Old Tom Cat and I are planning a trip to Anchorage next week. I'll have to include a trip to Kobuk Coffee for some Samovar and some Currant tea. No sugar, no honey.. just tea.

Dooooooo let us know how you get on Weez
The Samover sounds intriguing - orange/cinammon yum

.......and if you get a chance to take some pics of Anchorage......

How far is it from you?

I have two electric tea kettles, one was my Grandmother's and it still works wonderfully and the other I use for my crafts to steam my silk flowers, ribbon's and such.

Phil, Anchorage is about 120 miles north of us by road, though much closer were we eagles and could fly over the mountains! The Samovar is a truly wonderful winter tea.

i didn't realise it was as far - that's quite a trip, and I suppose one to make before the snow starts!

I must hunt for that Samovar tea
Trouble is, I often like the sound of a tea and then don't like it lol. I don't like all those wonderful sounding fruit mixtures - they all seem to have added lemon etc that I'm not keen on. Then I end up liking one called lemon and ginger. It just doesn't have the sharp twang I dislike

Trial and error LOL

I feel the same about flavored coffees...not the novelty coffees one orders in a coffee shop by the cup, but rather the beans that are flavored. They always seem to have a chemical taste, and once we use the grinder for 'raspberry coffee', it is tainted with that flavor for the longest time. An occasional latte or mocha is like desert, but for the most part, I like a good house blend served without cream or sugar.

Samovar is definitely a specialty tea. It is sweet and spicy, best served quite strong and after a day out in the cold. You might not like it at all, but is much tastier than any other orange spice teas I have tasted.

Canadian electric kettle vs American kettle on the stove. Being a Canadian now living in the States, this matter has quite confused me, sometimes making me think my memory was messed up. But now I am reassured my memory is correct.

Every Canadian home I was in had an electric kettle.
Down here in modern gadget U.S. they look at me like I'm daft when I mention an electric kettle. The first time I saw someone heating water in a pot I thought their electric kettle was broken, but turns out some Americans think its quite normal to use a pot.

As I order my bulk tea from Victoria in Canada and even my teenage son brews it up in the "proper" mannner, it has taken many years for me to understand that many Americans consider "tea" to mean herb tea. And my eyes popped out when a friend said she made tea by putting the teabag, cream and sugar and water into the microwave all at once. Oh, my poor confused Canadian mind nearly collapsed trying to take this in.

Yes, you're right those flavoured beans taste so artificial Weez.

LOL Karen. I can't believe that a nation one thinks of as up to the minute with all the latest effort saving gadgets doesn't seem to have heard of the electric kettle either.

They're not just good for tea making - I use mine for quick boiling of just the right amount of water for all sorts of other things too. I'd never call one a tea kettle. We have tea pots, but a kettle is a kettle and intended strictly for water only, whatever that water is subsequently used for.

Staff at work put tea bag, milk and sugar in a mug to make tea. Personally I cant stand tea made in a mug. It just ends up colored water

No it doesn't if you do it right

Why should there be any difference? You're still just putting water on the tea in the same way.

ah but the length of time in a mug isnt enough for the flavor to flood out and is always much more bitter

Sorry but I don't see why it should be any different if left for the same time and treated in the same way. In fact I find judging the final outcome is much easier in a mug as you can watch for just the right moment to remove the leaves or bag
In my experience bitterness happens more often from pot brewed, when it starts to 'stew'

I like the really fresh flavour when no stewing has taken place. Much more delicate

I have both, but mostly use my stove-top one. My MIL has a stovetop as well. I'd use my electric kettle more if it shut off after awhile. I'm very absent-minded. I need the whistle to let me know its done and time to turn off the stove. I also microwave tea, but its the stuff that you get in the store, it never gets any stronger or better so it doesn't really matter. It's the loose or PG Tips in bags that I take special care with.

I think Americans like the stovetop more because its more homey. Reminds us of mom or grammie's house. It just feels good to hear the whistle. We need a little antiquity in our up-to-date-high-speed world just as a little bit of balance. Helps create a mood. When I make my PET, as my DH calls it (Perfect English Tea), he knows that I want a mellow and relaxing day.

The only reason I can think of putting the milk/sugar in before the tea (which I do) is that when you add it first and tea next, you get just the right amount of tea/sugar/milk without overflowing. I do the same with coffee.