Comments on: The Teapot

By: Hansel

Hansel — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:13:20 +0000

Steve R., I’ve heard of Julie Andrews, Whoopi Goldberg and NATO Standard teas. I’ve not heard of Michael Barrymore, and don’t understand the reference – could you, or someone, elaborate?

Also, are there similar references for “Black One” or “Black Two”?

By: Nelson

Nelson — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:43:50 +0000

Beautiful Teapot , ) Tea is instant wisdom – just add water! ~Astrid Alauda

By: Steve R

Steve R — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:00:49 +0000

After 20 years in the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer (dedicated to
tea drinking), I believe that:

NATO Standard – white 2 (milk & 2 sugars)
Julie Andrews – white nun (milk, no sugar)
Whoopi Goldberg – black nun (no milk, no sugar)
Michael Barrymore – wight one (milk, one sugar)

I stumbled onto your page looking for eglus! I was hooked by the tea references….

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:11:07 +0000

I was looking for the definitive definition of ‘NATO standard tea’ but your page was far more interesting. Thank you.

By: Mum

Mum — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 10:32:31 +0000

As I understood the ruling, it referred to T bags which had been in along with the milk (as in your method) because it is the milk that causes the problem. We certainly compost our millions of T bags ( its a family thing!) but we remove them from the liquid before adding milk, otherwise you can’t see them and you get a mouthful of tea bag at the end!
Cheers!

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 10:15:11 +0000

Indeed they do, and I’ve noticed some confusion over EU reg’s regarding “not composting tea bags” which has caused a bit of an urban myth to spring up.

The regs cover waste which is collected, composted and sold-on to the public, so it’s a sensible precaution given the foot and mouth outbreak of five years ago. They do not prohibit, or even advise against personal composting of kitchen waste.

I do have to wonder why I’d be able to buy anything that’s contaminated with foot and mouth in the first place, but then, that’s the nature of precautions.

As for giving up sugar: Yes, I’ve considered it, but the nato standard says one sugar and I’m already pushing my luck by using the unrefined stuff.

By: Mum

Mum — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 08:34:12 +0000

Do the tea bags end up in the wormery?
Are you exposing your poor little worms to the risk of developing diabetes?
Have you considered giving up sugar?
On the other hand, you could just use the juice produced by your worms to grow lots of Sweet Williams

By: Rich

Rich — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 22:44:12 +0000

Absolutely, there’s never any mess if all the sugaring is done in advance.

This method is not without it’s concerns however, and I am mid-way through a long running debate with my sister in law concerning exactly how much sugar is absorbed by the tea bags: as a result I cannot make a pot without wondering what amount of sugar is absorbed and how different the tea would taste if the preparation method were to differ slightly. I therefore consider this several times every day.

I have resolved, one day, to perform a some kind of a combustion experiment on the dried teabags in order to know this categorically. Perhaps this is a job for Hugo and his tea experiments.

By: Kamil Wencel

Kamil Wencel — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 19:07:27 +0000

I’ll have to admit I share your superhuman passion for tea. 120 minutes also is a good estimation and why fumbling around on your desk with sugar and milk ? It is just more efficient to set up a teapot, three big spoons of sugar then boiling water through some tasty first flush darjeeling. after three minutes add some milk ( non-fat-free of course ) and stir it with the same spoon you added the sugar with.

This is just perfect, doesn’t make your stomach sour like coffee does and keeps you creative and focused for hours.

By: chris bristow

chris bristow — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 09:42:07 +0000

“More tea, Vicar ?”