Give your tootsies a treat January 27 2020

When you feel the urge to soak your tired feet in a nice bath of water, pop in a couple of used teabags to nourish your skin, and generally freshen your treaders, especially just before you go to bed, and you will feel refreshed.

Freshen your hands January 26 2020

If you have been preparing smelly foods like garlic, onions, fish etc., try rubbing a teabag that has already done its duty, and your hands will be smelling like daisies in no time.

Make washing greasy dishes easier January 25 2020

If you like to put clean-ish dishes into the dishwasher, or if you wash yours by hand, pop a couple of new teabags into the warm washing up water and it will break down the grease in no time at all. It will also help to loosen any stuck on food from dishes or pans, and save you a lot of work.

From teacup to mouthwash January 24 2020

You can try using peppermint or green teabags a second time, transforming them into a really breath- freshening mouthwash. Obviously, depending on your taste, you can try other flavours, but I like the minty ones. And always remember, lots of the store bought mouthwashes contain alcohol, which can be a problem for folks trying to stay away from the demon drink.

Tea can be furniture polish January 23 2020

A weak solution of tea from second time around teabags is helpful to clean and shine hard wood floors, furniture, doors etc.

Use your teabags to dye paper or white cloth, T-shirts, socks and the like January 22 2020

Give a second go-round to your teabags They will of course be weaker than the first time, but you can change white paper into sepia, antique looking parchment. It's fun for making greetings cards etc. or to wrap a gift. Or try the same procedure to dye white cloth into pale shades of orange, light brown or green. This can be fun, and kids enjoy doing it too. (Well. at least some kids).

Give your plants a spot of tea January 21 2020

Refresh used teabags in a jug of cool water, and gently add it to plant pots. Or if you have loose tea leaves, when they are cool and damp, sprinkle them around the base of growing plants to fertilize them further. They will also scare the critters away. Or add it to your compost to freshen the air and add some nutrients. Of course, be sure to remove any staples in your teabags. Mrs. McCartney's Teas do not have staples, and the bags are bio degradable. Who could ask for anything more.

Teabags and loose tea can act as air fresheners January 20 2020

Another great use for used teabags is to pop them into the bottom of trash bins, or inside the fridge to rid it of pesky smells that linger, and inside your gym bags, or even use loose tea leaves in kitty litter boxes. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Catching mice with teabags January 19 2020

Mice don't care for the smell of tea, so save your used teabags and tuck them into odd corners of your house of office to make them less inviting for these little critters. Or you can even try putting a few drops of peppermint oil on them, this will put them off even more. It also works with spiders, ants, and other little pests.

Tea to soothe your skin January 18 2020

If you apply a cool, used teabag to your skin, you will be amazed at how much it may soothe any discomfort. Or place them on your tired eyes. Lie down, relax, place a teabag over each eye and relax for a few minutes. You will be pleasantly surprised. It can also help reduce bruising, sunburn, stings and bites. The tea draws out the toxins and lessens swelling and painful feelings.

Using teabags with other cooking methods January 17 2020

Have you ever tried popping a used teabag to enhance the flavours of other foods? Hang the used bag into a pot of hot water while it comes to the boil, before adding rice or pasta etc. You can try this with various flavours, even to oatmeal for a tasty breakfast dish.

Re-using old teabags January 16 2020

Here's a little tip to make your next cuppa stronger. Keep a used one and pop it into your next cup of tea. Whilst it doesn't have all of its original strength, the bit that it does have helps the new one to show a bit more muscle. I have found that it works best with red or green teas. Let me know what you think.

Smoking tea leaves January 15 2020

My dear old mother, born in 1888 (or was it 1887 - she was never quite sure), used to tell the tale of drying out tea leaves on brown paper, then rolling them into home made cigarettes, which she would smoke whilst sticking her head out of the bedroom window at Holt Hill College in Birkenhead, Merseyside, when a teen ager. The nuns would have been horrified if they had known what mischief their students were up to after tuition hours.

World War II tea rationing in England January 14 2020

My Mum had to present our Ministry of Food ration books to Pegram's Grocers in Scargreen Avenue, Norris Green, Liverpool in order to buy our weekly ration of 2 ounces early in 1940. And that was only for people above the age of 5. And boy, did she know how to make it last. She would make tea in our big Brown Betty teapot, and after it had gone cold, she'd carefully scoop out the tea leaves and dry them on brown paper, and re-use them over and over until she couldn't squeeze another drop out of them. None of your new fangled teabags in those days.

Russian Tea January 13 2020

On my various tours of Russia and Siberia with Ruth (during her Pop Diva phase) I would regularly go in search of my frequent cups of tea. As milk was non existent (except for the elderly and pregnant women), tea was always taken black, and usually with a spoonful of red jam. It was a little shock to the system at first, but I soon grew to like it. The country was still in a great state of austerity at that time. I learned that cows were kept underground, because of the extreme climate, and milk was considered a luxury item. When I returned to California after my first trip, I not only kissed the ground, but made straight for the nearest Cafe and downed several large glasses of milk. That was before I started in on the Irish Coffees. A night to remember. (If only I could).

Superstition January 12 2020

There is an old superstition that says: to put milk in tea before sugar is to cross the path of love, perhaps never to marry. Personally, I think that is a load of old codswallop.

Tea Dances January 11 2020

The tea dance was a dance held in the summer or autumn from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the English countryside, and sometimes, at the end of a garden party. Not so much in London itself as in the surrounding areas.

The function grew out of the afternoon tea tradition, and J. Pettigrew traces its origin to the French colonization of Morocco.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II January 10 2020

And while I am on a name dropping run, I also read that Her Majesty begins each day with a tray of tea and biscuits, (or cookies as they are known in the United States).

Sir Richard Branson January 09 2020

Did you know that this genius man says he drinks about 28 cups of tea a day? I have, on occasion, sent him some Mrs. McCartney's English Breakfast, which I sincerely hope have added to his wellbeing. (I'm just an old name dropper).

The famous "they" have done another survey January 08 2020

"They" say that more half half of those over 60 see putting the kettle on in a crisis is typically British, compared to just 36% of millenials. So there!

How tea began in England January 06 2020

The English started drinking tea in the late 1650's, and as both the brewed beverage and the dry loose leaves were extremely expensive, it immediately became the drink of the Royal Family and the Aristocracy.

Teacups and saucers November 14 2017

Teacups did not always have handles. Chinese tea bowls influenced the first European teacups. At first, the English made cups without handles in the traditional Chinese style. Not until the mid 1750's was a handle added to prevent ladies from burning their fingers. In Victorian times in England, the tea was sometimes poured into the saucer to cool it before sipping, this was considered perfectly acceptable. This is what writers of that period meant by "a dish of tea."

Elitism November 12 2017

Since ancient Rome, a cultured person ate with 3 fingers, a commoner with 5. Thus, the birth of the raised pinkie as a sign of elitism. This 3 finger etiquette rule is still correct when picking up food with the fingers and handling various pieces of flatware. This "pinky up" idea descended from a misinterpretation of 3 fingers versus 5 fingers dining etiquette in the 11th century.

Tea party Etiquette November 11 2017

* Greeting/handshake

* After sitting down - put purse on your lap or behind you against chair back.

* Napkin placement - unfold napkin on your lap. If you must leave temporarily, place napkin on chair.

* Sugar/lemon - sugar is placed in cup first, then thinly sliced lemon, and never milk and lemon together.

* Superstition - To put milk in tea before sugar is to cross the path of love, perhaps never to marry.

* The correct order when eating on a tea tray is to eat savories first, scones next, and sweets last.

* Scones - split horizontally with knife, curd and cream is placed on plate. Use the knife to put cream/curd on each bite. Eat with fingers, neatly.

* Proper placement of spoon - always place spoon behind the cup, never IN the cup.

* Proper holding of cup - never put pinky "up." And look into the teacup whilst drinking, not over it.

Tea Stories