This'n'that and the other - random thoughts about saucers

Don't ask me why but saucers have been on my mind, lately. Perhaps it's the result of a decreasing availability that's bothersome and somewhat perplexing. Just to clarify for people reading this and wondering if there have been visitations by unworldly beings, the saucers in question are the one's that go with teacups and act as receptacles for teabags.

Could be my early British origins in that there are conventions which have remained part of my essential nature. The afternoon tea ritual is part of a daily routine whereby life stops for a half hour or so to sit down for a "cuppa",  however, therein lies the problem. Over time it seems to me that saucers  have all but disappeared. In conducting some personal research, it appears that your matching tea cup and saucer have been slowly replaced by  your pedestrian mugs. Not that there's anything wrong with mugs per se, the choice of coffee drinkers, but tea drinkers need somewhere to place their used teabags and saucers fulfill that need. We tea drinkers have needs or requirements that coffee drinkers don't need to worry about.

For whatever reason, tableware manufacturers appear to have made the decision to eliminate or phase out the need for saucers. Perhaps there was a move to acquiesce to the world of coffee drinkers who are content to consume their beverage of choice out of paper cups. Consuming tea out of a paper cup is sacrilege for tea drinkers - okay - it is for me, anyway. In my view, paper interferes with the flavor and once again, what does one do with the used teabag, which leads me back to my original point.

"Spread the word," a dishware manufacturer might have told his workers, "we're cutting back on the production of saucers. If it's good enough for coffee drinkers - it's good enough for them teabag soakers."

"But what are they supposed to do with their used teabags?" a worker and tea drinker might have asked.

"Let 'em drink iced tea," the dishware manufacturer could have responded off-handedly and hence that could have been the creation and impetus for a new beverage. But I digress.

Thinking back, my grandfather who hailed from Russia, loved his afternoon glass of tea. The act
of sipping the hot liquid slowly until it cooled, was part of a ritual consisting of blowing on the surface for a short time followed by pouring the tea into a saucer and sipping it slowly for the finishing touch. What would he have used had a saucer not been available? A soup bowl? One can only speculate but somehow and knowing grandfather, it wouldn't have sufficed.

When it comes to the subject of tea time and societal correctness, Debretts is one of the best sources, at least in my eyes. Although no mention is made directly regarding the tea saucers and their disappearing act, the source does provide some interesting advice on how to drink tea and the important role of the saucer. According to Debretts, a spoon should be used to stir the tea  - this is important - without clinking it against the side of the cup and - still more very important and telling information regarding the saucer - should be placed back in the saucer. Note the usage of the saucer here. Once more saucers are the focus with advice that includes saucers remain on the table and never raised when the cup is lifted up to the lips. Perhaps - pure speculation - keeping the saucer on the table would prevent the breakage of the saucer in case some tableware manufacturers decide in the future to phase out the saucers. But I digress.

I'm wondering why the emphasis on not clinking the spoon against the cup. Is it the noise factor one wonders. Can't speak for others (why would I want to, anyway) and keep this to yourself but I'm guilty of hitting the side of the cup when stirring my tea. Actually I never gave stirring a second thought to be honest and nobody has drawn this faux pas to my attention, or perhaps they were too polite to mention it.

"Excuse me, Eleanor, but you appear to hit the side of  the cup with your spoon when stirring your tea," somebody might have but hasn't as yet, asked. To which my response would be, "oh really? Yeah - and?"

"Where there's tea, there's hope." - Arthur Wing Pinero. Along with the return of the saucer.

At last! Something for the tea drinkers of the world! Bonus: Debretts offers advice on tea drinking

Tea drinkers delight! Finally there is someone who is actually taking the tea imbibers - that's what we are or at least I am - seriously! What makes this story so interesting is that the initiator is none other than Starbucks.

After opening up its first non-coffee outlet three months ago, a fresh juice place in Bellevue Square, Washington, Starbucks will open its tea shop under the Tazo brand, in October. As a committed tea drinker, have to admit I'm not familiar with Tazo but then my tastes in tea are very basic. You know - tea bags of orange pekoe, green (lovvve green tea) and lemon tea, plus an occasional Earl Grey now and then... English Breakfast... Somewhat like James Bond with his martini preference, mine is a little touch of milk - never cream for tea - to lighten the liquid, a sprinkle of sugar, followed by lifting the cup to the lips and experiencing the hot liquid slowly making its way down the throat... Simple but delightful pleasures of life.

In as far as the correct way to serve tea, once again Debretts, "the" guide to everything socially correct, has a guide to cover this subject.

- when serving tea for a group, a pot is preferable and loose leaf tea is most flavorful, Debretts advises. A second pot of hot water should be handy to dilute over-brewed tea (been there - done that). The rule is if a waiter places a teapot on a table without pouring, the person nearest the pot should pour. Or...some type of agreement among everyone at the table is also okay in my opinion. Something to the effect: "let Felicia pour - she's good at tea pouring."

- the handle of the tea cup should be held between your thumb and forefinger. The pinky/little finger is not required to be held in the air. That's a relief. Never could figure out why one would want to hold a pinky finger in the air, anyway. Perhaps because it doesn't fit into a teacup handle or for balance - go know. But I digress. Once again.

- biscuits (or cookies) should not be dunked in tea unless it's a very (Debretts word) informal setting and slurpring noises are a definite no-no. There's nothing worse than seeing a biscuit or cookie or any food item that has been dunked in hot liquid, slowly disentegrate and fall into the cup, or even worse, fall on to a piece of clothing.

To return to Starbucks tea openings... Tea drinkers of the world and we are many, will have more than 80 varieties of loose-leaf tea  and  tea lattes, iced tea in addition to packaged chocolates, infused sugars and honeys will be sold by the ounce and available to customers. This will allow tea imbibers (love that word) to blend their own mixes with the help of a "tea partner", an employee of the store. Cold tea for me is what happens when a cup is left on the table too long but there are people who enjoy theirs iced.

So I'm thinking here and at least in my mind, tea should be consumed in cozy tea shops. There is also no information as to how their new offering will be served. Tea in paper cups as is the case in many cafes/outlets who shall remain nameless, is abhorrent ("such a strong word, Eleanor!") in my eyes. Tea should be served in china drinking vessels, only. Somehow paper seems to difuse the flavor of tea. Am I right, tea drinkers of the world? Wooden stir sticks are acceptable but real teaspoons are better. Again, IMHO.

So what can Starbucks offer in addition to its new tea option?

I'm thinking here (again) - wait for it - tea leaf readers!

Before scoffing at my suggestion, think about it. You have your loose tea and once the liquid is consumed - the tea leaves remain at the bottom. Having employees available who can read tea leaves seems like a natural progression and think of the publicity value!

Meanwhile, here's an interesting opinion piece focusing on whether tea will overtake coffee in popularity.
http://blog.worldoffineteas.com/2012/06/will-tea-ever-be-as-big-as-coffee-in-us.html


Then again, you can't tell fortunes with coffee.