package for Lorne

[likesthecoat]

On its way to Daniel Jackson in Colorado:

:: Three small pots of homemade apricot jam
:: Half a pound of gummy bears
:: A dozen bottles of Welsh beer and ale from various local breweries
:: A bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon
:: Four canisters of loose tea leaves (Earl Grey, English Breakfast blend, Earl Grey Cream, Irish Breakfast), a teapot and a strainer
:: Four packages of Hobnobs: regular, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and chocolate orange



Dear Major Lorne,

This is how you brew a perfect pot of tea.

Start with cold, good water. Boil your water in another pot, and prepare the tea pot with some warm water so it doesn't crack from the boiling water, and then toss this out once the teapot is warm.

Measure in approximately one teaspoon of loose leaves per cup.

As soon as the water boils, remove it from the heat, pour it into the tea pot (over the leaves) and let it stand. Steep the tea between three and six minutes, depending on how strong you like it. (I like it very strong: I usually go the full six.) More than six minutes and the tea will taste bitter.

Pour out the tea through the strainer into your cups or the original pot where you boiled the water.

If you add milk or sugar, put them in the cup before the tea. If you add lemon and sugar, put in the sugar first. Don't use cream: it masks the taste of the tea.

To clean the tea pot, just rinse it with hot water and turn it upside down to dry. Don't use soap: the residue will ruin the taste of your next pot of tea. If it needs more thorough cleaning, mix some baking soda with water and use that to scrub off any stains.

Eat with Hobnobs. I don't recommend gummi bears for tea time.

Take care,
Ianto