Making hot tea

After I discovered that I loved the taste of Earl Grey hot tea, finding the best way to make it became a challenge. First I used a coffee pot. I made the mistake of putting the tea bag in the basket. Since the water merely seeped through, there was no flavor. I got smarter and put the bag in the carafe. That made it better—somewhat.

Then I realized that to make a really good cup of tea, boiling water is required. For a few days I poured boiling water over the tea bag in a Pyrex coffee pot—holding  my breath that the glass wouldn't shatter.

Maybe I need to explain that one cup of tea is not enough. In reality I drink three cups of tea in the morning. Since I want my tea, coffee and hot chocolate hot—not warm—I needed to find a way to keep it hot.

A short time later, I discovered a miniature one-quart white enamel kettle on sale—and there was only one. Any time I find only one of something I'm looking for—on sale—I hear it calling my name.

Now I was in business. Boiling water, metal pot—no danger of shattering. Then I read that tea should not be steeped in metal. Uh oh! What to do? I remembered a Corning ware tea pot I once owned. My unbreakable tea pot broke when I let it fall on a marble floor.

Not to worry. I'd buy another one. Wrong! Corning Ware has stopped making this teapot. I'll spare you the details of my search. Finally I discovered one in a thrift shop, and now my tea steeps on a burner on my stove where it stays hot to the last drop.   

Maybe my experience will help you if you are new to hot tea.