Teapot- what am I doing wrong?

[MrsRobbieHart]

I always make my tea in a mug. I had occasion recently to take a flask with me for a few days and make tea in the car. Same tea bags as always, same milk. I put boiling water in the flask and made the tea in the cup like I would at home. The tea was delicious and catapulted me right back to my youth and the tea my mum made in her stainless steel tea pot. So I’ve gone today and bought myself a stainless steel tea pot. Brewed it on the hob. But it doesn’t taste like it did from the flask or from my childhood. what have I done wrong?

Sorry OP @MrsRobbieHart I'm not Irish but there was something in the way you were describing that made me think you were Irish. My method is ( same as PP ) warm the pot with water fresh off the boil. Put kettle back on to boil. 2 teabags then add the boiling water. One big stir with spoon. Leave it to brew 5/6 minutes.

If I want to keep the pot warm I'll use a tea cosy.

I should add that stainless steel teapots are great because they retain the heat. They’re not for actually making tea in!

@MrsRobbieHart

Right *@LizzieMacQueen* tell me what you know? Is this an NI thing? And do I need to stop or continue with the hob?

Try it and see how it turns out. If a hobless brew turns out like your mums then that's how your mum did it. My brothers and sisters have different tea preferences based on all sorts so if your aiming for the tea you remember try everything you can find until it tastes right.

We used to make tea like that op when I was growing up. Boiled the kettle then poured water into metal teapot with tea bags and then put it on the hob to reboil. Parents always made the tea this way and if there was tea left it would be reheated on the hob. I'm from the South of Ireland. I don't really drink tea but your post brought back memories.

You need a teapot from a charity shop.

I knew you'd be from NI @MrsRobbieHart 🤣🤣 you need to warm the pot with boiling water first, then pour that out put the bags in and fill with boiling water. You can put it on the hob for a few minutes on low but don't stew it cos then it's vile!!!

I wonder if the difference in the taste is because the water in the flask wouldn't have been boiling when you made the tea. I wonder if your mum left the kettle for a minute or two before pouring the water over the tea bags.

I find that tea made with fresh boiling water tastes quite different from tea made with water that has been kept hot rather than freshly boiled.

There’s an optimum tea making and tea drinking temperature, and the water needs to be freshly drawn. I hate tea made with water from Quookers as it tastes so old and stale.

This thread is an a spy headfuck

absolute headfuck, even.

I’ll get my coat.

Perhaps the tea in the flash brewed at a hotter temperature so tasted better? Try warming the pot and using a cosy?! I don't know I'm just guessing - I don't drink tea!

@Arsebucket Tea is absolutely crucial to life. It must be taken seriously.

@MrsRobbieHart

It’s a teapot. One specifically for the hob with a thicker base. Growing up- everyone always brewed their pot on the hob. It’s this one

I never knew that was a thing! I suppose it is similar to those Italian expresso coffee hob gadgets.

espresso even!

I am in Northern Ireland, and my mum always puts the teapot on the hob! She doesn't drink tea herself though, so doesn't seem to realise that this makes it taste disgusting. I have told her I'm more than happy with a bag in a mug, but apparently her granny made tea this way and therefore it is how it MUST be done. I just ask for coffee in her house now lol

Thank you everyone! I will try hobless tea tomorrow.

I’m glad I’ve stirred up (haha!) some nice memories for some and been totally recognise-able as an NI tea maker

It’s clear an us thing!

and yes @drainrat- tea making is serious business!

My nan had a stainless steel teapot. It would be filled with boiling water and tea leaves and sat on the gas hob for a few mins simmering before pouring through the tea strainer which inevitably let some tea leaves through. We knew never to drink the last swig. Was amazing tea.

Whaaaaaaaat?!

This is an abomination.

Tea should never be boiled. You shouldn't even pour fully boiling water on it, it should be a bit below boiling temperature.

NI tea tastes like nothing else ever, it’s the best.

I think it’s a hangover from making tea on the range - my farming relatives make tea on the Stanley/Rayburn and even though the water would be boiled in the kettle on the range, the pot of tea would sit there too. Makes sense that you’d put the teapot on the electric ring if you’re used to a range!

Guaranteed this will be in one of the papers tomorrow because this is insanity!

😂

Another NI here and that's exactly how we make tea. Big steel teapot. Boil water in the Kettle. But teabags and boiling water in teapot. Simmer for a few minutes.

But I only drink coffee so can't judge the taste.

Ok- since I have somewhat of a collection of us here- NI people- best teabags?

I get you OP.
Irish parents here and this is exactly how I learned to make tea.
I have the very same teapot, purchased for this very reason!

I don't know if it's an Irish thing but all tea has to be at nuclear temperatures to be acceptable!

We have an old AGA so the teapot lives on the top and stays warm. No need to pre-warm with boiling water.
When the kettle boils on the boiling plate (freshly drawn water, boiled only once) the teapot is placed on the boiling plate whilst the boiling water is poured over the tea leaves or bags.
It stays there for about 20 seconds then left on the (warm) AGA surface for a further 3-4 minutes to steep sporting a bespoke hand knitted tea cosy then pour out into pre-warmed mugs which have also been sitting on the back of the AGA since the last pot was brewed about an hour ago.

Of course, this method changes a little in the summer months when the AGA is switched off.
The electric kettle is filled with cold, freshly drawn water and switched on. Then run the hot tap briefly and fill the metal teapot then put on the hob to heat that water whilst waiting for the kettle. When the kettle boils, pour the hot teapot water into the waiting mugs to pre-warm. Put the teabags into the hot teapot and fill with the freshly boiled kettle water on the hob with a low flame/heat for a very short stint. Apply the lovely teacosy and allow to steep for a few minutes before pouring into the hot mugs.

Yes, I know it's a bloody faff but I don't care! This is how I like my tea and I also love the ritual!

OP, so when you habitually made your tea in a mug, did you not scald the mug first before making tea in it ?
if so, do that and see if you like it, rather than stirring up this hobnets nest.