Congratulations to Tom Wing! He correctly identified the accidental inventor of the tea bag: Thomas Sullivan, of New York. Mr. Wing wins a collection of tea - many of my own custom blends. Wanna get in on the contest fun? Check out my Spring 2011 contest for Tea-ku: haiku related to tea. We'll vote on the faves in June; contest closes May 31. So you've got some time. We'll also have a celebriTEA involved...one hint, she writes a haiku about every cup of tea she drinks on steepster....
Here are the deets on this contest: who invented the first tea bag?
From wikipedia (and verified by sources):
The first tea bags were made from hand-sewn silk muslin bags and tea bag patents of this sort exist dating as early as 1903. First appearing commercially around 1904, tea bags were successfully marketed by tea and coffee shop merchant Thomas Sullivan from New York, who shipped his tea bags around the world. The loose tea was intended to be removed from the bags by customers, but they found it easier to prepare tea with the tea enclosed in the bags.[1] Modern tea bags are usually made of paper fiber. The heat-sealed paper fiber tea bag was invented by William Hermanson,[2] one of the founders of Technical Papers Corporation of Boston. The rectangular tea bag was not invented until 1944. Prior to this they resembled small sacks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_bag
Showing posts with label tea bag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tea bag. Show all posts
3.29.2011
3.23.2011
Teaist Apprentice - Part One
Ally sits alone at the 24 hour diner across the street from her college campus, and next door to her apartment. It's almost four in the morning and she has a paper due for her Japanese culture class at 8 a.m. So far she's typed her name - Ally Davis, the title of the class, and the following sentence:
I hate this paper.
She sighs and reaches for her coffee cup. Empty. She walks over to the counter and asks for a refill, but the waitress shakes her head. No.
"Listen, lady, I've got a paper due and I'm ready to pass out," Ally says sharply.
"Sorry sweetie. The coffee urn is fried. Something happened to it. We have hot water for tea, though."
"Tea?" Ally takes a turn shaking her head. "That's not gonna help me stay awake."
"Well it's that or soda. Sorry hun." The waitress hands her a clean mug from behind the counter and takes Ally's overworked one.
"Sit down, honey, and I'll bring the tea over. Milk and sugar?"
"Sure." Ally takes her seat, unhappy, a bit shaky from all the coffee, yet determined to stay awake and finish the paper. She's a 4.0 and isn't going to let some stupid CORE requirement class ruin her pristine GPA.
The waitress appears in front of Ally all of the sudden - Ally must have missed her walking up - and holds a large wooden box with intricate carvings. "Is a freakin' genie gonna pop out of that?" Ally jokes.
The waitress smiles mysteriously and places the box on the bistro table, next to Ally's computer. Then she slides a second table over to Ally and returns with a pot of hot water, milk and sugar. "Try the Assam Melody," she advises before heading back behind the counter.
"Is this for real?" Ally asks herself as she opens the box. The lid removes easily and a waft of dewy grass, musky air and a softness she can't identify gusts through her nose. The box features rows of teabags, lined up at attention, soldiers ready to serve.
The Assam Melody is in a red teabag and catches her eye. She removes one tea bag, then reads the label.
"Ingredients: tea." Helpful, she thinks.
This isn't Ally's first cup of tea, but this is the first one on her journey to teaism: the art and craft of enjoying the harmony of tea. She slides her finger under the envelop flap and removes the tea bag. Then she pores boiling water over the tea, which immediately turns a tan liquor, and enjoys the scent that escapes the cup. She breathes in deeply and closes her eyes to sip...
...She opens them, expecting to see the waitress behind the counter, the police officers joking at one of the booths, and a potential bum sipping free soup at the counter. But instead she is in a field, surrounded by scented leaves, sunshine on her skin, and questions in her mind. Where is she? When is she?
Stay tuned for Part Two, arriving here by Wed., April 6. Leave questions below (or e-mail me) for Ally to answer on her search to becoming a Teaist Apprentice.
**This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, stories, etc, are the creative mastermind of Carolynne Keenan. Do not share without permission. Make sure to enjoy the story and see the rest of Keen Tea Thyme. Thank you.**
I hate this paper.
She sighs and reaches for her coffee cup. Empty. She walks over to the counter and asks for a refill, but the waitress shakes her head. No.
"Listen, lady, I've got a paper due and I'm ready to pass out," Ally says sharply.
"Sorry sweetie. The coffee urn is fried. Something happened to it. We have hot water for tea, though."
"Tea?" Ally takes a turn shaking her head. "That's not gonna help me stay awake."
"Well it's that or soda. Sorry hun." The waitress hands her a clean mug from behind the counter and takes Ally's overworked one.
"Sit down, honey, and I'll bring the tea over. Milk and sugar?"
"Sure." Ally takes her seat, unhappy, a bit shaky from all the coffee, yet determined to stay awake and finish the paper. She's a 4.0 and isn't going to let some stupid CORE requirement class ruin her pristine GPA.
The waitress appears in front of Ally all of the sudden - Ally must have missed her walking up - and holds a large wooden box with intricate carvings. "Is a freakin' genie gonna pop out of that?" Ally jokes.
The waitress smiles mysteriously and places the box on the bistro table, next to Ally's computer. Then she slides a second table over to Ally and returns with a pot of hot water, milk and sugar. "Try the Assam Melody," she advises before heading back behind the counter.
"Is this for real?" Ally asks herself as she opens the box. The lid removes easily and a waft of dewy grass, musky air and a softness she can't identify gusts through her nose. The box features rows of teabags, lined up at attention, soldiers ready to serve.
The Assam Melody is in a red teabag and catches her eye. She removes one tea bag, then reads the label.
"Ingredients: tea." Helpful, she thinks.
This isn't Ally's first cup of tea, but this is the first one on her journey to teaism: the art and craft of enjoying the harmony of tea. She slides her finger under the envelop flap and removes the tea bag. Then she pores boiling water over the tea, which immediately turns a tan liquor, and enjoys the scent that escapes the cup. She breathes in deeply and closes her eyes to sip...
...She opens them, expecting to see the waitress behind the counter, the police officers joking at one of the booths, and a potential bum sipping free soup at the counter. But instead she is in a field, surrounded by scented leaves, sunshine on her skin, and questions in her mind. Where is she? When is she?
Stay tuned for Part Two, arriving here by Wed., April 6. Leave questions below (or e-mail me) for Ally to answer on her search to becoming a Teaist Apprentice.
**This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, stories, etc, are the creative mastermind of Carolynne Keenan. Do not share without permission. Make sure to enjoy the story and see the rest of Keen Tea Thyme. Thank you.**
First Keen Tea Thyme Contest - Hurry, Ends March 25 @ 11:59 p.m.
If we still used tea as currency - as the ubiquitous "they" did until the nineteenth century, I'd be filthy rich! I've got more tea than I know what to do with. Plus my 30th b-day is around the corner and I'm ready for some fun. So I've decided to host a tea giveaway!
You've got until 11:59 p.m. on Fri., March 25, 2011, to answer the question below by e-mailing me.
Please do NOT post your answer below. You can post that you will e-mail me the answer so I'll know to look out for your entry. If you post the answer below, your posted comment will be removed and you'll be disqualified. Sorry to be so touchy about that, but I want to keep this fair & fun. I'll select a winner randomly based on the number of correct entries on Sat., March 26, 2011. After contacting the winner, I'll post his/her name as well as the correct answer.
Who (unintentionally) invented the tea bag?
Why bother entering? 'Cause you'll win tea, silly! :) The winner will receive a goodie bag of at least five samples of my custom blended tea from Adagio, including the following:
So, when answering, please include the five additional tea samples you'd like. Again, please do NOT post the answer below. And remember, the contest ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.! The clock is ticking! :) :)
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. Good luck! :)
You've got until 11:59 p.m. on Fri., March 25, 2011, to answer the question below by e-mailing me.
Please do NOT post your answer below. You can post that you will e-mail me the answer so I'll know to look out for your entry. If you post the answer below, your posted comment will be removed and you'll be disqualified. Sorry to be so touchy about that, but I want to keep this fair & fun. I'll select a winner randomly based on the number of correct entries on Sat., March 26, 2011. After contacting the winner, I'll post his/her name as well as the correct answer.
Who (unintentionally) invented the tea bag?
Why bother entering? 'Cause you'll win tea, silly! :) The winner will receive a goodie bag of at least five samples of my custom blended tea from Adagio, including the following:
- Vampire Lemonade
- Toasted Marshmallow
- A Love Affair
- My Name is Bruce
- Sassy Cupid
The winner also gets a choice of five other samples from my Steepster cupboard, which is updated regularly. All samples will make at least five cups of tea. I'm generous when sending; ask around. :)
So, when answering, please include the five additional tea samples you'd like. Again, please do NOT post the answer below. And remember, the contest ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.! The clock is ticking! :) :)
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. Good luck! :)
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