Idinraha unshackled...

In Iraq we make tea using a ghorey too. My mother is the only one who knows how to make proper tea. You reignited some seriously nostalgic memories of istikan tea cups, baksam cookies, porch swings, and hot summer nights.

Being of Indian origin (revealed something of myself here) and raised in the UK (even more), there is nothing like a good cup of tea.

One of my fav. lines in the soap opera "Eastenders" in the UK was - "I'll go make us a cup of tea" or "Let me go put the kettle on." It didn't matter what was happening but it looked like outside of pints of beer, tea was the next fav. drink on the show.

Even in the UK there was a commercial "Tea, the best drink of the day." Here a guy was desperately asking a girl to come up to his apartment (flat) for coffee and she would refuse in coy and reserved manner. Finally she confesses to him, "I don't drink coffee, I drink tea." Upon which he tells her with much relieve, that tea is also his fav. drink. And then run up to his flat to have some tea ;-).

I remember coming to Texas (more info), and finding restaurants carrying "tea" in the form of iced tea (questionable drink). When hot tea was offered, it came in the form of a cup of hot water and a lipton tea bag. That was not tea.

Have you had Indian tea? There are several ways to make tea - Darjeeling and Earl Gray are good. I prefer to buy PG-Tips. The tea is from Darjeeling. If you cannot find this brand of tea -then you can use lipton tea bags. You can find it at most Indo-European grocery stores. In the UK PG tips was adverstised using chimpanzees (they were halirious). It comes from the British line "A Chimps Tea Party." Not that I've been to one.

Indian tea usually starts with a saucepan filled with water to which you add your tea-bags, a teaspoon or half-teaspoon of loose India tea for each teabag and then you can add you option of illachies (I have to find the English word here), cinammon sticks and other stuff. Some people like to make masala chai but I have honestly never made it and buy mine ready made. When the water boils, add milk to the pan (and this depends on how much milk you want to add). Then you let the tea boil again - and there is you tea. Add sugar to taste.

The best tea is that which is shared with friends on a cold, wet winter day in a cozy kitchen.

Link for PG Tips including the adds.

http://www.pgmoment.com/

My husband had lived in India for 3 years. He loves indian tea. He makes it every morning and I hate to clean the pot. I also worked at a company that 90% were Asian Indian. At 10 am and 4 PM, they had tea breaks and one person in each building/department was responsible to make the tea. I'm starting to enjoy tea more, specially when I drink it with my hubby.

Well well, seems we all come together nicely over a cuppa tea!! I have to say I am glad to hear SL opens up about her mysterious self over a nice cup of PG tips (which by the way is my al time best tea and I have to drive 45 mins to the store which sells it. Although last year I spotted it for sale at 'christmas tree shops' in Cape Cod & bought so many boxes at $1 each I had to store some at my cousins house. It is still there & I will pick it up on my way to the Islands! My next best tea is 'the Earl Gray' himself, please make it hot & strong and yes, the ghorey that was my favorite I purchased in the paris flea market,,,'marche aux puces', It travelled over the world with me , through my 1st marriage & then was broken 1 day by a witess man who turned it upside down & 'banged' it over the trash to get the tea leaves out!! He went out with the trash soon after that episode. Most americans have no idea how to make tea. In my shop in massachusetts I served tea every day, and sold it. People would stop in for a 'cuppa' the ones who appreciate good hot, strong tea madde with boling water, loose leaves and a ghorey....Well I was married in scotland and I must confess they can also make a decent cup. In every hotel room they provide all the ingredients so one can enjoy it at ones leisure. They also leave that delicious buttery confection known as 'short bread' in a tin to go with your tea. I remember my exhusband( my new husband at the time) saying 'I know why they call it short bread.. "Why I asked him?" because it doesn't last very long!! he said laughing his pale scotish american laugh!!! Oh man, I thought,,,I'm in for it now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!

My aunt (actually my mother's cousin) in Germany owns a tea shop that sells over 300 different varieties of tea. She has owned it for over 30 plus years. Now she is bored with selling tea and has decided to become of those dermablasion women...knowing the workaholic that she is she will probably do both.

Herbal teas are also brilliant; on cold days (we do have them in Texas) one of the colleges we go to for training classes started making hot herbal teas for us to drink as an alternative to coffee. They are truly delightful on those days.

Now "ghorey" I know nothing about...so Indi, you will have to enlighten me here...

I had to wait before I write here because I like to wait for my tea to cool off a little.

Gol Gav Zaboon was my favorite tea. What is it in English?

Tea for the tillerman is also good but that I guess I should address on my website!

Hi guys, may I join you for a cup of tea? I red the rant, than I red the comments, than I had to make a cup of tea for myself. Every evening when the kids are in bed, the kitchen is clean and all dariusch's (my almost 3 year old son) cars are cleaned up (his cars are so small and the floor is covered with them) and the coffee for the next morning is preparde, thats the end of the day for me and the tea I prepare for myself with one ghand (cube sugar in english?) tasts like heaven for me. I dont know if the tea that I have is so good or its just the way I feel. Maybe it gives me the feeling of being done with the job for the day? I did a good job today? Or even maybe oh god Im glad the day is over!!

My dear lovely Fafar, it is so nice of you to leave me a long comment, joing the dialogue. you rock babe

Of course you may dear Fafar, take your shoes of, give me a hug and a kiss, but be carefull we get bare naked here, so be ready, you will see ours, and might like to show us yours !

Is this a mosque? Because you always ask everyone to take their shoes off! and I don't like mosques. I don't even miss them a little. I hope one day they will turn all of them to public and SECULAR libraries, childcares, schools, art centers, social services, charities, food service, clinics, Gyms, community centers..... (This post of mine is also a delayed response to your prior rant about missing mosques, but I waited, back then you were sad!)

Most eastern cultures request that you take of your shoes when you enter into someone's home. It suggests a mark of respect and also a sign of comfort. When you remove your shoes, you are also leaving behind the outside world, relaxing your feet and unwinding. Some people like to walk barefoot in the their house.

Would you to see all places of worship turn into the places suggested? Just curious.

So far no-one has told me what "ghorey" is...

Ghorey is like a small kettle, usually mad of porcelean, and they put it on top of SAMAVAR, to process the tea, Now SAMAVAR IS.................

You tell him SL, it is also a good dissentery way of keeping the Germs out, so Ferry take of your shoes before you come to bed

Well since I have no Iranian friends here I will wait until I am in your neck of the woods to have some...

SL anmd idin, I still don't like mosques with or without shoes.