Tea is an aromatic beverage quite popular among the English. Scotch and Irish. It contains an alkaloid, thein, which is almost identical to caffein. While there is a similarity in the effects of tea and coffee, there is also a decided difference, due, no doubt, to the essential oils and the greater amount of tannin in tea. The aroma of tea, like that of coffee, is due to a volatile oil, which is driven off and dissipated if the tea is boiled. Boiling spoils tea more, if possible, than it does coffee; it not only drives off the aroma, but it dissolves and draws out a greater amount of tannin. Green teas contain more thein and volatile oils, and less tannin than black teas. Young Hyson is perhaps the best of the Chinese green teas, and Pekoe the best of the black. Good black teas from Ceylon and India are sold in the American markets from fifty cents to a dollar and a quarter a pound. Fancy scented teas, like orange Pekoe, are expensive, not because they are better than ordinary teas, but because they are flavored. Tea, like coffee, must be selected, and must never be purchased from an open box. No matter what variety you use - Ceylon, Gunpowder, Young Hyson, Imperial or English Breakfast Tea, see that it comes to you in a package unopened.

How To Make The Infusion

Rinse the teakettle, fill it with clean cold water, bring it quickly to a boil. Scald the pot, which should be made of china or granite, turn out the hot water, put in a teaspoonful of tea to each half pint of tea needed, pour over the freshly-boiled water, cover the pot, put over a cozy or napkin, let it stand, away from the fire, five minutes, stir, and it is ready for use.

Like coffee, tea must be poured at once from the grounds. Any form of teapot that will lift the grounds from the water after the tea is steeped is to be recommended. The S. Y. P. teapot is easily used and cleaned. In the upper part of the pot there is a compartment with a perforated bottom; the tea is put into this, the teapot is tipped on the side and filled with water; as soon as the tea is steeped the pot is adjusted, which lifts the grounds from the water. The small, cheap Chinese teapots, with percolator, are preferable to the old-fashioned pots. A Chinese tea basket is attractive and sightly, and makes good tea, providing you lift the grounds from the water. A Japanese or English tea cozy should be used to keep the tea warm while it is steeping and after you pour the first cup.

Iced Tea

Iced tea is not to be recommended for the sick - at least I cannot think of any disease in which it would be especially advantageous. If, however, it is ordered, make the tea according to the preceding recipe, using double quantity of tea. Fill a glass two-thirds full of finely-cracked ice, put in a teaspoonful of powdered sugar, pour over the hot tea; stir, and serve with it a quarter of a lemon.