Catholic Recipe: Rules for Making Perfect Tea

Old friends and new will bless you for serving them the best cup of coffee or tea they've ever tasted — and just when they need it most!

Fortunately, the ability to do this can be learned, if the time-tested rules of connoisseurs are followed. The formulas are easy, and once mastered, help to make so many occasions in life cheerful and pleasant.

DIRECTIONS

Follow these simple rules for perfect results: 1. Preheat teapot by rinsing it out with hot water. 2. Use one teabag or teaspoon of tea for each cup. 3. Bring freshly drawn cold water to a full rolling boil and pour over the tea. 4. Brew by the clock — 3 to 5 minutes.

To serve a large crowd: Make a hot tea concentrate: Bring 1-1/2 quarts of cold fresh water to a full rolling boil. Remove from heat and immediately add 1/4 pound loose tea. Stir to immerse leaves. Cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Strain into teapot until ready to use. (This makes enough concentrate for 40 to 45 cups; double recipe for 85 to 90 cups of tea.) When ready to serve: Bring out a potful of piping hot water. Pour about 2 Tablespoons of concentrate into a cup and fill cup with water.

To make perfect iced tea: Follow the rules for hot tea but use half again as much tea to allow for melting ice, i.e., use 6 teabags for 4 glasses of iced tea.

To make iced tea by the pitcherful: Use this easy open saucepan method. Bring i quart of freshly drawn cold water to a full rolling boil in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and immediately add 1/3 cup loose tea or 15 teabags. Brew 5 minutes, uncovered. Stir and strain into a pitcher holding another quart of freshly drawn water. Do not refrigerate. Pour over ice cubes when ready to serve. Makes 2 quarts of tea.