TEA ETIQUETTE.

Known for our love of tea, I thought I'd post the correct etiquette just in case you ever decide to pop around to Pen and Paper for a cuupa.

• Place your fingers to the front and back of the handle with the pinkie (little) finger tilted slightly up for the balance.
• It is considered rude to loop the fingers through the handle or to hold the body of the cup with the palm of the hand.
• Tea should always be sipped.
• It is also considered rude to stir your tea in wide circular motions.
• To stir, hold the teaspoon at the six o'clock position to begin. Any liquid is folded lightly towards the 12 o'clock position two or three times.
• The teaspoon should never be left in the teacup.
• When not in use, the teaspoon is placed on the right side of the tea saucer.
• When not in use, the teacup is placed back on the saucer rather then held.
• If having milk in your tea, pouring either the tea or the milk into the cup first constitutes good manners.
• Cream is generally avoided as it can mask the taste of the tea.
• When having lemon with tea, delicate lemon slices are generally offered. A small fork is usually provided for adding lemon.
• Don't combine lemon with milk in tea, as the lemon juice will cause the milk to curdle.
• Any sandwiches or treats should be eaten in delicate bites. Remember to smile and chat between bite.

Have you got all of that? No? Not to worry you can always have a mug of coffee instead. But if you do prefer tea, remember that here in the PW household:-

• Unless you are here for an evening meal or specifically ask for a teacup, you will generally be served tea in a mug. If it is served in a teacup during the day without your having asked, it is because we haven't bothered to wash up and there are no clean mugs.
• Likewise, a saucer is not generally provided so there is no need to worry about the placing of the cup or teaspoon.
• I tend to keep hold of my mug but coasters/mats are provided on surfaces if you wish to put your mug down. Putting it down on wooden surfaces will be silently frowned upon but not as much as putting it down on my Turkish rug which is very expensive to clean.
• I drink my tea black but always pour in the milk after the tea for every one who prefers it with milk. If I'm out to impress, a milk jug will be used so that you can add tea to milk/milk to tea as you wish. If not, your tea will be served with milk added as an after thought.
• Lemon is not usually provided. However a fruity herbal infusion may usually be found at the back of a cupboard if you prefer that to TETLEY'S TEA which is Husband dearests preferred brand (I drink my tea so weak, I can't actually tell brands apart).
• As for smiling and chatting in between bites of sandwiches/treats, with me in the room you might find it difficult to get a 'word in edge ways' anyway so simply smiling may have to suffice.