How to Practice Irish Hospitality
If you'd like to welcome people with the warmth and charm of an Irish person, ditch the coffee and serve tea. But it's not that simple because as it turns out, there is a right and a wrong way to serve tea. An Irish host should turn on the charm and the gab, but don't forget the little things when it comes to serving tea.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Offer tea immediately to anyone that drops by. Remember, "no" really means "yes" in Ireland. There really is no such thing as answering "no" to tea.
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2
As every Irishman and woman knows, you need to have lots of rapidly boiling water ready for the teapot. Dump half the boiling water in the pot and just swirl it around, tilting the pot liberally for a good minute. Then toss out the hot water, spoon in a liberal amount of loose tea. Lyons is traditional but sometimes hard to get in the U.S. Use a few spoonfuls for good strong tea and fill the pot with the boiled water.
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3
Return to your guests with the pot and after five minutes or so, pour the tea into the waiting cups and saucers. A little spoon should be placed on each saucer while a little milk jug and pot of sugar should be set nearby.
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4
Pour milk into each cup and ask how many spoonfuls of sugar they would like. Some guests will like two spoons. Do not looked shocked; this is absolutely acceptable. Do all the serving, then the guests can stir in their milk and sugar with their little spoons.
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5
Take your time and chat, happy for the company, as you sip the steaming milky sweet tea.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you don't take your time swirling the boiling water in the pot, your Irish guests will know. The tea will rapidly cool just when guests are needing a second cup. The hot teapot keeps the tea hot for a much longer time than if you don't complete this step.
