How to Make the Perfect “Cuppa” Tea
Let’s help our U.K. friends celebrate National Tea Day!
I think it’s best to just get this out of the way upfront. I don’t have much of a history with tea. See? There I said it. And now I feel much better. 😀
My only real memory of tea being brewed when I was growing up was my mom not so carefully placing 15 or so Lipton tea bags into a glass Dixie Dairy gallon milk jug and letting it “cook” in the sun for ten hours. Then presto, a week’s worth of sun tea. 🌞
I’ve never been much of a tea drinker. Outside of maybe some tea with honey if I felt a cold coming on. But tea as a relaxing ritual? Not really. I like tea well enough. I guess we just never bonded.
Sarasota does have someone that has a really strong tea relationship. Michael Duranko is a tea expert. At least he’s the closest thing I know to one. And he’d better be. He’s been at the tea game in earnest since 2008. That’s a whole lotta “cuppas”! 🫖
This Friday, April 21st, the folks on the other side of the Atlantic will be celebrating U.K. National Tea Day. So, I figured this would be the time to get in some tea talk. 🗣️
Local Tea Company has some barrier island roots. Back in 2007, Michael started a little neighborhood gathering place in a smallish space in the Davidson’s Plaza in Siesta Key Village. 📝 It’s still there, but now it goes by Bean Coffeehouse.
Local Coffee & Tea (as it was called back then) was pretty unique. Sure, you could get a great cup of coffee or tea. But it was the attention to beverage education that set it apart from every other place that just offered a warming drink.
You could meet up with friends, hang out a little, use some free Wi-Fi, and just generally unwind. If you wanted to know something about what you were drinking, info was in more than ample supply.
Fast forward to today. Coffee has taken a back seat, and TEA is the star of Michael’s show. The educational component is still alive and blossoming, but now wholesale has replaced retail as a way of doing business.
Just about every place in the Sarasota area that is even moderately serious about their tea game is serving tea supplied by the Local Tea Company. From the Ritz Carlton to MADE Restaurant to C’est La Vie! If they’re serving good high-quality tea, chances are Michael is their connection.
So, let’s say you’re interested in taking part in a little National Tea Day celebration. AND you’re thinking, “Hey, how hard can it be to brew a cup of tea?” Well, we have you covered. Our local tea expert (yes, that’s Michael) is spilling the tea on how to get it done!
I’ll let him explain all of the finer points…
Seems straightforward enough, right? Just in case you’d like some written instructions, here’s a little outline for you…
Here is what you need.
1 – Kettle – To boil water
2 – Tea – Any loose-leaf tea
📝 Organic Sarasotan Breakfast Blend is their most popular black tea
3- Teapot – Where water and tea meet
4 – Teacup – An insulated mug works great!
5 – Teaspoon – To measure the proper amount of loose-leaf tea
6 – Stir spoon – You could use the teaspoon and rinse/dry after use
7 – Timer – You could use your phone. But hey, you could also hunt around for that old-school kitchen timer too!
8 – Milk Frother – Makes lovely microfoam
Instructions
Step 1. Boil water
Step 2. Heat teapot
Step 3. Add tea to teapot (2 tsp.)
Step 4. Set timer (5 minutes)
Step 5. Strain tea into a teacup
Step 6. Add preference: creamy, sweet, maybe lemon?
Step 7. Enjoy
Boy, and I thought this was going to be a no-brainer. Obviously, there is some science involved here. I guess that’s a lot like most things that involve food and beverages!
All right, Friday, April 21st is coming at ya fast. You definitely want some tea. But maybe you don’t want to attempt this yourself. We’ve got some suggestions. Let’s “tee” this right up for you!
All of these places can make you an outstanding cuppa. All you need to do is sip!
MoJo Risin’ Coffee Company (5251 Ocean Blvd. (941) 349-6656)
Baby Brie’s Café & Wine Bar (1938 Adams Ln. (941) 362-0988)
Lila (1576 Main St. (941) 296-1042)
Sunnyside Café (4900 N. Tamiami Trl. (941) 359-9500)
Simon’s Coffee House (5900 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 926-7151)
There’s everything you need to enjoy the holiday just like our friends in the U.K.! Please celebrate responsibly. 🎇
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. (If you have an event, send us the details! (EMAIL IT)
ALL APRIL – Epicurean Menu, Israel – Michael’s On East
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
APR 20 – Stringer Cellars Wine Dinner – Fin’s at Sharky’s
APR 20 – Catena Zapata Vineyard Dinner – Café Gabbiano
APR 20 – Neyers Wine Dinner – MeLANge
APR 20 – ZD Wine Dinner – Element
APR 22 – Bubbles & Big Reds – Mattison’s Forty-One
APR 22 – Saturday Wine Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
APR 23 – Jam for Jocelyn – JRs Old Packinghouse Cafe
APR 20 TO 24 – Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival – INFORMATION
MAY 5 – 18th Annual Dick Vitale Gala – INFORMATION
MAY 10 – Walking Progressive Dinner – Taste Magazine
MAY 14 – Mother’s Day Brunch – GROVE Restaurant
MAY 14 – Mother’s Day Brunch – Michael’s On East
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🧑🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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