There are a Lot of Things You Can Do with a Teaspoon…But One of Them, Surprisingly, is Not Measuring Tea…
What’s the Best Way To Measure My Tea?...Ditch the Teaspoon for the Three-Finger Pinch!
How much tea should I use when I steep a pot?...
When I talk to people who are interested in using more loose-leaf tea, the two questions they always want the answers to are:
How many teaspoons of tea do I use?
How many minutes do I steep it for?
They are always slightly shocked when I tell them not to worry about either of those things…
The tricky thing with tea is that it comes in so many shapes and sizes, so there is a wide variation in the density of teas…
What this comes down to is that you cannot rely on a volume measure like a teaspoon for portioning your loose-leaf tea. In some cases, a teaspoon is too much, and in others, a teaspoon is nowhere near enough.
So where did the teaspoon come from…and what is it for?
The history of the teaspoon is rather amazing, and its genesis lies somewhere between the 13th and 17th centuries. Somewhere in the 12th and 13th century, small spoons became common in Europe. Early on, what came to be the teaspoon of today began as something quite special and highly valued…almost rare, initially. They were adorned with decorative knobs which are said to have been known as Knops. These knops earned the specialized spoons the title of Knop-tops.
As far back as 1686, there have been advertisements in London newspapers for an actual teaspoon. Somewhere along the way, the specialized small spoons of the 13th century evolved into the precursor of today’s teaspoon.
One lump or two?
Although I don’t readily see it in historical accounts, it does not seem like a coincidence to me that the appearance of the teaspoon in London advertising came less than 20 years after the 1662 marriage of King Charles II of England to Catherine of Portugal, who is credited with validating tea in England by introducing tea at court. There is also the presentation of tea by the English East India Company to the British King & Queen in 1664, which introduced and made tea fashionable with the aristocracy, further validating tea to the broader population.
These events began the adoption of tea in England in a way the King and Queen could have never imagined. As tea gained popularity, people began experimenting with additional ingredients like milk and sugar. For such a task, one would need just the right device…what better than a teaspoon?
Taking it just one more step, we know from the records that in 1670 the British began making silver teapots…it seems obvious to have a special spoon to go along with them, right?
And then there is the literal growth of the teaspoon…
Drinking tea in the 1660s was pretty much restricted to wealthy individuals who could afford the very pricey, rare leaves from China. All that started to change after 1784, when the Commutation Act reduced the tax on tea from 119% to 12.5%...Gee, I wonder if that had anything to do with the Boston Tea Party?...
As the cost of tea dropped, its popularity took off, teacup sizes increased, and the teaspoon grew from a volume of about one fluid dram to 1/3 of a tablespoon. This increase from the original apothecary measure was likely out of necessity for portioning sugar and other ingredients into a somewhat larger teacup, and to distinguish the teaspoon from other, smaller spoons.
Back to the tea, and how much to use when preparing your ideal steep…
Welcome to the Three-Finger Pinch…
To get the best results when steeping tea, selecting the appropriate portion is key to success in the cup. We must take into account the variation in leaf size and density when portioning the tea.
The most reliable way I have found to measure tea without weighing it every time I am ready to steep is to go with my experienced Three-Finger Pinch. With a little trial, error, and practice, in no time you can master the art of selecting the correct amount of tea utilizing your index finger, middle finger, and thumb…i.e. the Three-Finger Pinch.
Like riding a bike…
You will be surprised at how quickly your intuition develops and your Three-Finger Pinches grow consistent. Your tea will taste better, you will enjoy it more, and you will get more mileage from your tea…
If you were to weigh your Three-Finger Pinch of tea, you would probably find that it weighs about 2 grams.
When steeping, the number of infusions you get from your Three-Finger Pinch will vary based on the size of the steeping vessel. For a tea that would yield 3-5 infusions in a 15-ounce infuser pot, you may only get 2-3 infusions in a 25-ounce infuser pot.
What may seem like an uncertain process can become familiar if you give it a try. You will find it becomes easy, and by measuring in this way, you will become more connected to the tea, more precise in your steeping, and get more value from the process.
Using the Three Finger Pinch and Finding Your Sweet Spot By Steeping To Color will yield a marvelous cup of tea...every time.
Don’t feel bad for your teaspoon…
The teaspoon of today has endless uses, from eating ice cream to taking cough syrup and stirring honey into your tea. The beloved teaspoon is not going anywhere…just don’t measure your tea with it!