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Mary's Daily Dish

That Really Teas Me Off

January 23rd, 2007 by Mary | 9 Comments

pic-0008-1.jpgI made tea last night. No big deal. I do it almost everyday. But this time something made me reach my boiling point.

I love it when my favorite mug is clean. I actually have two of the same. They are light blue mugs I found in Chinatown with beautiful white cherry blossoms on them. They make me very happy. If one of the the two is not clean I’ll grab one of my colorful dollar store mugs and fill my shiny steel kettle with tap water and replace the cute little top and the little black whistler plug. (yes, that’s the technical name) I’m not sure how many kettles have whistlers that plug in but I think it’s cool. Then, I fire up my gas burner and consider what small tasks I can accomplish until my water is ready.

Of course, I usually get so involved in my mini- project that I forget about my tea until I hear a surging whistle over my music and then I get excited about it all over again. Like a surprise.

(Quick back story, I only buy kettles with loud whistlers because a year ago I discovered how easily I get distracted and as a result how easily metal can blacken and char.)

While I waited for the water to boil last night I did bills. Soon enough, I heard a noise… but something was different about it. Instead of the low to high and loud whistle it normally makes it was a spotty and low whistle. I went in to see what was going on to discover a half melted plug and the smell of burning plastic.

My first thought was that I was silly for putting plastic in something that was hot metal but then it occurred to me that …. this was a tea kettle, and yes this particular bit of plastic was made to go in the tea kettle.

Luckily my water was okay, despite the room smelling of hot plastic and my tea was still enjoyed. What I’m worried about is next time. How am I to know my water is ready without my whistler?

The Final Dish: What gives? Who makes a kettle with parts that don’t function properly? If it’s meant to be there make the silly thing heat resistant. Right?

About the Author

Mary Bigham, the creator of wcdish, is a self-admitted sushi and travel addict. She has a crush on just about every food but refuses to eat American cheese.

More About Mary...

Categories: Blogs, Mary's Daily Dish

9 Comments So Far

  1. Large Pork Lover – Jan 24, 2007

    MICROWAVE!!!

  2. Intern – Jan 24, 2007

    I’m sorry Large Pork Lover but you can’t just microwave tea water. That’s blasphemy! It ruins the whole experience!

    -Intern

  3. wcdish – Jan 24, 2007

    Agreed intern…agreed. You should never microwave tea water. That’s just sad.

  4. Sparky – Jan 25, 2007

    As a tea lover, I strongly agree that you don’t microwave tea water. It changes the whole tea experience into something it’s not meant to be.

    I would complain to the manufacturer of the faulty little black whistler plug.

  5. Large Pork Lover – Jan 25, 2007

    So….just let me understand this. You all are into the ritual process of making the tea and not the tea itself? Or a combo of both? Because the end result is the same and you don’t risk burning your house down. Seems to me that the beauty of tea or any other hot drink is to prolong the actual drinking process (because it’s too hot to drink quickly) during which time you can converse with friends, read, or just take in life. Shouldn’t matter how the tea water got hot. 2007 people!…Just my 2 cents.

  6. Jason – Jan 25, 2007

    I don’t care about the “experience” but if you can’t wait two minutes for water to boil, you probably don’t have time to sit down and have a cup of tea.

  7. wcdish – Jan 25, 2007

    Touche

  8. LisaP – Jan 27, 2007

    The real reason you can’t microwave tea Large Pork Lover is the steam!! You have to boil it to have a steamy cup

  9. wc dish – Jan 27, 2007

    Good call on the steam… there is something magical about a steaming cup of hot tea.

    Unless of course you have a magical microwave LPL… and if that’s the case… I have to see it!

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