A mug, a sachet, and a solution to your biggest tea peeve.
So you've just torn open the wrapper to a fresh sachet of your favorite two leaves and a bud tea, and plunked that sachet in the bottom of a big mug while waiting for your water to boil.
It boils. You reach for the kettle, move your over-eager face back from the mug so the steam doesn't hit you right in the eyes, and start pouring.
And then it happens — your biggest peeve with two leaves and a bud. That little tag that tells you you're about to enjoy a better cuppa tea falls right into your mug, and is floating there on top of the sachet while your tea steeps. It's not like having that tiny piece of paper afloat is going to ruin your tea, but darn it, you're just so sick of having to find a spoon to remedy the problem, or scalding the tip of your finger while dragging that little tag out of the water.
"Why don't they just make the string that attaches the sachet to that little tag a bit longer?" you think. "That wouldn't be hard."
I asked Bess, the two leaves sales manager, why this isn't a problem we solved a long time ago, and she gave a clear answer: It's all about the machine that fills and seals our tea in those biodegradable pyramids. It just can't handle longer strings.
I went online to investigate the so-called "Fuso Machine" that creates those high-quality sachets for our high-quailty tea, and found a website for the company that makes them. And I liked seeing the thumbnail photos of those cool machines.
But this is little comfort when you're standing there with a scalded finger.
Hey, it's okay to be annoyed with your favorite product now and then. Take a deep breath and read on, because I'm offering you this advice on how you can avoid losing the string in your next cup of tea. Complete with photos.
Step 1: When you tear open the packet, tear most of the way across the top, but not all of the way.
Step 1.
Step 2: Take out the sachet and extend the string, and stick that little tag in the notch of the tear you made in the packet.
Step 3: Put the sachet in your mug, leaving the tag and packet hanging out of the mug, where they won't budge when you add hot water. Steep and enjoy.
Step 3. And relax.
Step 4: Take two leaves and a bud off your peeve list, for good. This will give you more time to focus on your other peeves like "EXpresso" instead of "espresso," or when the toilet paper comes from under the roll, instead of over the top. These are important issues.
6 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “Finally, a tea tag solution”
Cambree
November 11, 2009 at 1:25 amHi naomi,
I just tried my first few cups of teas from two leaves and a bud. And have to say these are great tea!
I like your advice on keeping the string from falling in. I am lucky that I have a hot water kettle. So when I add the hot water, I just keep my finger on the tag to prevent it from falling in.
Btw, also thanks for the link to the tea packing machines. Very cool!
naomi
November 11, 2009 at 11:13 amThanks, Cambree, for reading the blog and enjoying our tea.
I asked Richard if he uses the tea packet trick to keep his tag from falling in, and he said only when he’s on the move. Otherwise, like you, he keeps a finger on the tag while pouring. And Kelly, our customer care rep, just loops the string around the mug handle — it stays in place by looping that tag back on itself, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, we all have our own methods. The tea still tastes as good!
Cheers,
Naomi
Alex Zorach
November 11, 2009 at 1:18 pmI’m actually drinking Two Leaves and a Bud’s Jasmine Tea right now (in Saxby’s Coffee–I’m glad they stock your tea and not something lower-quality as many coffee shops do.)
I’ve had this problem too; I’ll have to try this solution. =)
Alex
RateTea.net
naomi
November 11, 2009 at 2:11 pmJasmine Petal is my favorite of our teas, Alex. Thanks for reading!
-Naomi
Bess
November 12, 2009 at 12:58 pmMe too!
Ross
November 16, 2009 at 11:20 amI’m thinking there’s another solution here, and it probably involves duct tape.