Editorial – Dec ’25

15th December 2025 | Editorial

I recently read an article about the particles of plastic in the material used to make tea bags. It figuratively stopped me in my tracks! Plastic! Oh no! Would I have to start making my own tea bags from muslin! The thought of all that cutting out, sewing up, filling with tea leaves, and sewing again was very off putting. I had made lavender bags in the past and some were still inhabiting the corners of my chest of drawers! But tea bags!

I am a creature of habit: tea at breakfast; coffee at 10.45am and tea again at 3.30pm. No more after that or I have to stagger to the smallest room in the too early hours.

So, what about loose tea? Could I call it something else? “Loose” sounds so immoral.

“I only make tea with ‘free leaves of course,” is a statement which could cause much derision, hilarity or confusion, or all three.

When I was younger my ‘kitchen job’ as Nana used to call it, was to empty the rather large, dark brown shiny teapot, onto the compost heap, near to Grandpa’s leek and onion beds. Did the onions taste of tea? I can’t recall.

“Roslyn,” (full name so must be serious) “away now and empty Betty!” Nana would demand.

So, ‘Brown Betty’, who Nana said was made to keep tea hot, was emptied twice a day.

Back to the present and my three purchases: a teapot with infuser and two packets of loose tea. One is Assam and one English Breakfast.

The kettle is boiling, and the china cup awaits. We are all, inanimate articles included, very excited. If I enjoy my loose tea as much as I anticipate, I will perhaps next write to you from India. ‘Pick your own tea leaves’ beckons!