Cardew Club News » 2005 » May

…I’m sure everyone knows the rest of that cliche, more commonly applied to apples! Medical science has long been praising the value of tea for health and well-being, quite apart from the fact that a nice hot brew can relax you considerably. The homeopathic powers of a cup of tea are fairly obvious - the recognisable smell setting off chemical reactions in our brain that lead to comfort and relief, the heat warming us up. Not so obvious, however, are the physical benefits of a cup of tea a day:

When your attention is caught by the beauty, flowing lines or humour of a teapot, do you realize that the invention of teapot making goes back seven hundred years to the Ming Dynasty in China? Our tea trading in the U.K. goes back to the 1650s but to go back twice as long is indeed a long, long time.

To preserve the aroma and flavour of tea often carried over many miles, it is understandable that the Chinese used stoneware containers, which were superior to porcelain. They were produced around the hills of Yixing near Shanghai, which supplied clays ideal for making storage jars and pots for tea making.

The dates for the 2006 ceramic showcase at the Oregon Convention Centre, in Portland, have just been confirmed. The showcase will feature work from over 200 Northwest potters and sculpters and work, with a no-host bar, live music and Best Of Show presentations to keep everyone occupied throughout the weekend. The event starts Friday May 4th and finishes Sunday May 6th, open from 10-9 on Friday and Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday.

Further to our ealier notice on this event, here are some expanded details and information on just what you can expect at this occasion. We are very much hoping that we will see you and your nearest and dearest on this very special day in just four weeks time!

We have a very special day planned featuring not just Paul and the Cardew gang here, but Tony Carter (and Anita), Lionel Bailey (Lorna has just had a baby so cannot join us this time), The Teapottery (Jane and Ian Jeal), Andy Titcombe and Gary Seymour.

-Whilst brewing tea, intermittent tea leaves to move freely and in constant contact with the water to allow maximum favour extraction. Use a fine tea strainer to pour the tea. Whatever brewing method you use, the idea is to give the tea plenty of room to move.

-The quality of the water you are using can make a big difference to the taste of your tea. Tea flavour extracts better in soft water or spring water.

-While the tea is brewing cover the teapot with a tea cosy to keep the heat in.

Whether you are a fan of the loose-leaf method of brewing tea, or you prefer to stick to the quicker and easier tea bags, here are some tips for getting the best brew from your teapot.

-You can make a pot of tea with just one tea bag, only use two tea bags if you’re planning to add cream or milk to your tea. This is possible without compromising on quality, because the best teas are processed to a smaller size with just as much flavour. This gives them more room to move inside the tea bag, unlike larger orthodox tea leaves.

There is a Little Chapel sitting on a hillside in the grounds of the Blanchelandes Ladies College in Les Vauxbelets in St Andrews Parish, Guernsey. Not the original Chapel, this is actually the third incarnation of the that was first built in 1914. This first building was knocked down, due to peer criticism, just the day after it went up and the creator Brother Deodat went back to the drawing board. He recreated a miniature version at the grotto at Lourdes which stayed in place until 1923. This version was knocked down, not due to criticism, but due to a Bishop not being able to pass through the doorway!