With a little extra Christmas money to spend, I headed over to one of my favorite antique spots and was looking around yesterday. There were some good buys on teacups and saucers, but nothing I just "had" to have. There was a pretty rose print, but it was a little high-priced and I couldn't think of where I'd put it anyway. I saw a vintage tea tin that was kind of cute, for just $1, but it just didn't grab me.
And so I was about to head out when I saw, in the very last booth I looked at, a Mrs. Tea. Some of you probably have this tea maker, but I wasn't yet a tea fanatic when it debuted (around 1995, I believe). I remember seeing it advertised in Victoria magazine years ago, but it wasn't a must-have item at the time.
Only once I realized Mrs. Tea was no longer being manufactured did I decide I had to have one. My friend Holly had received one as a gift from a friend who found it for her on eBay. So it was in the back of my mind to look for one myself, but I wanted a bargain. Yesterday I found it, and for just $15! For Mrs. Tea! It (she?) is in mint condition, works beautifully, and serves up one of the easiest, most efficient pots of tea I've ever made. Indeed, good things come to those who wait. (And are tightwads.)
Hey I used to have one of those! I decided that I did not have enough counter space for it, but it sure was fun while I had it.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Mrs Tea was for sale. I always wondered if they made good tea. Glad to see they do. And for $15, you got a great deal.
ReplyDeleteJust found your site. I used to OWN a Mrs. Tea and sold it in a garage sale like a ding dong a few years back because "I didn't use it." Then I wanted one again. I found one at a local thrift store last summer and was THRILLED!! IT was all of $9.00 and someone had made a nice "cozy" for the tea pot as well! HA! My good friend owned a tea shop and had 3 "Mrs. Tea's" that she used daily to brew all her tea for her tea parties with!
ReplyDeleteJoyce, you sound like me: the minute you get rid of something, you have just insured you will definitely need it again one day! I think the only reason I hadn't bought one sooner was something Frivolitea mentioned, lack of counter space. But I got brutal with cleaning out the stuff on the counter the other night, and now Mrs. Tea is happily at home there!
ReplyDeleteThese are fabulous. I used to have one in my office and used it constantly. Since it produces water at less than a boil, it's perfect for herbals (Constant Comment was perfect) or green tea. Enjoy, Angela - what a great bargain!
ReplyDeleteShe's just so cute!
ReplyDeleteCan someone please tell me how the Mrs. Tea works??? I bought one but it has no instructions. I'm dying to try this out! TIA
ReplyDeleteI just picked up a Mrs. Tea second-hand an therefore have no instructions with it. How do you use it?
ReplyDeleteMine didn't come with instructions either, but a girlfriend who also had one advised me, and it's easy to use, pretty much like a coffee maker. Just put a coffee filter in the basket, add tea leaves, and then fill the teapot and pour that water back into the tank. Then just hit the switch to prepare the tea. Very easy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the instructions for Mrs. Tea. I got mine last night at a charity auction ($2.00) My 7yr old daughter and I have "tea time" every morning before school. Can't wait to try her out!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for a refresher on how to use it, mine has sat on the back of the counter collecting dust for a very long time and this morning I decided it was use it or out it goes, but wasn't sure how it was used, I thought that how you described was how, but wasn't 100% sure, was so excited to run across your post, thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteHow did we get along without the internet and google before?
Connie
I just started using mine again and i was cleaning it and I noticed that there is mold in the water reservoir. I cannot figure out how to take this apart to clean it. The online manual was no help. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteFor the mold try mixing some white vinegar in the tea pot and running a cycle. This usually works. I would also run another cycle with plain water
ReplyDeleteI am delighted to hear from folks how the Mrs Tea is used. Could you tell me roughly how much loose tea to use for a pot of tea (recognizing that this will vary according to taste and strength desired) - is it about a teaspoon per cup?
ReplyDeleteI stumbled on your thread about Mrs. Tea! I have had one for many, many years, and almost sold it (even took pics to post on eBay). I'm so glad I kept it! I have been cutting back on caffeine, and drinking decaf tea throughout the day, using the Mrs. Tea! I love it, and I even use the same tea bag, over and over. After I fill the water reservoir, I put a packet of equal or sugar in the pot. I use loose leaf tea (with a filter), or just a tea bag. I have love to love tea, and I'm getting my water quota for the day. My favorite right now is Peppermint!
ReplyDeleteI use it quite often - I love it. It makes using loose leaf tea easy. You don't have to worry about the temperature of the water, it seems to be just right, and it is super quick.
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