Friday thing : my kettle, Tom
Pretty sure it's a totally normal thing to name an appliance.
Around 2017, my best friend got himself a programmable “tea maker.” To anyone who has ever boiled some water then poured it over a pouch of dried leaves to make their favorite hot brown water, something called a “tea maker” might seem egregiously unnecessary. Especially if that something retailed for around three hundred dollars1. However, for us Tea Connoisseurs2 it is a godsend - obviously it heats water but only after you tell it what kind of tea you’re brewing and how strong you prefer it, so it can adjust temperature for the appropriate steep; will brew at the push of a button or program to have ready upon wake-up; there is a Keep Warm button for when I’m not actually out of bed when I thought I would be the night before. And of course you can “watch as the basket descends gracefully into the water,” which is a next level experience akin to meditation with Tony Andy. My bestie called his kettle Prince Charming for obvious reasons and I wanted one for myself.
Because 1st husband is the best, he presented me with my very own handsome tea maker on my next birthday; I named it Tom after favorite pretend husbands Hiddleston & Hardy3: Good-looking, smart, versatile, English [they know tea], willing to do my bidding on command.
BONUS! Links to some of my favorite loose teas for Tom to make:
Just Add Honey - I would plan a trip to Atlanta just to visit this Black woman-owned shop, though she will send her creations to me in a sturdy box carefully packed with cheerful orange shred & tissue and an occasional free sample. Bestie & I cannot live without her Earl Grey Cream or Georgia Peaches, plus the Sweet Auburn and Black Coconut are a nice spicy change.
Eufloria Botanica - A small Washington State family business that I serendipitously discovered at last fall’s Portland Book Festival; their Cardamom Rose tea is heavenly to drink but the aroma alone brings me intense joy in the morning, which is a super hard sell, frankly. They also make all kinds of natural balms & tinctures that I haven’t explored yet…next birthday idea.
Stauf’s - I wandered into this cafe in Columbus last winter to ready myself for an afternoon of book shopping next door. It is known mainly for its coffee, which they hand roast in small batches, but I chose a cup of their Ohio Thunder Chai. Startlingly delicious. Because I’m still not great at leaving luggage space for souvenirs when traveling, I had to order a pouch when I got home; I added their Black Mango and found it richer & fruitier than the brand I’d been brewing.
Republic of Tea - Though not an independent business, they are part of the Ethical Tea Partnership, generally recognize + try to mitigate their impacts in world, and seem to spend a fair amount of time contributing positively + giving back to communities & organizations globally. Their Blackberry Sage tea is a scent & flavor experience I haven’t been able to find anywhere else.
I wish you all the tea you want, and that it is delivered by someone/thing marvelous.
‘Take some more tea,’ the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. ‘I’ve had nothing yet,’ Alice replied in an offended tone, ‘so I can’t take more.’ ‘You mean you can’t take less,’ said the Hatter: ‘it’s very easy to take more than nothing.’ ~ from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Somehow writing out the cost in words instead of numbers feels less depraved.
Def (n): Pretentious person who thinks they know everything but also spend about 3 minutes trying to figure out how to spell this word on Dictionary.com.
The only appliance gift I have ever given because you specifically mentioned really wanting one and I knew you would feel silly spending that much money on a hot water maker, but if presented with one, you would gladly use it.
My kettle is not named, nor is it quite so fancy, but totally agree with the necessity of having an electric kettle. I never knew a kettle could come with so many bells and whistles! Dang!