On the quite windy and wild night outside Philadelphia, PA, I'm wide awake. Can't sleep and listening to the howling of the wind and snow as we get the first storm of the season in 2012. I'm walking around the house and peeking outside. The best remedy for my wide-awake brain is to soothe it - with some hot tea of course!

Before picking out my tea, I set the kettle to boil with fresh cool water, and rinse out my cast iron green teapot. Seasoning as cast iron teapot is incredibly important, so the more cups of tea you make the better. Any type of tea that I brew in this comes out wonderfully, and it really does make a difference in taste as opposed to (no!) microwaving water for tea. Don’t ever use hot or lukewarm water, and try to use fresh, filtered water. Try to avoid plunking in some teabags in this gorgeous device. Carefully measure out some flavorful loose tea (in my case Bedtime Chai), set into the basket.

Gently warm the teapot with hot warm, and rinse. Then, fill up the cast-iron teapot with boiling water. Gently swish the basket in and let steep for the recommended time. And then pour out to your favorite mug and relax.

Which- right there- is the precise moment of relaxation. After two cups of tea, the ritual is what has calmed me. Walking around the house and peering outside at the whirling snow with a cup of tea in my hand. Tea always has that calming effect on me. There is nothing like that first sip. Going through the motions is what feels so right. 

So now, back to bed.

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!  ~Author Unknown