A note on cozies. I hope to own one of those adorable, Grandma-knit cozies one day. Until then, I just wrap my teapot in a tea towel. This is, I suspect, not very proper but it does work to keep the pot from cooling down.
Steeping your tea. For black tea, steep anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes. I like a good, strong cup of tea, so I tend to go the full time. You may want to set your timer.
Find a treat. If you want something to nibble on while drinking your tea, this is a good time to put that together. A few suggestions that have worked for me: two or three cookies or some chocolate on a pretty plate, a sliced pear, some leftover gingerbread. On the savory side, you could try a slice of leftover quiche or a few slices of cheese or some roasted almonds.
