A Nice Cuppa

I have been trying to figure out where tea cozies were invented, but there are so many countries with so many stories, it???s hard to declare who actually invented them after all. However, my favorite story (from teastash.com) originates in 17th century Ireland. Legend has it that a farmer was sitting at the table when his hat accidentally fell onto a full teapot. Later on, he poured himself a cup of tea and marveled that it was still hot. The next day, his wife knitted a little cover for the pot and called it a cozy. Whether it???s truth or mythology, I love its happenstance nature.

I???ve wanted to write about tea cozies for a while now but, as you can see, they haven???t changed much in the last 400 years. That is, I didn???t think they had until I walked into La Cuisine in Old Town Alexandria last week. First off, if you are in the neighborhood and would like a refreshing change from the generic cooking stores, La Cuisine has a wonderful selection of cook???s tools, books, spices and chocolates. Honestly, I was astounded and wanted to buy everything. Alas, I could not, but I did find a wonderful tea cozy by Floragraphics that breaks the centuries old cozy mold.

What sets this tea cozy apart is its wonderful round shape reminiscent of Cinderella???s pumpkin carriage. Instead of acting as a hat like most cozies, this one is a cute little bag. You place the teapot inside and pull the black velvet ropes at the top, gathering the whole thing into a tidy bundle. Instead of the usual floral motifs, the silken fabric is mocha colored with black polka dots. If you feel like a change, it???s reversible. The other side is sleek, solid and black. This sophisticated cozy is perfect for the modern tea lover and her modern teapot.

* If you live in Alexandria, Virginia, La Cuisine is located at 323 Cameron Street between North Fairfax and Royal Streets.

*For those of you who don???t live in the DC area, La Cuisine is also online at lacuisineus.com.