Have to side with Gypsy on the coffee wars. Try living in the Northwest US....one word, Starbucks......Going anywhere sans latte is frowned upon. Going to a CoffeeHut/Starbucks and ordering TEA is liable to get you shot. Then when your tea arrives, it is liable to be crap Lipton or something equally nauseating.

Lifesaver? In many commercial herbal teas, they have promotional gifts of tins. I carry one in my purse with bags of my fave tea. It's MUCH easier to just get the hot water.

Boil the water from the cold tap. Run a cup or so in the teapot to warm it, add the loose leaves to the teapot. Add boiling water to the pot. Throw a cozy over the pot to steep. Gather the mish-mash of friends, mugs, and biscuits. (I take a shot of fat-free milk and a touch of sugar-artificial sweetners disgust me) And MMario is right, a cup of tea made FOR you is that much sweeter.

~Elle