Take a stroll through the average beverage aisle in your supermarket, and you might get the impression that tea has always come in small boxes with disposable tea bags. But before those easy to come by boxes, there was the rich and intriguing history of the tea strainer, a beautiful little tool that has helped our ancestors enjoy loose leaf tea for hundreds of years. Enjoying loose-leaf tea, and becoming familiar with this tool, can help spark an appreciation for your tea strainer and infuser collection, or simply inspire you to grow one. Documentation of tea tools such as the tea strainer appear in ancient history, the earliest models were likely made of bamboo, and later evolved into stainless steel, sterling silver, china, porcelain, silicon, and linen. During the Tang Dynasty in China, a small book called “Classic of Tea” was written describing tea utensils, and they were made to help Buddhist monks keep living things (such as small bugs) out of the drinking water. However, using a tea tool to keep run away tea leaves out of a cup did not become a cited use of the strainer until the 17th century when Dutch merchants made tea more readily available to those outside of the Chinese dynasty. British royals then increased the popularity of tea as their preferred beverage, and it was not long before a newfound fanaticism for tea in Great Britain spread to the American colonies, as did a growing demand for products that could separate loose tea leaves from liquid with ease and flair. Why did people use a strainer to separate out tea leaves in Great Britain and not in China? While the method of serving tea from a teapot with the tea loose in the pot was a practice used in both countries, the reason China may not have required a tool to remove leaves from their cup likely had to do with the types of tea leaves they were producing. The British owned tea plantations, in countries such as India, produced finer black tea leaves that did not require as much space to expand inside of a tea pot, where as the leaves prepared on the Chinese plantations would expand far more in the pot, and were therefore less likely to land or be bothersome inside a tea cup. This common approach to serving tea with smaller tea leaves required a solution to avoid ending up with a cup, and mouth, full of tea leaves. The obvious solution was a strainer basket. In the Victorian era, tea strainer baskets, similar to those still used in tea parlors today, were made to sit on top of the cup to capture the leaves when pouring the tea from a tea pot into the individual cups. Another solution was a tea-removing device called a mote spoon. Mote spoons act as search and rescue spoons to remove tea leaves from individual teacups. The tea would be brewed loose in the teapot, so any tea that ended up in the cup could be removed with a long handled spoon with holes in the spoon to remove rogue tea leaves and keep the steeped water in the cup. The handle also helped keep the teapot spout free of leaves and could help unclog any leaves trapped when pouring. Stainless steel tea strainers and tea infusers gained popularity in the late 19th century. Big name tea strainer producers, such as Tiffany and Gorham, could use fine silver to create quality, heavy, and sturdy strainers, for those who could afford it. There were many varieties of strainers at that time, but it was more likely that smaller designers who could not afford to mass-produce these quality strainers out of silver made them into unique shapes to attract consumers with lighter wallets. And borne was the tea strainer we are accustomed to today. Things took an unexpected turn for the tea strainer in the early 1900s when Thomas Sullivan, a tea merchant, shipped out tea samples in small silk bags. Customers did not realize that they were supposed to remove the tea from the bags, and instead boiled the tea, bag and all! The convenience of tossing out the leaves is obvious, and the popularity of tea bags is still seen today. Most premium bags of tea we are accustomed to today are frequently packaged loose for consumption, and when they are available in bags, the leaves are often crowded and do not have enough space to expand. While pyramid tea bags have become a more recent solution to this problem, due to the additional space at the top of the bag, enjoying a variety of quality tea is easier with a tea strainer in your arsenal. Besides, with the wide variety of strainers for your cup or pot in versatile materials such as mesh, silver, or a novelty silicone cartoon shape, loose tea can still reign supreme. Tea strainers sometimes do require more cleanup and measuring, but the experience and quality is always worth the effort. Besides, strainers also allow for mixing favorite tea blends together for an extra dose of delicious creativity! https://www.teamuse.com/article_170413.html The strainer provided the convenience of separating the tea leaves for disposal later.Metal strainer, bowl shaped, with mesh and twisted wire handle.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, strainer

This collection of photographs shows various scenes around Warrnambool and district such as street scapes, the Ozone Coffee Palace, Botanic Gardens, Beach scenes, Hopkins River and Proudfoots on the Hopkins. Valentines snapshots were done of many place world wide, and packaged in a convenient size to be posted.These cards have an historic and artistic significance and also provide the opportunity to be used in an interpretive way. Small, pale green, card folder with 24 photographs, 12 are gloss finish and 12 matt finish. The gloss photos have titles printed on reverse and matt cards have handwritten style titles.On folder: Valentine’s snapshots. Printed in Great Britain.warrnambool, valentine postcards, lava street, koroit street, liebig street, proudfoots, warrnambool botanic gardens, warrnambool beach

This folder came from the photographic studio of Alex Wilkins. For over 35 years in the 20th century he was one of the best-known commercial photographers in Warrnambool. In 1938 he purchased the building known as Jordan Studios (94 Liebig Street) and worked there until the 1960s. In the 1940s he became interested in producing movie films documenting local news and scenes. The name ‘McKinney’ on this folder indicates that the contents belonged to someone in the Warrnambool area as William McKinney had a general store in Lava Street in the 1870s and 80s and there are still McKinney residents in Warrnambool today. This folder is of some interest as it comes from the studio of Alex Wilkins, one of Warrnambool’s most important photographers in the 20th century. This is buff-coloured paper folded in three places to make a folder with sleeves at each end to insert photographs or photograph negatives. The folder is stitched with cotton at the top and the bottom and some of the stitching is coming undone. The inside sleeves have black printed advertising material on them and the front cover has a red and black image of two little girls. The back cover has a red and black advertisement for Kodak Verichrome film.Back Cover: ‘McKinney’ Front Cover: ‘Alex Wilkins, Photographer, 94 Liebig St., Warrnanmbool’ (stamp) alex wilkins, mckinney family, warrnambool

Items belonged to Maxwell Lennox Matheson No 418447 RAAF. Refer Cat No 1959 for his service record..1) Emergency signaling mirror with cord and aiming post made of polished metal. .2) Bag to carry mirror made of cotton.Has instructions on the back of mirrormilitary equipment, signalling, mirror

Personal account of a common 'crisis' situation, written by GHS member Atis Lejins.5 p. typescriptatis lejins

Leather straps were commonly used to secure cases and other forms of luggage when traveling. The labels enabled easy identification when collecting luggage from transport carriages, coaches, buses and trains. 10th Field Company, Australian Engineers WW1 1914-18. The 10th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Originally formed in 1912 as a Militia formation, the brigade was re-raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force following the end of the Gallipoli campaign. It subsequently saw service on the Western Front in France and Belgium during the First World War. After the war it was disbanded but was re-raised in 1921 as a part-time formation based in the state of Victoria. During the Second World War the brigade was used in a garrison role in Australia before being disbanded in 1942.These leather straps and labels were attached to the luggage of an Australian soldier during early 20th C who may have been a resident or relative of a resident in City of MoorabbinLeather luggage straps with metal buckles and 3 luggage address labels attached.Label 1 - L.D.McCallum Sgt / 10th Fd Coy AE Label 2 - Healesville Label 3 - Maryborough leather, straps, belts, luggage labels, tools, saddles, wallets, personal effects, horses, drays, world war 1 1914 -18, world war 2 1939-45, army, 1st aif, military, 10th field company australian engineers, western front, france, belgium,

ID cert and Cert of Exemption -#25548 Pte. William Laing, 3rd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. See COL017ephemera, ww1, army

Owned by Mr Bob Cuttler, shearer.

Brown leather card case with two pocketspersonal effects, containers

This object relates to Jack WILLIAMS. He was born on 1/01/1893 in Ballarat, VIC. Jack served in the Army (92) enlisting on, 24/08/1914 in Ballarat, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 8 Battalion as a Army Non-Commissioned Private (PTE) on 20/11/1918. Jack WILLIAMS was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is Mr & Mrs Williams, 907 Urquhart St. Jack Williams was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.Note inside reads:- "Enlisted with 8th Battalion in 1914 at start of World War 1 & was on ship coming home on leave in 1918 when armestice was signed. Was a runner, used to run messages to the fighting line. 8th Batt was Ballarat's own & red& white (patpersonal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Herbert Swain GREENING. He was born on 1/01/1891 in Ballarat, VIC. Herbert Swain served in the AIF (3292) enlisting on, 13/07/1915 in Ballarat, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 5 BATTALION as a Army Non-Commissioned Private (PTE) on 15/02/1918. Herbert Swain GREENING was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is Mrs. M. Greening - Mother. Herbert Greening was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.first world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, personal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

personal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Ernest Joseph LEWIS. He was born on 20/05/1911 in Carlton, VIC. Ernest Joseph served in the Army (VX73578) enlisting on, 27/01/1942 in West Brunswick, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 15 FLD REGIMENT as a Army Non-Commissioned Private (PTE) on 03/10/1945. Ernest Joseph LEWIS was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is Ethel LEWIS.second world war (ww2), 1939 - 1945, literature, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Photo of greyhound insidepersonal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Gold Initials on front "R B"personal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Charles Ben French. He was born on 17 November 1904 in Melbourne, Victoria. Charles French served in the NZ Merchant Navy as a Merch. Navy Non-Commissioned Baker (BAKER). He was not taken as a prisoner of war.Gold engraving - City of Kew, Victoria Insignia, Presented by The Mayor, Councillors and Citizens of the City of Kew to C B French on enlistment for Active Service Abroad 1941second world war (ww2), 1939 - 1945, personal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Leslie Royce LILLINGSTON. He was born on 30/10/1917 in Ballarat, VIC. Leslie Royce served in the Army (VX22256) enlisting on, 05/06/1940 in Ballarat, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 2/12 FLD REGT as a Army Non-Commissioned Sergeant (SGT) on 14/01/1946. Leslie Royce LILLINGSTON was not a prisoner of war. Les Lillingston died 24/1/1991. His next of kin is George LILLINGSTON. He was a Rat of Tobruk 1941 9 DIV 2/12 BTN.personal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Containing Business Cards - Funeral Directors; Book - Masons of Victoriapersonal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Sir Leslie James MORSHEAD. He was born on 18/09/1889 in Ballarat, VIC. Sir Leslie James served in the ARMY AIF (NX8) enlisting on, 09/09/1914 in Ballarat, VIC before being discharged from duties with the ARMY AIF as a RL (GEN LIST) 2 MD on 02/02/1950. Sir Leslie James MORSHEAD was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is Mary Eliza MORSHEAD (Mother)Engraved on Front - "L.L."personal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This item is part of the collection of items donated to Kyneton RSL by John Adams, being a relative of the Jones brothers of Kyneton who enlisted in WW1. Both Edward and Evan were in the 29 Bn.GREEN BY FOLD INC PENCIL AND DISCHARGE PAPERY.M.C.A. AUSTRALIApte evan jones, pte edward jones,

Used by conductors or conductors to retain and sell tickets from.Demonstrates the method of dispensing tickets by conductors, how the tickets could be arranged. Yields information about the style and printing of tickets used in Ballarat tramways and how they were presented.Sheet of leather, approx 2mm thick, stained brown with four pockets formed on each side with another sheet of leather, stitched on all sides to form pockets to hold eight blocks of tickets. Stitching is a white colour cotton. Has four blocks of tickets. 80c - blue - A 1016901 - Ballarat Vintage Tramway 30c - purple - A 69601 - Ballarat Tourist Tramway 10c - black - A 114000 - Ballarat Tourist Tramway 5c - red - A 137000 - Ballarat Tourist Tramwaybtm, ballarat tramway museum, ballarat tramways, tickets, ticket wallet, sec, conductors

Used by conductors or conductors to retain and sell tickets from. Demonstrates the method of dispensing tickets by conductors, how the tickets could be arranged. Yields information about the style and printing of tickets used in Ballarat and Bendigo tramways and how they were presented.Sheet of leather, approx 2mm thick, stained brown with four pockets formed on each side with another sheet of leather, stitched on all sides to form pockets to hold eight blocks of tickets. Stitching is a dark brown colour cotton. Has seven blocks of tickets, possibly of Bendigo origin, each with 200 tickets. 4c - red - C551400 5c - orange - City Section - A391000 5c - yellow - B796200 7c - City Section - purple - A183800 10c - black - C468800 13c - black - B602000 18c - brown - A482200 tramways, trams, tickets, conductors, sec, ticket wallet

Geoffrey R Fink volunteered for military service in early 1940. He served initially with 3rd Division A.A.S.C. but was discharged as being in a reserved occupation at the Aircraft Production Commission. He resigned from the Commission and joined the AIF on 28 July 1941 and was allotted to 2/8th Armoured Regiment. He served with the regiment in New Guinea and on return to Australia was transferred to No 41 Landing Craft Company serving out the war in the South Pacific. The 2/8th Armoured Regiment was raised in June 1941 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W G Hopkins with officers and men selected from the wider AIF in Victoria. The regiment trained in newly arrived M3 General Grant tanks at Puckapunyal before moving north to Singleton, then the Wee Waa plains. The regiment sailed for New Guinea in April 1943 and carried out mobile defence to airfields at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Dobadura and Popondetta. The regiment returned to Australia in February 1944 and disbanded as an armoured regiment and retrained as Nos 41, 42 and 43 Landing Craft Companies. They returned to the South West pacific serving at Bougainville, Balikpapan, Lae and Wewak.Representative of gifts made to old boys serving in WWII (1939-45) by a school association. Forms part of a comprehensive collection relating to one soldier.Leather pay book cover presented by Old Geelong Grammarians to VX 60307 Trooper Geoffrey Fink, 2/8th Armoured Regiment together with presentation certificate.Signatures on presentation certificate " Leigh Falkiner, J.S.Cook" and third signature unreadable.2/8th armoured regiment, 41 landing craft company, fink geoffrey r mr, old geelong grammarians

An example of military accoutrement. Well worn small dark brown leather purse with press stud button and envelope style flap opening. The ‘female’ element of the press stud has come loose from the leather but is still connected to the ‘male’ element of the press stud. military accoutrements, wallet, purse

Has a strong association with tram crews and the ticket / revenue collection system. Tram crews used them to contain their tickets when selling to the passengers.3674.1 - Sheet of leather, approx. 2mm thick, stained brown with four pockets formed on each side with another sheet of leather, stitched with dark brown cotton, on all sides to form pockets to hold eight blocks of tickets. Used by Ballarat Conductors until early 1970's to hold stocks of tickets prior to sale. 3674.2 - as above - but a stippled leather finish to the outside of the leather. trams, tramways, secv, tickets, conductors