Well, lemme tell ya somethin’ about this here EPNS tea strainer. Now, you might be wonderin’ what on earth that EPNS means, huh? It’s just a fancy way of sayin’ “electroplated nickel silver.” Yup, ain’t no real silver in there, but it sure does shine up nice like one! These strainers been around for years, back in the old days, folks used ‘em to keep their loose tea leaves outta their cups. Ain’t nothin’ worse than gettin’ a mouthful of leaves, right?
Now, these EPNS tea strainers, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some of ‘em are real old, antique ones, from the 1930s or even earlier. They was made with real care back then, with little holes just big enough to let the tea flow through, but not the leaves. You can even find some of ‘em in that fancy Art Deco style. You know, with all them sleek lines and patterns. My, oh my, they sure are pretty to look at!
When you’re fixin’ to use one of these strainers, all ya gotta do is pop it over your cup, pour your tea through, and voila! Ain’t no leaf gonna sneak through. Makes the tea nice and smooth. These days, folks go all crazy about tea bags, but back then, it was all about loose tea. That’s where these strainers came in handy.
Now, let me tell ya, there’s a whole mess of types out there. Some vintage EPNS tea strainers are big ol’ round ones, and some got little handles. The longer ones might stretch up to 6 inches or so. Some folks even like to hang ‘em up as decorations in their kitchen ‘cause they look so fancy. And there’s folks who collect these things too, huntin’ down ones with unique designs or from specific makers.
Speakin’ of makers, some of these strainers got real names behind ‘em. Like Phoenix Manufacturing, for example, who made strainers in Australia way back in the day. These oldies but goodies, they’re not just tools; they’re a piece of history. Each one tells ya a story, like who might’ve used it, and where it’s been sittin’ all these years.
Now, if yer thinkin’ of gettin’ yourself one of these strainers, lemme tell ya what to look for. First, check if it’s stamped with EPNS. That’s how ya know it’s that special nickel silver material. Then, give it a good look-over. You don’t want no dents or breaks in it if you’re plannin’ to actually use it. And look close at the holes; they should be nice and even.
If you’re after somethin’ special, maybe look for them Art Deco EPNS tea strainers with them real slick designs. Or if ya like somethin’ simple, there’s plenty of plain ones too. But remember, the old ones from way back, they was made different, more solid. Ain’t nothin’ like ‘em in them stores today.
How to Keep Your EPNS Tea Strainer Shiny
- First off, don’t go scrubbin’ it with no harsh chemicals. Just give it a gentle wipe with a soft cloth after each use.
- Once in a while, if it starts lookin’ a bit dull, mix a little warm water with a dab of dish soap and give it a rinse. Dry it right away to keep it from tarnishin’.
- For those real old ones that got a bit of tarnish, you can use a silver polish cloth, but go easy! A little rubbin’ should do the trick.
There ya have it! So next time ya see one of these EPNS tea strainers, whether it’s in a shop or at a garage sale, you’ll know exactly what yer lookin’ at. They ain’t just for makin’ tea; they’re a little piece of history, somethin’ that can sit right nice on your kitchen shelf or be used for that perfect cup of loose-leaf tea. Now that’s somethin’ worth keepin’ around!
Tags：[EPNS tea strainer, vintage tea strainer, antique EPNS, Art Deco tea strainer, loose leaf tea strainer]
