Here’s a tip for preparing soups in a hundred-year-old magazine:
Soup Seasoning and a Tea Ball
In adding peppercorns and other whole flavorings to soups that are not to be strained, place them in a tea ball and drop the tea ball into the soup. It may be removed before the soup is served and the seasonings with it. All of the desired flavor is thus obtained without the chance of anyone getting a mouthful of hot pepper.
Good Housekeeping (September 1917)
A Hundred Years Ago 
Yes, indeed. That was pretty common practice when I was growing up. I still have the tea ball my mother used for just that purpose.
Wow, I’d never heard of this tip before. It’s awesome that your mother regularly used a tea ball for this purpose.
We always used it for mulling wine at Christmas, too. We’d put whole cloves, whole nutmeg, broken cinnamon stick in it, and let it simmer away.
What a great idea! Thanks for posting this…one of those “why didn’t I think of that sooner?” moments ; )
I had similar thoughts when I saw this tip in the old magazine. It’s such a practical suggestion, and much easier than tying spices in cheesecloth.
Actually, that’s a pretty good idea, isn’t it? Though actually, I quite like being astonished by a mouthful of hot pepper.
I, on the other hand, hate being astonished by a mouthful of hot pepper. 🙂
Excellent tip!
That’s what I thought, too.
An excellent tip, although like your other commentor I rather like bits in my soup.
Sometimes I like bits of spices in my soup; other times I don’t. Depends upon which spice it is.
Some good ideas are still good 100 years later.
I agree- good ideas like this have stood the test of time.
Great idea! I’m forwarding it. Though I do wonder what the soup contents might do to the metal. Might some leach into the soup?
hmm. . . Since pans are also made from metal, I’m guessing that it would be about the same as for pans; but I really don’t know.
Excellent point. Thanks
I actually have one of these!!!
Hi Sheila, I gave mine to my son who drinks a lot of tea. I think he has an abundant supply now. I forwarded this to him.
It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed this post enough share it with your son.
Cool . . . tea balls are a handy little kitchen gadget.
We had a special cylinder with holes meant for herbs and spices. One day the cap disappeared, and I’m still wondering if one of us ate it! Not really — just kidding. I’m so happy you passed on this info, because I have a tea ball and will now use it for seasonings. There is another silicone tea infuser in the drawer, and that we’ll save for tea.
It’s so easy to lose pieces of little things of like this.
Great idea! I use my tea ball for, tea, coffee, spices…all kinds of savory additions!
It’s amazing how many different flavoring ingredients can be added by using a tea ball.
So true!
Wow what a fantastic idea!
It nice to hear that you enjoyed this post.
And I don’t even have one.. lol …time to go to yard sales.
🙂 It’s so much fun looking for random things at yard sales. I’ve had some good finds over the years.
Such a good idea. Much more subtle than grinding.
Exactly, it’s a really nice way of handling some spices.
what a great idea – nothing like getting a bay leaf mixed in with other veggies when eating soup!! wonder why my mom or dad ever thought of that? 🙂
Yuck – getting a bay leaf when eating soup is not good.
My mom gave me one of those for the seasonings in corned beef. I never thought of using it for soup, too. Thanks for the idea!
What a great idea. I hadn’t thought about using a tea ball with corned beef. I always seem to end up scraping spices off corned beef after I finish cooking it.
I do this all the time with all kinds of spices. And yes, I always put the corned beef spice packet in it. 🙂
I’m learning “new things”, both from hundred-year-old magazines and from my readers. 🙂
That is a great tips!!
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked it.
I never thought of that! I just toss them in the soup and we take them out as we eat. I am such a lazy cook! I think I will give this a try.
http://findingeliza.com/
What a clever tip, might be good for whole cloves!