Te fit-tazza (tea in a glass): Why the Maltese have been doing it right all along!
There are actual reasons why tea in a glass is better.
The image of a cup of tea served in a small glass may easily be on par with other symbols of Maltese-ness like the luzzu and the karozzin. The aura which is tied with being served a te fit-tizza has a tint of nostalgia: the sound of the teaspoon clinking against the glass as the milk is mixed in, and the idea of chugging it down after it has cooled down a little, following, or prior to, toast or plate of pastizzi.
But what makes the glass such a suitable tea holder? Why choose a glass over your typical ceramic mug? The reasons may be more valid than you would think.
‘Thing under the glass’
Firstly, it's good to point out that people from many countries around the world drink their tea out of a glass, so Malta is not unique in this regard. That being said, it is definitely the only place where it is usually accompanied by pastizzi! From Morocco to Russia and even India, glass is a common tea holder of choice. In Russia, they even have special holders for glasses carrying the hot beverage, which are called podstakannik, and literally mean ‘thing under the glass’. They're rather fancy and are usually made out of metal, and I for one, think we should invest in them!
Transparency leads to a better brew
One of the main differences between a glass and a ceramic cup is that the material which the former is made out of is transparent; which means that you can get a better view of the strength of your tea as it is brewing. This is especially convenient for those who'd deem their tea undrinkable if it is a slightly different hue to what their taste buds are used to.
Glasses lose heat quicker than ceramic cups
This may be perceived as a disadvantage, especially in the winter months when you wish you had a permanent hot mug attached to your palms. However, the nature of the te fit-tazza doesn’t really require durability. Besides losing heat quickly, when it comes to insulation, a glass emits more heat than a ceramic mug, hence the podstakanniks.
The smoother the better
When compared to plastic or stainless steel, ceramic is the better choice of material for your cup in order not to hinder the flavour of a cup of tea. However, slight imperfections in the ceramic material may actually have an effect on the quality of the flavour of the tea - imperfections which are preserved by the smoothness which glass brings along with it.
Glass is recyclable
When glasses are unusable for one reason or another, glass is completely recyclable. So in that sense, glass is more environmentally friendly than ceramic or plastic.
Glass is easier to clean
Whilst tea may stubbornly leave some stains behind, glass is reportedly an easier material to clean than ceramic, a possible and valid reason as to why establishments would have made it the material of choice back when dishwashers didn't exist and when the demand for a te fit-tazza was constant… and have never looked back since!