We’re a nation of tea lovers, however it’s amazing that many people aren’t sure of they’re doing it right. To be honest, there is no right or wrong way on how to make the perfect cup of tea, it differs for every type of tea, and there are lots out there, and really depends on how you personally like it it.
But there are some general rules you can follow.
Water is the key ingredient, and getting the right temperature is critical. Freshly boiled water is great for English Breakfast because it’s a brisk and robust blend, and fruit and herbal teas need boiling water to bring out all the flavour, but just off boiling at around 80C is ideal for delicate blends like green tea.
Then measure the right amount of tea if you are using loose tea, but as a rule of thumb, one heaped teaspoon should do for one cup. Tea bags make it easy because it’s the right amount for one cup.
Infusion or brewing is where the magic happens, but the average brewing time is as low as 30 seconds. As you would imagine the longer you brew, the more flavour that comes out, and infusion continues for up to ten minutes, which means we often miss out on much of the delicious flavour. You can also reuse a good quality tea, so don’t be afraid to top up the cup with the bag to get more flavour.
When it comes to our fruit tea bags and herbal teas, I usually leave the bag in and marvel at the developing flavours as I drink it, that’s all part of the fun.
OK, I’m thirsty now – happy drinking!
