So how do you make a perfect cup of tea?
Well, you don't need magic or a Genie to help you - just follow a few tried and tested steps to the perfect cuppa.
- First, the water, whether hard or soft (soft is preferable, filter your water if it is hard), should be freshly drawn each time.
- The kettle must be properly boiling, not 'on the cusp'.
- Warm the teapot beforehand.
- Add one teaspoon of tea (or teabag) per cup/mug to the warmed pot.
- Pour boiling water into the pot, cover and allow to brew for three to four minutes.
- Remove bags/tea infuser.
- Pour a little milk (fresh and at least semi-skimmed – whole milk tastes far too creamy) into each cup/mug. It is preferable to add the milk before the tea, as the high temperature of freshly brewed tea can denature the proteins found in fresh milk, similar to the change in taste of UHT milk, resulting in an inferior tasting beverage.
- Pour the tea and re-cover the pot. (The reason for removing the tea after infusion is that a covered pot will keep brewing longer and the tea will 'stew' giving a bitter-tasting cup.)
