Making The Perfect Cup Of Tea

There is only one real way to make a cup of tea, and I will outline it soon, but first, we need to discuss the details of the perfect cup of tea.

The Absolute DON'Ts

1. You do NOT drink tea when you are thirsty

This is total blasphemy against tea, why? Because tea is to be enjoyed, not as a form of hydration. drinking tea should be an experience, it should be enjoyed, either by yourself, or in the company of friends, but it should absolutely not be drunk quickly.

2. Do not put milk in first

Who actually does this?

Seriously, you can't brew the tea properly if you do this. The teabag needs to sit in hot water for at least 2 minutes before we add any milk to it. We need to get the pure essence of the tea, we need it to brew completely to get the taste of the tea.

When we add milk to the cup first, the hot water gets too cold to brew the teabags efficiently.

3. Can We Please Stop Disrespecting Earl Grey Tea?

For some reason, many people I have discussed tea with don't actually like Earl Grey tea, but the only difference between normal tea and Early Grey tea is the Bergamot, which I think makes it taste better, but as the saying goes, 'To Each His Own'.

4. Let the Teabag Brew for At Least 2 Minutes

If you put the teabag in for just a few seconds, and not more, you are limiting how good the tea will taste. You need to let the teabags brew in the water for at least 2 minutes to allow the herbs in the tea to filter the water and change the taste of the water.

The Absolute Do's

1. Make The Other Person A Cup Of Tea

A cup of tea isn't just a cup of tea, it's a social tool use by people when they are having a conversation, it's a way to bond and meet people. It's a bit like when people meet up for a coffee, except with tea instead, y'know.

Sometimes there's nothing better than sitting down for an hour with someone and drinking a nice cup of Tetley's, PG Tips, Twining's or other.

2. Drink Loose Leaf tea and Have Scones Every So Often

This is a pleasure unlike any other. If you have never had the luxury of a scone with clotted cream and jam, you are really missing out, there is nothing quite like it.

This can be a great idea for a small gathering with friends, or something as simple as a friendly conversation with your Mum or Dad or partner.

That's all I've got for the moment.

The Ultimate Cup of Tea

Now, let's talk about how to make the perfect cup of tea.

First things first, ensure your kettle has been descaled. There is a clear difference in taste between a kettle with limescale in it, and a kettle that has been descaled.

Once you have descaled your kettle, boil the kettle and pour the water into the cup with the teabag in.

Allow to brew for 2-3 minutes, you don't need to time it, but doing a quick bit of cleaning or tidying should pass the time on.

Next, adding milk. This is absolute personal preference but I will say this, you can add too much milk, and you can add too little milk, the key is getting it right. I like my tea strong, so a darker colour would suffice.

How Do You Like Your Tea?