Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea
Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea
Everybody loves a cuppa right?! Well, if you’re going to make one, you may as well make it good. A tea break is a well-earned rest, and you need to take your time over it and make sure it relaxes you like it should. You might think that a quick cup of tea is just a bag in some hot water with milk poured over the top – well stop right there! Tea is a ritual, and you need to do it properly! Here is our guide to making the perfect cup of tea, so read up, sit down and enjoy a cup of tea like never before.
How To Begin
You will need a loose-leaf tea of the highest quality – it will be easy to find in tea shops across the country, or if you struggle then order it online. Low grade tea is often just the crushed last little bits from the teabag making process – but you’re going to need the full-leaf variety otherwise you’ll just be dealing with powder.
Your Equipment
For one cup of tea use a brewing basket – it should fit nicely inside your cup to give the leaves a chance to expand and release all of their flavour. It should be metal, not plastic (as plastic can release chemicals into your tea – not good!) You’ll just need a couple of teaspoons of loose tea in the basket, and then pour the hot water over the top. Experiment with water temperatures – if you like your tea black, then the water doesn’t have to be as hot. Different types of tea do better with different temperatures so have a look online for a tea temperature guide. Some kettles tell you the temperature of the water that you are boiling, but other people just use a simply thermometer.
Equipment Care is Key
Many people use a separate pot for black and green tea as some of the flavour can be retained in the pot. Don’t wash pots with detergent – a quick rinse out immediately after use is enough to keep it clean for the next use.
The Steeping
Steeping the tea is the key element in making the perfect cup of tea. For white tea the optimum time is about 4 or 5 minutes, any longer and it will start to taste bitter. Other teas need less steeping time, but they should tell you on the back of the packet. Once you are happy that it is brewed to perfection, pull the basket out and hey presto – you have the perfect cup of tea!
Enjoy It
The next step is to customize it to your taste – for example add milk and/or sugar. Then, grab a biscuit to go with it, take it to your favourite tea-supping spot in your house or garden, take a deep breath… and enjoy! Drinking tea has to be one of the simplest pleasures known to man – so make sure every cup of tea gets your full attention. Sit back, relax and enjoy the perfect cup of tea you’ve just created!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Bio: Jenny Wadlow is a freelance writer and is usually found blogging about Pinchajii Tea. She has got an exceptional taste for tea and suggests that a good tea leaf will always give a pleasant floral or fruity smell out of its leaves. You can follow her on twitter @JennyWadlow to know more.