A Perfect Cup of Tea 

Nothing quite like a spot of tea to help you get through the day. I have seen it poorly done and have helped people improve their method and enjoy the drink to the fullest.

 

Servings

 1

Ready In:

5 minutes

 

Good For:

Beverage, Cocktail & Mocktail

 

The Perfect Cup of Tea

By: John Taylor

 

Ingredients

 

  • 1 tea bag English Variety, Earl Grey or your choice
  • Optional garnish: A slice of lemon for the Earl; milk or honey for English

 Serve with a chocolate biscuit, or a Tunnock’s caramel wafer, and relax in a comfortable chair.

Note: This may not be the exact way to make a perfect cup of tea, since doing so requires a ceramic tea pot, loose leaf tea, a strainer and a tea cosy. When at the office, you may not have all the luxuries as at home, so this will work when you don’t have time or a proper teapot.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Boil some water. I know most Americans don’t have electric kettles, so you’ll probably have to heat some up on top of a stove or something. If you have British visitors to your office, please find an electric kettle for them and some tea bags or they will hover around the kitchen area looking confused.

Step 2

While that’s heating up, get your favorite mug out and put in a tea bag. An English Breakfast variety is a good choice for a novice tea drinker.

Step 3

Once water has boiled, pour into the cup. Please don’t stick your spoon in the cup at this point, it only stops the teabag swirling round. Also, avoid placing the teabag in after the water. Pouring the water causes the teabag to spin round helping it infuse with the water properly. Do it wrong, and the bag sits sulking at the bottom of the mug with a dark aura while the rest of the water remains pale.

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Step 4

Let it sit for 2-3 minutes – 4  if possible. Don’t touch it during this time. And don’t rush things. You don’t want weak tea. There are some places in the UK where you can be arrested for making weak tea. OK, there isn’t, but there should be!

Step 5

With a tea spoon, pull the bag to the side of the cup, press it gently on the side and lift it out. You should not squeeze it hard against the side. It breaks the tea leaves and makes the tea more bitter. Likewise rushing step 4 by mashing the bag with the spoon is a big NO and will ruin the flavour.

Step 6

Garnish with sugar and milk, or “two and a coo” as they say in these parts. Note, if you are enjoying a fruit or herbal tea, you probably want to skip the milk and sugar. And if it’s Earl Gray, then the only thing that goes in is a slice of lemon. But it is a more advanced drink and should be left to the professionals who will use a proper teapot.

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