National Tea Day: The definitive guide to making the perfect cup of tea
Only monsters put milk in before the bag's out
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Today is National Tea Day (honestly, it’s got its own website and everything), a celebration of Britain’s national drink.
Described by George Orwell as "one of the mainstays of civilisation" and liable to "cause violent disputes over how it should be made", the cuppa is as much about the ritual of making it as the taste, and as such you should give it due care.
Here’s a guide to the process from Hope & Glory Tea’s master tea-taster, Bharat Chudasama (N.B. this is for a 'builder's' black tea - you could fill books looking into the preparations of all the different kinds of tea):
How much tea?
Two grams per 100ml water or one teaspoon per person and one for the pot.
Water
We recommend boiling freshly drawn water, to enhance brightness and liveliness in the cup.
Water temperature
Of vital importance - black tea brews best at boiling point.
Storage
Keep tea in a sealed container to keep it fresh and to avoid contamination from moisture and/or other kitchen smells.
Vessel
Always use a cup for tea. It is a beverage that should be slightly cooler before drinking it, so to release heat, the traditional teacup is slightly shorter/wider than a coffee mug, which is designed to retain heat for longer.
Brewing time
Black tea needs five minutes and green teas need three minutes to ensure optimal taste.
Pour, add milk and sugar to taste
Milk always comes after (if you’re using a cup not a teapot), as the milk will instantly cool the water to below boiling point and affect the brewing.
Some teas should not even need any milk - Earl Grey and Darjeeling are fragrant in flavour and should technically be drunk without.
Enjoy!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments