How to Make a Proper Cup of British Tea

Tea time is a definitive British cultural experience.

Tea may have originated in east Asia, but no European country is so famous for its relationship with tea as Great Britain. Hundreds of years after tea was introduced to the British Isles, tea time is an ingrained part of British culture, and many Britons drink tea at least once a day. The steps to making a proper cup of tea are similar throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 3 tsp. loose leaf black tea
• Tea kettle
• Tea pot
• Tea strainer

1. Clean your teapot and tea kettle. If the last time you made tea was weeks ago, chances are your teapot and kettle could have accumulated dust or mold.

2. Fill your tea kettle with cold water. Set the kettle on the stove and turn on "high."

3. When water is boiling, pour a small amount into your teapot to heat it. Swirl the water around and then pour it out completely. Put kettle back on stove.

4. Place your loose leaf tea in the teapot. Generally you can estimate 1 tsp. per person, plus 1 tsp. for the pot. Account for approximately 10 oz. of water per person when deciding on the size of teapot.

5. Pour water into your teapot. Let steep for three to four minutes.

6. Pour through tea strainer into each cup. Try to make sure each of your guests has an equal amount of tea.

7. Serve with milk, sugar, and lemon as desired. If there is tea left in the pot, place a tea cosy on the pot to keep it warm on a cold day.

Tips & Warnings

• Some prefer to add milk to their cup before the tea is poured in.

• Be careful not to over-steep. Tea brewed too long will become bitter.

• Tea, when just poured, is quite hot. Sip rather than gulp.

References

• Food.com: The Perfect Pot of English Tea
• Food Network: Perfect English Tea