How to Brew English Tea
The British have very precise views on how a cup of tea should be brewed. Impress your British friends by showing them that you know your way around a teapot. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Loose tea leaves or a tea bag
- Several cups of water
- A tea kettle or pot
- A teapot
- A tea strainer or infuser
- Teacups
Instructions
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1
Bring the water to a rolling boil in the tea kettle or pot. Always start with cold water. Never reheat cooled boiled water; this will impart a flat taste to your tea.
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2
Pour a small amount of boiling water into the teapot. Swirl the water around to rinse and preheat the teapot. When you are finished, pour out the water.
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3
Measure the tea leaves and put them into the tea infuser or directly into the teapot. The amount of tea leaves you use depends on the type and amount of tea you are making. Make sure your tea infuser is the appropriate size for your teapot--otherwise, your tea will be too strong or too weak. If you are using a tea bag, put it in the teapot.
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4
Pour the boiling water into the teapot, taking care to cover the tea. Make sure the teapot is three-fourth full. When you are finished pouring, close the lid of the teapot.
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5
Let the tea brew for 3 to 5 minutes. This will allow the water to infuse the tea and release its flavor.
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6
Pour the tea into the teacups. If you have not used a tea infuser or bag, pour the tea through a tea strainer to catch the loose tea leaves.
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7
Add a lump or two of sugar. In Britain, it is not considered proper to drink tea without sugar. After you receive your sugar lump, stir the tea, taking care not to hit the sides of the teacup.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want milk in your tea, add it to your teacup before pouring the tea to avoid the possibility of having the milk curdle.
