I am entertaining a Gentleman from the U.K. soon and would like to know how to make a proper cup of tea?!
I am entertaining a Gentleman from the U.K. soon and would like to know how to make a proper cup of tea?
Can you help please?
Answers:
My gandmother and my dad both used to enjoy a wake-up cuppa, for well over 12years. I made tea for them EVERY morning for those 12 or so years, so I regard myself pretty adept at making a fine cuppa.
Do NOT use teabags is my GOLDEN rule; tea bags are designed for lazy, insensitive people who put no care into making a fine cuppa.
1. Run COLD tapped water to your kettle,..*it tastes MUCH better this way, trust me! Bring to the boil,..
2. Rinse out teapot with BOILING hot water, this not only sterilises the pot, (keeping the flavours pure), but also of course makes it warm for the impending brew, do this IMMEDIATELY before adding tea-leaves, pot should be as hot as possible before you make the tea.
3. Quickly, but carefully add 1 slightly heaped teaspoon of tea per cup to the pot,.. 3 cups of tea, add 3 slightly heaped teaspoons, etc etc :)
4. Add boiling hot water to teapot, stir with CLEAN metal sppon for appx 5seconds, put lid on, followed by tea-cozy if you have one; if not a carefully placed cloth will suffice.
5. Wait appx 5-7mins to allow tea-leaves to brew, lift lid of teapot, stir once briskly again, close lid then pour into WARM cup, *good to use some of the left-over boiled water to warm the cup with; leaving room for milk.
6. Add COLD milk,.. (note; NEVER add milk BEFORE pouring,. it 'slows down' the heat aspect of the tea and destroys the flavours).
7. Add sugar to taste,.. (ie as he requests)
That's it, you have just made a FANTASTIC cup of tea! He'll notice it too,.. you'll do wisely to listen to this advice. :) Hope you have a good time, enjoy your future cuppas :).