The Perfect Cuppa
Some helpful tips to make the perfect cup of tea.
- Tea loves oxygen. It helps the flavour develop, so always use fresh cold water in the kettle to boil.
- Tea prefers a temperature of 80-90 degrees which can be achieved by letting boiling water rest for about two minutes, alternatively wet tea leaves before adding hot water, this will help with the tea not tasting bitter.
- For black tea, only pour on freshly boiled.
- For green tea, always use the water just at the boil (80-90 degrees)
- The golden rule for making a pot of tea is usually one teaspoon of loose tea per person and one teaspoon for the pot, but add as much or as little to make it to the strength you like.
- When tea is left too long to brew, it can get bitter. A removable infuser can help solve this problem.
Storage
Any time the leaves are exposed to air it will change the flavour over time. Store tea in a cool dark place. Tins are preferable to plastic because they are not exposed to light.
As a general rule the darker the tea the longer it will keep. When buying a white or a green it is generally best to drink it within the first couple of months.