Tea is a major part of British life, and this infographic even states that it is on average, 40% of people’s daily intake of fluid. If you love tea but are always on the hunt for ways in which you can perfect your cuppa, then we’re here to help. We’ve done lots of research to find the ways in which you can make the perfect cup of tea for you and your loved ones.
Choose the best tea for you
There are countless varieties of tea out there, and you’ll probably have to do a lot of tasting to work out which is your favourite type. (It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it!). You can order tea variety packs online so that you can try lots of different ones without having to fork out for big tubs of them, which won’t be ideal if it turns out you don’t really like it after trying one cup!
And if you’re opting for loose tea, choose the right amount
Tea bags are generally the most popular choice, especially in the UK as they’re so easy to use. However, if you’ve never tried loose tea, when you do, you’ll realise you’ve been missing out. As it allows you to control the amount you use as well as the quality. Green teas use less—about a level teaspoon per six ounces of water. Black tea, herbal and oolongs use more—a rounded or heaping teaspoon per six ounces of water.
Even the water can have an effect on the taste
Yes, that’s right – even the water you’re using will have an impact on how your tea tastes. As a rule, the fresher and cleaner the water, the better, so if you have access to a filter, it may be worth filtering the water before you put it in the kettle. You can get good deals on water filters here.
Choose the right temperature
Even the temperature of the water you are using is important. Different teas will have different temperatures required for the optimum brew, just like food, so it’s a good idea to read the labels or do some research each time you buy a new variety. Green tea needs less heat, around 160° to 175°F. Black tea needs more, around 190° to 200°F, as do herbal teas and white teas.
Brewing time is so important
Whether you like your tea weak or strong, this will happen during the brewing time (and it will be affected a little if you add milk of course, too). Again, reading the labels on the packaging that contain your tea will be your first port of call so that you can understand how long to leave the tea brewing for. If you think you’d like your tea weaker or stronger next time, instead of changing the time, you could also think about changing the amount of tea you use in the cup or mug, too.