10
A G U I D E to E N G L I S H T E A
T E C H N I Q U E
– How to brew the perfect pot of tea –
1 Rinse out your teapot with hot water so your pot does not crack
when you pour hot water into it.
2 For a proper afternoon tea, use loose tea leaves (as opposed to tea
bags) because they are fresher and more flavourful. Place these into
the pot (in which case you would use a strainer over the cup as you
pour), or into a small metal or mesh ball called an infuser. Calculate
a teaspoon of leaves for each guest, plus one more "for the pot."
3 Using a kettle, bring fresh water to a full boil. en, wait! Do not
pour boiling water into a teapot when it is scalding, as doing so will
burn the leaves and ruin the flavour.
4 Cool the water ever so slightly to a temperature of 96°C for black
tea or 71–82°C for green tea. (Never reboil water, as this can create
a metallic taste.)
5 Steep from 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the tea type and to
your taste.
