What's the proper way to brew a cup of tea?

Question

Loose tea, tea bags, teapot or in the cup ... please give the best details you can to share.

Cheers

Answer 1

First, you need fresh water.
Pour out the water in the kettle from the day before.
Pour in some fresh water from your preferred source.
I use filtered tap water and am please with the result.



Place the kettle on the stove get the heat going.
Do not watch it. A watched kettle will not boil.



While the water is boiling, prepare the rest of the gear.
You will need a teapot, a cup, a strainer, a teaspoon, and your favorite tea.
Note my excellent teapot. It's Japanese and I got it for a steal on eBay.



Good tea does not come in tea bags.
Good tea is loose and keep in a sealed container tin.
I get my tea from Golden Moon Tea. They have the good stuff.



Now here is the tricky part.
You need to measure out a heaping teaspoon of tea and put it in the strainer holder.
Isn't it amazing that the teaspoon holds exactly the right amount of tea for a cup of tea.
If you are making more than one cup of tea, then you should put in one teaspoon per cup.
Some mention adding another teaspoon of tea 'for the pot', but I haven't found it necessary.



Some people like to use teabags to skip all this,
but that would be wrong.
This poor woman is briefly dipping her crappy teabag



Next, you need to warm up your teapot. You want to make sure that the
hot water used to brew your tea stays hot. To ensure this, you want to warm up
the teapot with a little hot water before you begin to brew.



Just swish it around the teapot for a few seconds and then dump it out.
The teapot should feel warm.



Now you are ready to put the tea in the pot.
Just dump it in.



Now pour in the hot water. About a cup more that you are going to drink.



The tea is now steeping in the pot.
I let mine steep for about a minute.
Too long, and the tea will be quite bitter.



A few crazy types enjoy their tea with the leaves in the cup.
These people are, of course, crazy.
Use a small strainer to catch the tea leaves before they enter your cup.



The cooking is complete.
You have successful made a cup of tea.



All that's left is to sit down with the morning paper and enjoy your tasty beverage.

Answer 2

My Grandad always claimed to knowing that secret to making a perfect cup of tea. He worked at the BBC in the 50's and was told by the tea lady.

1. Warm the pot

2. Loose tea, 1 tea spoon per person and one for the pot

3. Pour in boiling water.

4. Leave to brew for 3 minutes

5. Milk first, then tea.

Answer 3

using a teapot is the best way to make the perfect brew.mmmmm i think i will go and have a nice cup of tea now.

Answer 4

The secret to a good cuppa, is Always warm the teapot or teacup first, before adding the tea ( or teabags ) then add the boiling water.

Answer 5

My favourite cuppa consists of a one cup tea bag cus theyre stronger,in a mug,fill with boiling water before adding the milk,thats important cus if you put the milk first its too weak.

Answer 6

Best way is to put loose tea in water and let it boil.
this way one gets the true flavour of tea or cha as they call it.
that the way i make tea everyday.
i know this wy its a bit messy but the taste is yammmmmmmmmie
give it a try .

Answer 7

for me Twinings every day bags, lovely strong tea! never never put the milk in before the water, it clogs up the bag and has a funny smell to it, always after! NO Suger and just a tincey bit of milk!

Answer 8

Ask who ever else is the room to get off there backside and do it for you, always the best tea as far as I'm concerned especially if you are round Stephen fry' s place.

Answer 9

Always the teapot!

Answer 10

for me, tea bag in a pot, then pour into cup with the sugar already already and then add the milk, i think it tastes funny with the milk in first