How to make a Perfect Tea, the British Way

American tea drinking and British way of tea drinking is far apart. This article writes how to make a perfect hot tea the British way.

There is a very simple principle to the making of tea and it's this - to get the proper flavour of tea, the water has to be boiling (not boiled) when it hits the tea leaves. If it's merely hot then the tea will be insipid. That's why we English have these odd rituals, such as warming the teapot first (so as not to cause the boiling water to cool down too fast as it hits the pot).

We have tea a variety of ways most of them are a quick way of drinking, a tea bag seeped in a hot water for a few minutes and done. He says the Americans are mystified when they see the English way of making tea and the tea ceremony, because that is the best way to get a good cup of tea. He says neither Americans and many British don't know how to make a good tea. He recommends the following:

1. First boil water in a Kettle, bring the water to boil.

2. Pour this boiled water in a tea pot, just a little to keep the cup hot, swirl it around and throw it away.

3. Bring back the kettle and resume the boiling again.

4. Place the Earl Grey tea bags (or loose tea leaves) in the tea pot and pour the boiled water on top of this tea pot.

5. Let the tea brew for two to three minutes and then drink this tea.

You can add other milk, honey, lemon etc., depending on preferred tastes, but once you drink tea this way, he says you will understand the British Way of making proper tea. Also you can add Cardamom pods to this tea, adds significant flavor to the tea.

I try a similar way, I have an Assam Bodum Tea pot, pour hot water over the tea leaves placed at the bottom and let it brew for 3 minutes.

Every country makes tea in a different way, if you know a good way of making tea, please leave a comment.