The perfect cup of tea

I was reading James May's Man Lab book the other day, a present from my wife, there's a section on making the perfect cup of tea and I was wondering if anyone on here has a method they swear by?


My usual method is this:

1. Boil the kettle
2. Put a tea bag in a cup
3. Add the water
4. Squeeze the tea bag and remove
5. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar
6. Add milk


The book says that tea should be made in a pot and the milk should always be added first.

An interesting topic I thought :)

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Missing the most important point of all...

7. Open packet of biscuits for dunking.

... surely to God.

... actually, also... I don't think you're supposed to use boiling water for making tea... isn't it s'posed to be around 80degC?


Just my two-penny-worth...

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The book says use boiling water, so you are infact, as they say in France, totally wrong.

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Well I s'pose what car journalist James May doesn't know about the art of making tea isn't worth knowing.

[yes, I am pulling a smug face as I write this]

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Water Temperature
Aside from choosing the best water and tea leaves possible, Water temperature is the
most critical element in preparing the perfect cup of tea. Regardless of which
apparatus you choose to boil your water, remember to follow these guidelines when
starting out. Heat the water in a glass, ceramic or clay teapot until it reaches a boil
(212 degrees Fahrenheit) then allow the water to cool before brewing your tea.
Guideline: 180 degrees for green tea, 190 degrees for Oolong tea, 200 degrees for
black tea.

http://www.imperialteagarden.com/brewtea.html


180 degrees Fahrenheit = 82.2222222 degrees Celsius



Who to listen to... James May or "The Chinese"?



That's all I'm saying.

That's all.

Just that.

No more.

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It wasn't James May, it was a guide taken from George Orwell in James May's book, he also says to stay away from Chinese tea and use Indian.

:soapbox:

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ooOOOOOooooh! :bow:

George Orwell, of course, was the world's foremost expert on tea-drinking. :-?

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To be fair though, Chinese tea is different - taken without milk and sugar. I do like me some Jasmine tea.

With regular tea, I have to have at least 3 sugars :D

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3 sugars :speechless: :speechless:

I'd be buzzing after that :bounce: :scared:


:)

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Looks like you've been reading Jeremy Clarkson too ;)

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To say I have a sweet tooth is an understatement!!

In coffee I have at least 4 sugars!

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