How to make British tea, the "proper" way. Pull together the perfect cup of English tea using loose leaves or tea bags with a kettle or the stove, in a mug or a teapot! Plus, top tips and FAQs.
Black tea is one of the only types that can handle the highest temperatures of around 203ºF/95ºC, up to boiling point 212ºF/100ºC.I prefer to make mine at just below boiling, so it's hot enough to extract as much flavor from the tea without risking scalding it and ending up with a bitter brew.Heat the water either in a kettle (using one with temperature controls is a bonus) or on the stovetop until just below boiling point. Use a thermometer if you have one.
Step 2: Steep the Tea
You can prepare proper English tea either with a tea bag or loose leaves in an infuser/strainer. Place these in your cup/s before adding the water.
Pour the hot water over the tea (don't fill it to the top and you need space for the milk) and then leave it too steep for between 3-5 minutes based on how strong you want the tea to be.It’s recommended that you don’t mix it too much or squeeze/press the tea bag, as this can make for a more bitter tea as it releases extra bitter tannins. Instead, leave it be for the duration of the steeping.
Step 3: The Finishing Touches
Add the sugar/sweetener (optional) to the cup/s and stir well until it's dissolved.
Add the milk, starting with just a splash and increasing to taste.The amount of milk to add is once again down to personal taste. Start with a small splash (about 1 teaspoon) and increase to taste. Soon you'll know by color when you've reached your personal milk tea "sweet spot" - no one ever measures.
In a Teapot
A regular teapot requires 2 or 3 tea bags (for 6-8 cups of tea), whereas a mini teapot only requires one (for 2-3 cups of tea).
Add the tea to the teapot and pour the water over, allowing it 4-5 minutes to brew.
Remove the tea bag/leaves from the teapot and pour the tea into the teacups. Add the sugar and milk, and enjoy your proper English tea!It’s best to warm up the teapot in advance. To do so, boil some water and pour it into the pot, swirling it around for a minute or two. Then discard the water. Next, pour the tea into the pot and this should keep it warmer for longer. You could also use a tea cosy (or a tea towel) to cover the pot and hold in the warmth of the traditional English tea.
Notes
Adjust the sweetness: this comes down to personal preference. I think the average is two teaspoons of sugar per cup of tea, but I use one. Some use none.
English vs.American tea: compared to most American brands, British tea is more robust in flavor and usually contains more caffeine. Keep this in mind when deciding how long to steep it for and how much milk to add.
Adjust the steep length: most British black tea (including Earl Grey and English breakfast tea) have a recommended steeping time of 3-5 minutes. If you prefer a weaker tea, choose the former. For a stronger tea, choose the latter. Be careful not to steep it for too long as the tea becomes bitter. If you've steeped for the maximum time and it isn't strong enough, add more tea leaves instead.
Use fresh water: always use freshly drawn cold water for the best flavor (thanks to the extra oxygen in the water).
Don’t boil the water: instead, pay attention to the tea packaging and follow the temperature recommendations. For black tea, that’s usually 95-100ºC/203-212ºF. It can help if you have a temperature control kettle. If you pour boiling water over the tea, it will scald the leaves and can leave you with bitter traditional English tea.
Don’t add too much milk: otherwise, you lose the English tea flavor AND affect the temperature of the tea.
DON'T microwave the water! Just don’t, please. It won't heat evenly and may affect flavor.
Don't double boil kettle water: it will affect the flavor due to the lack of oxygen and will have an effect on the minerals.
Check the blog post for more top tips and answers to FAQs!