The Perfect Cup

Did you know there is an art to making the perfect cup or pot of tea?

OK, you can call us a little over zealous, but there are some tricks to preparing your Twinings tea, whether you’re making a cup or pot.

If you’re up for the challenge, keep reading below. And of course, if you love how you make your tea, no need to change – whatever brings your tastebuds joy. Before we even get to the preparation, remember to keep loose tea or teabags in a sealed container and away from strong odours.

Making a cup of tea 101.

We know you think we’re crazy, but there is a little more to this than just pouring hot water on a teabag. Ok, not much, but it’s in the detail….. Work with us here!

1. Always use fresh cold water in the kettle. It contains more oxygen which your tea will love and in return provide you with an even better flavour.
2. Place chosen teabag in a clean cup (the angle at which you choose to place said teabag is entirely up to you!)
3. For black tea, pour on freshly boiled water and brew tea for around 2 ½ - 3 minutes, but let your palate decide if you like it weaker or stronger. You can also add milk, sweetener, lemon – whatever makes you happy.
4. For green tea, pour on water that’s just at the boil if possible. Don’t let green tea brew for more than 2 minutes as it can develop a bitter taste. (And contrary to popular thought, it won’t increase antioxidant levels!) You can also add honey if you like.
5. Sit down, relax, breathe in the delicious aromas and sip. Aaahh, you’re smiling, aren’t you?!

Beginner’s guide to making a great pot of tea.

(Trust us, your guests will love you for it!)

1. Oxygen helps the tea’s flavour to develop, so always use fresh cold water in the kettle
2. Warm a clean teapot by swirling some boiled water around it
3. For black tea, pour on freshly boiled water
4. For green tea, try to use water just at the boil
5. If you’re using loose tea, one teaspoon per person plus one teaspoon for the pot should be about right, but experiment based on how strong you like it.

Tea cosies extend the brewing time and can make the tea bitter and stewed. Phew, you can tell your great Aunt Nelly to strike one of those off the Christmas list!