Please forgive the radio silence over the past couple of weeks. I have been reconnecting with my tea roots, or in other words visiting family and friends in the UK. Living abroad and mixing with different nationalities, I’ve realised that we Brits have a very specific way of making our tea. So here’s the lowdown on British tea brewing. And I’m talking about your everyday cuppa, not the refined Afternoon Tea type of tea!
making tea at mum's house
First up, we predominately drink black tea. There’s a growing trend for green teas and herbal infusions, but the mainstay is still black tea. It accounts for 93%* of the tea consumed by Brits. For your everyday cup of tea, the teabag is king. According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association 96% of our tea is made with a teabag. No fuss, no mess, no ceremony, this is all about convenience. Just stick one in your mug, pour on boiling water, leave for 3 minutes, discard teabag. No heavy handed mashing of the bag mind, a light squeeze is sufficient otherwise bitter tannins may be released.
a perfect cup of tea
Milk and sugar? 98%** of Brits take their tea with milk. The amount varies depending on personal taste. For me it’s just a dash, not too milky. Oh, and if you’re using a teabag then it’s milk in last. No sugar for me thanks. However, 30%** of Brits do take sugar in their tea. This is otherwise known as Builder’s tea - a commonly used term meaning a particularly strong brew with milk and at least two teaspoons of sugar.
tea colour guide by www.suck.uk.com
In summary, here’s a step by step guide to making a British cuppa:
1. Put one teabag in a mug (approx 300ml capacity)
2. Pour on freshly boiled water
3. Leave to brew for three minutes
4. Discard teabag
5. Add milk
6. Add sugar if desired
7. Enjoy with a nice digestive biscuit
* Euromonitor
** UK Tea & Infusions Association