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There’s nothing better than sitting down and relaxing with a cup of tea. Whether your drink of choice is a classic breakfast tea, Earl Grey, herbal, oolong or green tea, we know a thing or two at Dorothy’s Teas about making the perfect brew. Here’s our simple guide to getting the most out of your chosen teas, and how to make the perfect cup of tea. 

Preparation 

One of the most important things to remember when making tea, and something which is often overlooked, is that fresh water should be used to make the tea. If there’s leftover water in the kettle, you might be tempted to re-use it, but this causes the water to lose oxygen, which tea needs to brew properly. Using re-boiled water can also leave the tea with a slightly metallic taste, so make sure to use freshly drawn water in your kettle. It’s also important to check what temperature the water should be at for your tea to brew, as advised by the brewing instructions for your tea - using a thermometer is the best way to check this.

The cup which you drink your tea from is also important. Cups made from porous materials, such as stoneware, absorb some of the flavour from the tea. The inside of the cup should be as smooth as possible, which is why teacups are traditionally made of porcelain. The smooth interior of a porcelain teacup doesn’t absorb any aromas or flavour from the tea, which allows the tea to retain its delicious taste. 

Brew time

Make sure to carefully read the brewing instructions for each individual tea from Dorothy’s Teas, as many teas have different brewing times - the brewing instructions will also let you know if the tea can be re-infused. The brewing instructions can also vary depending on whether you brew the tea in a cup using an infuser, or in a teapot - and if you’re brewing in a teapot, the amount of tea will vary depending on how many people you’re serving! The instructions for our Dorothy’s Teas are very straightforward, and will explain everything to you, so all you have to do is follow the instructions and enjoy. 

Milk - to pour, or not to pour?

Some teas are best enjoyed with milk, whilst others are definitely better without. If you’re unsure, the brewing instructions will advise whether milk should be added or not, but herbal teas, fruit teas, and green teas shouldn’t contain any added milk. 

If you are adding milk to your tea, we’d recommend allowing the tea to properly brew to your desired strength before adding any milk. 

We hope that our guide to making the perfect cup of tea has been helpful, but we’ve saved our best tip until last. Tea is all about relaxation and indulgence, so our number one tip for the perfect cup of tea, is to sit back, relax, and enjoy it.