How do I make the perfect cup of tea?

Question

My fiance is a builder (a carpenter to be precise) and he says I make the worst tea in the world - oh sorry, my mother now makes the worst tea in the world but apparently I'm still not 'top notch' - I'm getting there but not quite yet. Anyways, I digress. How do I make the PERFECT cup of tea?

Answer 1

Everyone else has spoken about how to make tea and has made the point that a good quality brand is essential. Well, I would like to just add one more thing. I love Twinings Earl Grey. But my brother can't stand it. Or any other scented teas - heaven forbid! (Not that you would describe Earl Grey as a scented tea, like Jasmine or Lady Grey though my brother definitely thinks so).

He likes "just a plain cup of tea" i.e. Twinings English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast or Tetley's. Milk and no sugar. So, just make sure not to give your fiance something "girly" if he's likely to react that way to fancy teas.

Answer 2

Tea bag into hot water. Let it brew for a while-no rush. add sugar, strain the tea bag and add a bit of milk-not too much though as it will make it milky and colder.

Tea should be a nice golden brown colour and served in a big mug!!

(add biscuits as required)

Answer 3

I'd concentrate more on making a BAD cup of tea. Once people now you're tea is top notch... Guess who gets tea duty time after time? Stop before you start!!!

Answer 4

The first step is to buy tea made in the United States. You remember the reading about the Boston Tea party? Some of these other countries (not all countries... relax people)  that produce tea do not have to adhere to the same "quality standards" that we have in the United States, so it is possible that you can buy a bad batch of tea. The second step is to never EVER put milk in tea... especially iced tea. By doing so, you are counteracting the flavor of the tea like when people dont like the taste of coffee, they add milk to decrease the natural flavor. The third and most important step is to follow the manufacturers recomended instructions on how to make their brand of tea, each manufacturere is different, and none of them call for milk.

Answer 5

Make sure you put the milk in last. Tea, sugar, hot water, tea bag out, then add the milk..  

Answer 6

Many of the answers have been good but the two main things that will "make or break" the perfect cup of tea are:

1. Have a quality tea (this generally rules out all tea bags)

2. Have pure water free of chemicals and tastes

Making tea is very basic, but if you do not have a quality tea and good, clean water, then you will not make the perfect cup of tea.

Test out different brands of the same type of tea, you would be surprised at the vast difference in the brands. It is less about how you are making it and more about the quality of materials used to make the tea.

Answer 7

PG tips is the best tea ever. Put tea bag in the mug and sugar.

Pour just boiled water in mug stir the tea bag and squeeze the tea bag to the max,

add milk dont remove the teabag yet, keep stirring,

i love my tea dark with little milk. Good luck.

If he still moans then tell him to make it himself. Why do men moan so much at us girls? why is it we have to keep impressing them, i mean they should try to impress us too! Cheers (sip)

Answer 8

I dont like anyone to make tea for me as no one makes it like I do. Why dont you ask him to show you how he makes it and then you can copy that !  

Answer 9

1. Always use fresh water if possible. Spring water is best

due to its purity and lack of additives such as chlorine

and fluoride which can affect the taste. If you use tap

water then run the tap until the water is cold and fresh.

Good quality water is essential for the perfect cup of tea.

2. Preferably use a teapot made of china or earthenware.

Pots made of certain types of metal such as enamel silver

or copper can impart flavor to the water. Stainless steel

is okay.

3. Warm the pot beforehand with a little hot water.

4. Add at least one level teaspoon for each cup of water

that you are going to add. Adding loose tea to the pot is

the best way for the tea to infuse properly but many people

prefer to use a tea strainer or infusing basket for

convenience sake.

5. Pour boiling water directly onto the leaves and then

stir the water before placing lid back on the teapot.

6. Let the tea steep for between four and five minutes. If

using green tea three minutes is best.

7. Remove or strain the leaves to avoid overbrewing.

8. The cup that you drink out of can greatly affect the

taste of the tea so choose wisely. A good quality cup made

of china will definitely enhance the whole tea drinking

experience. Avoid wide shallow cups which cause the tea to

cool in next to no time.

9. Pour milk into the cup first. Ah, yes this is the step

that causes most controversy. Many an argument has been

had concerning whether or not it is best to add the milk to

the tea or vice versa. I have always preferred milk first

then tea but my husband argues that it is easier to

regulate the right amount of milk by adding milk

afterwards!

*SL

Answer 10

Easy.  Boil the kettle with COLD water - dont ask why it makes a difference but it does.

In the meantime as the kettle heats up, pour some into the teapot so that it warms through.

Pour milk into the cups and sugar as necessary.  The milk softens the sugar and begins the dissolving process,

Once the kettle begins to boil, pour out the warming water, add three teabags and then top up with the boiling water.

Allow to stand for three minutes, stir, then pour.

The perfect cup of tea.

Answer 11

Well....the old way was to use a pot...warmed first with hot water...but that was in the days of tea leaves...I make good tea...put the bag in and pout the hot water in...just boiled....NEVER add the milk until you have removed the bag...which you do after you have stirred it well in the water...then squash the bag against the mug with a spoon to get the most of the tea out of it...remove the bag and add enough ,ilk to make it mid brown. There you go.

Answer 12

My perfect tea is Tetley's. Its a brand on tea, its normal tea but that brand is so good. Put some boiling water in a cup with a teabag, squeaze the tea bag in the cup b4 u take it out. put in some milk and 2 sugars. mmmm. heaven.

xx

The best way is:

Put a tea bag in a mug.

Pour in boiling water.

Squeaze teabags guts out. Lol.

Take the tea bag out.

Put in two sugars.

Put in a bit of milk.

Mix.

&&There you go. The perfect cup of tea.

Answer 13

do you mean sweet iced tea or hot tea?For sweet tea....and ive been told i make really good tea...get a 3 quart sauce pan fill with water 3/4 way up and let it boil.  When it boils put in 1 and 1/4 cups sugar, stir well. bring to second boil, turn stove off. Put in 8 teabags, cover for like 30 min. Fill up a 1 gallon jug halfway with cold water, pour in tea careful to hold the teabags in the pan. If not filled up all the way pour a little more water in the pan with tea bags swoosh around a bit and pour into jug until full. Great sweet tea!!!!!!!

Answer 14

The water has got to hit the teabag in the cup as soon as the kettle clicks off,give it a good stir till its quite dark and dont over do the milk! If he doesnt like it ,come round here a make me one!!!!

Answer 15

orange pekot tea bag

1-2 C hot water

let seep 5-10 minutes

Answer 16

There is no perfect way to make tea for everybody.

Get your BF to show you how he likes his tea.

Being in the construction industry I suspect he likes it like treacle Therefore buy good strong tea bags,use boiling water,leave for 5 mins. Put the milk in & leave the tea bag in.Serve.

Either that or tell him to make his own bl$^&y tea.      

Answer 17

First you have to use bone china cups , you can use teabags if you like , always warm the tea pot first then the bags then water that has properly boiled , it  has to be poured from a height .

Let the tea brew for 5 minutes add sugar to the cup at this stage if required , stir the tea and pour into the cup from a height then add the milk .Never add the milk before the water, enjoy.

Answer 18

for hot tea you have to make sure the water is boiling--not just hot. then pour the water over the teabag (as in put the teabag in the cup before adding water). steep for four minutes. it helps if you have good quality tea (my dad is very particular about his tea and he prefers twinings. english breakfast is probably the most "basic" flavor). you can add sugar, milk, cream, or lemon if you want. probably one spoonful of sugar is enough for a cup of tea

Answer 19

Buy some decent quality tea bags i.e. avoid the cheap ones.

Make the tea in a cup. Use freshly boiled water, pour into the cup and stir. Leave it for one minute and stir again. leave for another minute then stir again and take the teabag out. Add milk and sugar to taste.

Don't leave the teabag in the cup too long as it will taste "stewed". If you take it out too soon it will taste watery.