How to make a proper pot of tea
A proper pot of tea takes about five minutes and very little equipment. The difference between a good cup and an ordinary one is mostly temperature and time.
Warm the pot
Swirl a little hot water round the teapot and pour it away before you add the tea. A cold pot takes the heat out of the water and the tea brews weaker. Cast iron and stoneware hold heat best; glass lets you watch the colour.
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Measure and brew
One teaspoon of loose leaf per cup, and one for the pot, is the old rule. Black tea likes water just off the boil and three to five minutes; green tea prefers cooler water and less time. An infuser or a strainer keeps the leaves out of the cup.
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Serve
Warm cups, a milk jug and a sugar bowl, and something on a cake stand. Pour the tea first and add milk to taste.
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