How to brew

Brewing tea can be complex or simple. In China, it has been taken to the level of an art form, and, in Japan, it is an expression of Zen Buddhism. When you brew a pot of tea, you share in a daily ritual for millions of people all over the world. Savour the moment, whether preparing a pot of your morning brew, a cup of green at your desk in the afternoon, or a carefully prepared rare tea to be enjoyed with friends. Be creative, it’s your cup of tea.

Loose Leaf it is impossible to state how much loose leaf tea should be used for each cup of tea, but a good start is to use one level teaspoon of tea per cup. Once you have tasted that first cup, you can determine whether you require more of less loose leaf tea to suit you. Again, when determining how long to allow the tea to brew is best judged by trying different lengths of time to get exactly the taste that suits you.

Tea Bags use smaller leaves and buds of the tea shrub (Camellia Sinensis) and they therefore produce a delicious cup of tea much quicker than loose tea. There is no loss of taste or goodness, and experts agree that tea made from tea bags is as good as tea made from loose leaves.

Taste Until familiar with a particular tea, steep for a minute or two, then try a sip. Pay attention to taste rather than colour. Do not allow tea to stew and therefore, we recommend that the tea should not be allowed to brew for longer than 5 minutes, but again it comes down to individual taste.

Additions Milk or fresh lemon can be added to the cup after brewing, or it can be taken black, without any additions.

Experiment There is no right or wrong way to make tea. Let your palate be the guide.