What’s the secret of a perfect cuppa?

Brits drink approximately 100 million cups a day, which makes this tiny island 3rd country in the world in tea consumption. From early morning to late at night, the kettle is on for a brew in many households across the country.

A couple of interesting fun facts about tea:

• British are only the third most prolific tea drinkers, behind Turkey and Ireland.

• 97.5% of tea purchased in the UK comes in teabags.

• Tea reached Europe in the 16th Century but people were using ceramic teapots in Asia and the Middle East 11,000 years ago.

•  Traditionally milk was poured into the cup to protect the delicate bone china. It’s not necessary if you’ve got a big old mug full.

• The European Patent Office lists 207 types of tea strainer.

• Tea breaks are a tradition that has been with us for approximately 200 years.

• The most expensive tea to brew is the rare Chinese variety commonly referred to as Tieguanyin.

How to brew a perfect cup of tea?

The English breakfast tea, the most popular tea in the UK, is a black tea made from a blend of tea leaves which are grown mainly in Sri Lanka and contain a full-bodied, not tannic flavour. The perfect temperature to brew English breakfast tea is 95°C, however, it is worth remembering that different types of tea require different brewing temperatures.

Here is how to make your perfect Jubilee cuppa:

1. Use fresh, filtrated water and bring it to a boil.

2. As water approaches boiling point, rinse the teapot gently with hot water, to ensure it is warm.

3. Treat the teapot to one rounded teaspoon of tea leaves for each person and one extra spoonful “for the pot”. That’s the orthodox rule, but you can adjust if it is too strong.

4. Leave to infuse for three to five minutes, depending on taste. Serve using a tea strainer.

5. If making tea in a cup with a tea infuser, the same rule applies – one spoon of tea, use water just off the boil, and infuse for three to five minutes.

Filtration

As tea is 99.9% water, its quality has significant importance on the taste, aroma, and appearance of your tea.  Filtered water helps to prevent the tea from becoming scummy. Many teas have a variety of subtle flavours that can be destroyed or masked by tap water which contains heavy concentrations of impurities like chlorine, fluoride, and salts. When making a tea it’s best to brew with freshly filtered water as water absorbs odours over time. Water that has been sitting out in your kitchen for a while, may negatively impact your cup tea’s flavour.

It is also worth remembering to change water filters regularly for the best results. Once the water is filtered, temperature control is the next decisive factor. Finding the right equipment is crucial to ensure the best quality of tea. Our FilterFlow water boilers provide high-quality boiling water 24/7 with one of the highest energy efficiency on the market. Find the perfect water boiler for your café shop, home, or office on our website!