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I am pleased to report that Americans can be taught how to make tea properly. Any Englishman abroad in the USA will already know the sad state in which an ordered cup of tea arrives at the table. One cup of once hot but now warm water and one unopened tea bag.
“No, no, no. You must pour the hot water over the tea bag.”
“What?”
“Look – you put the tea bag into the cup and then put the water in.”
(Puzzled frown) “But that’s not what we do here.”
“And that’s why your tea is so lousy and tasteless.”
“You put the teabag in first? I don’t know…”
“Yes – and the water must be boiling. Not just hot but actually boiling. That’s very important.”
“Boiling?”
“That’s right. Pour boiling water over the tea bag and then bring it to me. Bring milk. I’ll take over from there.”
And the next morning at breakfast we got just that. A nice little teapot with perfect tea in it. The hotel waitress got it right just to please the eccentric Englih couple. Of course, it might have been because on the previous morning she didnlt get a tip…
Congratulations, that’s not easy to accomplish. I gave up on black tea when eating out a while ago. I only get jasmine green if I have a need since it doesn’t mind once hot water.
I prefer to put the milk, sugar and teabag in first and then pour the water on afterwards.
Well Matthew – sometimes I wish that I liked green tea or other varieties as it would be so much easier but alas…!
And what wonkotsane mentions is the ‘milk in first’ method which I know works for many people but for me seems to suck the life out of the finished drink although I admit to not liking my tea strong – the bag isn’t in long…!
I pour the boiling water on the teabag and leave to mash for five minutes before adding the milk, but then I do like my tea strong.