Food & Drink

Fundamentally there are just five easy steps to making the ultimate cup of tea.

Step 1 - First off, fill your kettle with fresh water from the cold tap. It must never be previously boiled, as it will have lost some of its dissolved oxygen vital for tea brewing. Warm your teapot by pouring in a quarter of a cup of water and putting the pot in a microwave for one minute of full power. If you don't have a microwave, traditional boiling water will suffice.

Step 2 - is perhaps the most critical. Bring your warmed pot straight to the just-boiled kettle and place your chosen tea into the pot. As regards the quantity to use, the time honoured rule of one bag per person and one for the pot, will give you a full flavoured cup. Pour in the boiling water immediately. If the water is allowed to cool, it will not be so effective in releasing the tea leaf's chemicals. Don't be tempted to use a brightly coloured knitted tea cosy at this point. The liquid needs to cool before pouring.

Step 3 - Stir the tea, pop the lid on and leave it for three minutes. The compounds will all be released during this time, giving the tea its rich colour and flavour. As most of the caffeine is released in the first minute, there's no point in conducting a DIY de-caff experiment by shortening the brew.

Step 4 - Whatever you vessel of choice - fine bone china, ceramic mug or polystyrene cup, you must put chilled milk in first. This allows the chilled liquid to cool the hot tea, rather than the other way round. Sugar should be added at this point if required, but always white sugar.

Step 5 - If you've used loose tea, don't forget to have the tea strainer ready, as a mouthful of leaves is always an unwelcome shock and disqualifies the experience as being potentially perfect! The finished article should be a rich attractive colour, and ideally around 65 degrees centigrade.