The Golden Rules of Tea Making
Always use good quality tea. Always use freshly drawn cold water. Warm the pot.
If using tea bags, use one bag per person. If using leaf tea, put in one heaping teaspoon per person, plus “one for the pot.” When the water is at boiling point pour into the teapot and leave to infuse for 3-5 minutes. Tea steeped too long releases too much tannin and tastes bitter. Remove tea leaves or tea bag to
stop the infusion. Stir and pour. Add milk first or last depending on taste. If you like, add sugar.
Loose Tea- Taylors & Harrogate Tin & Box
- Twining’s Tin
- PG Tips Bag
- Yorkshire Gold Bag
- Yorkshire Red Bag
- Ahmad
- Typhoo Box
- The Metropolitan Tea Co. Bag
- Tea Forte Tins
- Davidson’s Bag
High & Low Teas
High Tea is often a misnomer. Most people refer to afternoon tea as high tea because they think it sounds regal and lofty, when in all actuality, high tea, or "meat tea" is dinner. High tea, in Britain, at any rate, tends to be on the heavier side. Afternoon tea (because it was usually taken in the late afternoon) is also called "low tea" because it was usually taken in a sitting room or withdrawing room where low tables (like a coffee table) were placed near sofas or chairs generally in a large withdrawing room.
There are three basic types of Afternoon, or Low Tea:
- Cream Tea - Tea, scones, jam and cream
- Light Tea - Tea, scones and sweets
- Full Tea - Tea, savories, scones, sweets and dessert
In England, the traditional time for tea was four or five o'clock and no one stayed after seven o'clock. Most tea rooms today serve tea from three to five o'clock. The menu has also changed from tea, bread, butter and cakes, to include three particular courses served specifically in this order:
- Savories - Tiny sandwiches or appetizers
- Scones - Served with jam and Devonshire or clotted cream
- Pastries - Cakes, cookies, shortbread and sweets