What Sort Of Cup Of Tea Is Your Cup Of Tea?
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
There aren’t many people in this world who don’t love a lovely hot cup of tea. There is something very soothing and comforting about a cuppa in your favourite mug. Something so ubiquitous is bound to have a lot of variations and the truth is that no two cups are made the same. So how do you take yours?
It’s a question that has divided us for years! There is a lot that goes into a cup of tea and everybody has their own particular preferences. Just the sheer choice of teabags (regular, herbal, fruit, white, oolong, green… an endless list!) is enough to baffle you but once you’ve found the one for you, how do you make yours? Here are the things to consider when brewing up:
Choose Your Weapon!
Some people insist on having tea in their favourite mug. And others think a mug is sacrilege and always go for a cup and saucer. The thickness of the china is another choice to make – do you prefer a big thick chunky mug or cup, or would you prefer a delicate fine bone china? Everybody has their favourite and once you have found your perfect cup or mug you are bound for life!
One Lump or Two?
Do you add sugar to your tea? If so, do you use refined sugar or a sugar cube? Or maybe a sweetener? Everybody has their favourite but some people think sugar in tea is revolting! Which camp do you fall into? Then it gets really complicated… do you add the sugar before the water or afterwards? It makes a difference you know! Watch your friends when they make a cup of tea and see how they do it – everybody has their own preferences.
Milk Muddles
Milk is a whole new subject! Skimmed, semi-skimmed and full fat milks are available. Then there is organic milk, soya milk, goats milk… there are lots to choose from. Some people eschew it entirely in favour of a black cuppa while others drink tea which is 50% milk! As with the sugar there is the eternal conundrum of whether the milk goes in before the water (makes it more creamy) or afterwards (makes it thinner). There’s a lot to think about you know!
Take the Biscuit 
We all know you can’t have the perfect cup of tea without a biscuit or two alongside. So what type of biscuit works best? We all have different answers! Some people opt for a simple shortbread or digestive while other people go for something more chocolaty like a bourbon cream. Then there are the devout cream tea fans that go for a scone, cream, jam… the works! Or perhaps you are more of a pastry aficionado – a currant bun or a cinnamon swirl begs to be taken with a cuppa on the side!
Making the perfect cup of tea is a skill that you will get better at with practice so without further ado… what are you waiting for? Stick the kettle on – mine’s milk with one!
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
Henry Dickens works for Pinchaji Tea House which is a successful provider of oolong tea. He likes to write about his work and life experiences in his spare time.
