How to Make a Proper Cup O Tea

No input from me....the following is straight from the BBC...........

The perfect cuppa

Preparation time

less than 30 mins

Cooking time

no cooking required

Serves

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 tsp tea leaves per person

• milk (optional)

• sugar (optional)

Method

1. Empty the kettle of any previously boiled water and fill with fresh (preferably filtered) water. Bring the kettle to the boil.

2. Warm a clean teapot with a little of the water just before it reaches boiling point, then swirl around and pour away. 

3. Use tea leaves rather than bags for a fresh flavoured tea the type you use is up to you. Allow 1 teaspoon per person, plus one for the pot. Make sure the pot you're using has plenty of space for the tea to brew in the water. 

4. Pour in the water as soon as it boils, taking the pot to the kettle so the water doesn't have a chance to cool down.

5. Cover the pot with a tea cosy (either one your Granny knitted or one of the cool, funky ones available now) and leave the tea to infuse for 3-4 minutes. Any longer and you'll ruin the true flavour of the tea, making it taste bitter.

6. When you're ready, pour the tea through a tea strainer (unless there's a mesh attached to your teapot) into sparkling clean mugs or cups and saucers. 

7. When you add the milk depends on whether you're a MIF (milk-in-first) or TIF (tea-in-first) person, or maybe you prefer it black, with sugar, a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.

8. Sit back and enjoy