English Cuppa

Standard extraction for black tea.

Parameters

• Water: Freshly drawn, brought to 100°C (do not reboil flat water).
• Dose: 2.5g loose whole leaf (or one single-origin/blend bag) per 250ml water.
• Extraction time: 180 seconds.

Execution

1. Heat teapot with boiling water; discard rinse.
2. Add tea leaf to the warmed vessel.
3. Pour boiling water directly over leaf.
4. Steep undisturbed for exactly 3 minutes.
5. Decant through a strainer into a cup.
6. Milk goes in after decanting, not before.

Adding milk to unextracted tea drops the steeping temperature below the extraction threshold. Always steep first.