How to:
Make the perfect cup of tea
Fill the kettle with fresh water - water that has been boiled has lost some of its dissolved oxygen - and leave to boil. In the meantime, warm the teapot (preferably a ceramic one) by pouring 65ml of water and heating it in the microwave for 1 minute. Discard the water.
Place tea leaves in the pot - use one heaped teaspoon of loose–leaf tea per cup - and pour in the boiling water. (If the water is allowed to cool, it won't effectively release the chemicals in the leaves.) Stir the tea and leave for 3 minutes.
Pour cold milk into your cup before adding the tea. This will prevent the milk proteins from degenerating (which happens if it is heated above 75 degrees Celcius), and the milk will cool the hot tea and not the other way around. Add sugar to taste.
If a recipe calls for an ingredient that you've never
heard of or simply cannot find,