Making the perfect cup of tea involves a secret ingredient – patience. Scientists have discovered that the key to the best tasting brew is to let it sit for six minutes before drinking.

Not only does it avoid scolding but by then it has cooled to 60C, the optimum temperature to let the flavours flood out.

But leave it until after 17 minutes and 30 seconds and the tea will be past its best.

Although it does depend on your tea – green tea typically does not have to brew as long – Although it is recommended that most tea brew for at least four minutes.Tea-drinkers should also consider how they are stirring their tea and how they are holding their cups as both are indicative of how refined you are.

A clear giveaway of your elegance when it comes to stirring is how you remove the excess tea from your spoon. While a “light flick” is fine, even elegant, bashing the spoon on the side of the cup is not.

It is not recommended that you use a tea ball strainer for any of our teas since the leaves and tips need room to expand. It is much more effective to use a tea pot and a strainer.

WHITE TEA
White tea is the purest and most delicate of all teas. It needs longer brewing time than other teas. Please allow to steep for 1-3 minutes.

For subsequent brewing less time is needed to steep whole leaf tea because the water will have already penetrated the leaf, allowing the flavour to be released. They can be brewed many times without becoming bitter.

GREEN TEA
Green teas should be brewed 1-2 minutes for the first brew. If you are going to make iced tea or to sweeten the green tea with sugar you may want to let it steep a little longer to bring out the more robust tannic flavours.

BLACK TEA
for black tea the steeping times really differ with preference. If you want to drink the tea on it’s own (without milk) 45 seconds-1 minute is ideal but if you want to build the strong tannic flavours you may want to leave it longer for 2-3 minutes

MILK AND SUGAR?
White and green teas are so delicate and naturally sweet that you won’t need to add sugar or milk. With black tea anything goes. We only sell the best leaf teas – and they do not need anything but it’s entirely a matter of taste.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at pallegamatea@gmail.com