Actually, the secret to a good cup of tea is to make sure the water is BOILING, not boiLED, but boiLING (as in bubbling, steam coming out of it and making noises in the kettle.) Ignore all the saving energy rubbish, this is the one exception to that rule.
That's the main reason why I can't drink tea in resturants, hotels, or other countries unless I make it myself. The tea must be piping hot when you add it to the teabag, or for maximum taste use proper strained tealeaves (but there's no
need to go to extremes, teabags are perfectly acceptable)...
Sugar is not neccsarily needed, it depends on the drinkers own taste...
But, replace the word sugar with something else, like, say Kilopost. I am at my 6th kilopost, wow, isnt that amazing. And to celebrate it im sitting here having a cup of tea, tea made from real piping hot water in the kettle and PG Tips tea bags.
Some things just feel right 
i can say for certain that we use boiling water the make the tea at the hotel i work at, at least when i make it!
and congrats on your 6k, may it be filled with much good tea and many sugars! ^^
I have trouble enjoying tea unless it's 1/2 milk, has at least 2 sugars, and is only warm, not hot.
...Congrats. D:
Congrats on the 6K post and I think that the best tea is made with one cup of sugar and let the tea bags sit in the boiling hot water for...13+ hours...by then it's strong enough to kill someone...
Happy 6K to you! *mug clink*
I'm very easy going when it comes to tea specifications. As long as you give the bag a good squeeze and don't overdo the milk, I'm happy. Im going to pretend that I didnt hear any deviant talk of vile sugar in this thread, though.
Is anyone here posh enough to indulge in pyramid teabags? The advert has built me up to believe that extra tea leaf circulation will produce an exquisite beverage, superior to any other I may have tried and yet comfortingly familiar. Itd break my heart if it wasn't so.
i've found that without a bit of experianced prodding, the pyramid teabags tend to go flat when you pour in the water.
i don't really like tea myself, but according to my parents i make a good cuppa. ^^
Congrats on the kilo, Swift.
And on the subject of tea, mine has to have about 2.5 sugars, with lots of milk, the sugar has to be fully dissolved into the tea, then wait for it to cool until it's just warm enough to drink. (hot drinks hurt my poor sensitive teeth. x_X)
Congratulations on the 6K, Swift. However, sugar in tea is the height of blasphemy and I will defend that to the death. Also, make sure to warm the teapot with boiling water before putting the leaves in, and also remember to put the milk in the cup before the tea so you don't scald it.
I like tea. <3
When you well know coffee is your true savior.
Congrats on telling us things 6000 times or so, Swift. Here's hoping to 6000 more! ^.^
But only 6000... any more and you die. >>
This, like so many other things, reminds me of an essay by Douglas Adams.
Quote:
One or two Americans have asked me why the English like tea so much, which never seems to them to be a very good drink. To understand, you have to make it properly.
There is a very simple principle to the making of tea, and its this-to get the proper flavour of tea, the water has to be boilING (Not boilED) when it hits the tea leaves. If its merely hot, then the tea will be insipid. Thats why we English have these odd rituals, such as warming the teapot first (so as no to cause the boiling water to cool down too fast as it hits the pot). And thats why American habit of bringing a teacup, a tea bag, and a pot of hot water to the table is merely the perfect way of making a thin, pale, watery cup of tea that nobody in their right mind would want to drink. The Americans are all mystified about why the English make such a big thing out of tea because most Americans HAVE NEVER HAD A GOOD CUP OF TEA. Thats why they dont understand. In fact, the truth of the matter is that most English people dont know how to make tea anymore either, and most people drink cheap instant coffee instead, which is a pity, and gives Americans the impression that the English are just generally clueless about hot stimulants.
So the best advice I can give to an American arriving in England is this: Go to Marks and Spencer and buy a packet of Earl Grey tea. Go back to where youre staying and boil a kettle of water. While it is coming to the boil, open the sealed packet and sniff. Careful---you may feel a bit dizzy, but this is in fact perfectly legal. When the kettle has boiled, pour a little of it into a teapot, swirl it around, and tip it out again. Put a couple (or three, depending on the size of the pot) of tea bags into the pot. (If I was really trying to lead you into the paths of righteousness, I would tell you to use free leaves rather than bags, but lets just take this in easy stages.) Bring the kettle back up to the boil, and then pour the boiling water as quickly as you can into the pot. Let is stand for two or three minutes, and then pour it into a cup. Some people will tell you that you shouldnt have milk with Earl Grey, just a slice of lemon. Screw them. I like it with milk. If you think you will like it with milk, then its probably best to put some milk into the bottom of the cup before you pour in the tea.* If you pour milk into a cup of hot tea, you will scald the milk. If you think you will prefer it with a slice of lemon, then, well, add a slice of lemon.
Drink it. After a few moments you will begin to think that the place youve come to isnt maybe quite so strange and crazy after all.
* This is socially incorrect. The socially correct way of puring tea is to put the milk in after the tea. Social correctness has traditionally had nothing whatever to do with reason, logic, or physics. In fact, in England it is generally considered socially incorrect to know stuff or think about things. It's worth bearing this in mind when visiting.
And happy kilo, as well.
The socially correct way of puring tea is to put the milk in after the tea. Social correctness has traditionally had nothing whatever to do with reason, logic, or physics.
Putting milk in the cup first is all very well and good if you are a solitary drinker but, when you've got guests, putting the milk in afterwards is the only way to get it right for each person. That way they can gauge the strength by eye and tell you when to stop.
Do it the other way around and you just aren't going to get it right. And nobody likes your tea (and consequently, you as a human being) if it's not just right.
I agree with him about Earl Grey, though. It tastes crap with no milk.
I've been served tea that could've stripped wallpaper at times. Plus, I tend to use the milk to regulate the heat.
-.o Lemon in tea? That's NASTY! 
...
Congrats on your 6k, Swifthom! 
*gives him a Kiloposter Button*
I'm off work with a cold and no voice today, and I could really murder a cup of peppermint tea. It's just so relaxing...
** has a wastebasket full of used tissues and still coughing and sneezing ** :*(
One day, I'll try it that way but take in mind that I don't know of any place that sells tea as you have described (heck I'm not even sure that the US has Earl Grey).
Btw, I prefer my tea with skim milk and honey. 😀
Happy kilo, Swift. 😀
