01 April 2023 , 07:00
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The UK is a nation of tea lovers – we just can't get enough of the stuff. Over a hundred millions cups of tea are consumer across the country every day, but when it coms to the perfect brew, not everyone agrees.
How long should the teabag brew for? Is the milk added before or after the hot water? How hot should the water be? It feels like we're constantly debating these questions with fellow tea lovers – but now we finally have the answer.
For National Tea Day, BRITA has teamed up with waters Sommelier Samantha Scoles, who has shared the key to making the perfect cup of tea – and it turns out we've all been doing it wrong.
It's all down to the water we're using (stock image) (Getty Images)According to the hot beverage expert, the secret for marking the perfect cuppa is in the water we use. Samantha recommends using freshly filtered water, as this will alter the taste of your tea.
Samantha said: "If you want to step up your tea-making game, the easiest thing you can do is to pay more attention to the water that you use.
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"Tap water contains minerals, and too many of these prohibit the delicious flavours of tea from developing. It also contains organic compounds that influence the smell and taste – and therefore interact with the natural flavours of tea.
"Water is the largest component when we are making a cup of tea, which is why it has such a big impact on the flavour of our brews."
Using freshly filtered water will "remove unwanted tastes and odours from the water" and "rebalances minerals to let the true taste shine".
The temperature of the water is also important (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The temperature of the water will also have an impact. According to Samantha, the optimal temperature will depend on the type of tea. For green tea, the perfect temperature is 70C, while 95-98C is best for black tea.
The length of time the tea brews for will also make a difference. Samantha said: "The bitter components in tea are soluble in boiling water and, when brewed for too long, they are drawn out quickly into the water which can overwhelm the subtle sweet and aromatic character of the tea."
Samantha added: "When the temperature is correct, pop the tea bag (or – even better – loose leaf tea) into the tea pot and soak – two to three minutes for green tea and medium-leaf black teas, and three to five minutes for black large leaf tea. After steeping is complete, pour into a cup or mug of choice and enjoy!"
What do you think the perfect tea looks like? Let us know in the comment section below.