Most people in England enjoy a proper cup of tea. And a proper cup of tea, is made in a proper teapot! Most tea on sale is made from the dusty leftovers from quality loose tea, and the taste difference is immeasurable. So if you have time, get yourself a nice teapot and indulge! If you don’t want the bother of brewing loose leaves in a pot and using a strainer, most kitchen shops also sell one-mug infusers, where you simply pour water through the top with the loose leaves, and it strains out proper tea from the lip. Sorted!
If you’re pregnant/breastfeeding, NHS recommends no more than 2 weak cups of tea (or 1 cup of weak coffee) to reduce risk of miscarriage and restless babies – or not at all. Also avoid caffeine for children, urinary continence and if you get the jitters! Check safety caveats for herbal teas, as some have contraindications. If you like ‘builder’s tea with four sugars, just gradually reduce over time to adjust taste buds, rather than using dodgy artificial sweeteners.
A good teapot is ideally made from enamel (don’t choose bone china teapots, these really are made from animal bones). Some teapots (like enamel) are also good to use as stovetop kettles, and good for camping too. A good teapot should feel comfortable in your hand, and have a loose lid (or hole in the lid to let air in, to reduce drips). Ensure it’s the right size for the amount of people you serve.
To make the perfect pot of tea, boil fresh water, then swirl it around in the teapot to warm. Empty out, then add 1 teaspoon of leaves per person. Pour over boiled water and leave to steep for a few minutes. Strain and serve!
things to do with used tea leaves
- Don’t scatter used tea leaves in the garden, as caffeine can harm pets and wildlife. For the same reason, it’s not good to compost tea, as caffeine can harm worms and other creatures – just bin them.
- In the kitchen, you can sprinkle used tea leaves on a chopping board, to remove smells (not near pets or young children).
- In the bathroom, place used tea leaves in a cloth bag and hang over the tap, for a homemade bath soak. You can place remaining leaves in another cloth bag to use as a ‘tired eye compress’.
invest in a good teapot
Firstly, don’t buy bone china teapots (these really are made from abattoir waste, stick to good ceramic or porcelain if you can). Most of these items are dishwasher-safe but not for microwaves (never microwave baby or pet food, they cook food weirdly). For tea stains, dissolve baking soda in warm water, or add 1/2 teaspoon of oxygen bleach, fill mug with boiled water, and wash after 15 minutes.
- Falcon Enamel Teapots are rugged and beautiful, and highly functional. As well as teapots, you can use them on the hob (including induction to heat water as a stovetop kettle). Great for camping too! In small or large. Globe Teapots are designed by a London potter, perfect to extract the flavours of loose-leaf teas, with a long elegant shape to prevent drips. In three sizes, for 2, 4 or 6 cups.
- Brown Betty traditional teapots are made from fine stoneware and very durable and drip-free, in beautiful colours. Designed to be used with matching teapot filter basket (which has a simple lid-locking mechanism to let loose leaf tea brew perfectly).
- For Life Stump Teapots are beautifully designed and stack well, so good for shops and restaurants. They are made from ceramic and include a stainless steel infuser, with an attached hinged lid, for ease of use. The handle has easy access, to control infusing time.
- Chatsford Mug Infuser is ideal for making tea for one in a hurry, with no desk or space for a pot. Just add one teaspoon of your favourite tea, add ‘just off the boil’ water and enjoy a proper cup of loose tea. Recycle or compost your leaves, and rinse out the infuser for next time.
