Rachel's CafeAll things coffee…

How do you prefer to make your perfect cup of tea?

Whether you ascribe to a specific tea ceremony or just happen to make tea at work regularly. Most that truly enjoy tea have their own method/ritual and preferences for brewing tea whether they realize it or not.

My “ritual” varies from tea to tea. I have a UtiliTEA hot water kettle from Adagio Tea (www.adagio.com), which lets you adjust the water depending on the type of tea you’re drinking (white & green tea are best brewed at a lower temperature than black or herbal teas). If I’m only making one cup, I’ll grab either a large filter sleeve or my IngenuiTEA filter pot (put it on top of a cup, and it filters down). I don’t like to use tea balls or infusers, because there’s not enough room for the tea leaves to expand.

If I’m making a whole pot of tea, I put a little hot water in the teapot, swish it around and dump it out before adding loose tea and boiling water. While it’s steeping, I rotate the pot clockwise three times and counterclockwise once (it makes the tea swirl around just enough). Only my iron teapot has a filter basket, so my ceramic pots I pour through a strainer (usually half a tea ball).

While I’m a tea snob who prefers loose teas to bagged tea, I don’t function before my first cup in the morning. I’m ashamed to say I usually just grab the nearest tea bag and flick on the kettle.

I take my black tea with milk, and very rarely add sugar (unless it’s a chai blend). When I drink green, white or herbal teas, I prefer a bit of honey. My current obsession is roiboos blends, so I’ll add milk, honey, and/or rum depending on what the flavour is.

tea time earl grey loose leaf

The Tea Spot Blue Sky Steeping Cup (8 oz) $13.28 The Steeping Cup is a 8 oz handcrafted ceramic vessel for brewing loose leaf teas. This 3-piece design (cup, infuser, and lid / saucer) allows you to steep loose teas as easy as tea bags. The large volume infuser allows ample room for tea to unfurl and release its flavor and aroma into the brew. The cup’s shape fits comfortably in your hands to warm them as you enjoy your cuppa. A perfect tea-for-…

Twinings Earl Grey Loose Tea Tin 200 Gram, Pack of 2 $21.93 Since 1706, Twinings of London has been masterfully blending teas to create a special moment with each cup of Earl Grey tea you brew. Twinings has been blending Earl Grey tea for years. A fine black tea, it is expertly blended with the citrus fruit flavor of bergamot, to deliver an uplifting tea with a unique floral aroma and refreshing taste. Each of the two tins contains 100 grams of loose tea….

Octavia Earl Grey Black Loose Tea (Certified Organic) $5.00 Octavia uses only the finest hand picked teas and ingredients to create the finest product available. The loose tea is cleverly packaged in a sturdy metal tin which keeps the tea safe from air and light. Earl Grey is a rich, full-bodied blend of black tea & Mediterranean bergamot. Our Grand Earl Grey is frequently complimented as the best Earl Grey available! This elegant blend was originally a gi…

Rishi Tea – Org Blk Tea Earl Grey Lavender, 2.9 oz loose leaf tea $9.99 …

Organic Imperial DECAF Earl Grey Tea 18 Bags $5.29 Introducing our new line of teas – Imperial Organic. What does imperial mean? It means royal quality of organic degree in teas available today. High quality tea leaves blended with sweet bergamot orange oil, Earl Grey tea is one of the oldest and most popular blends of tea. The original recipe was created in 1830 and named after the 2nd Earl Grey who was Prime Minister of England at that time. The…