Recipe: A Lovely Pot of Tea for Barbara, MS

I believe that Helen Watson is a well known and respected British cook and cookbook author, Barbara.

A LOVELY POT OF TEA
Source: Helen Watson

Whatever tea you use, the actual ceremony of making a pot of tea has to be carried out properly!

Tea leaves - 1 tsp per person plus 1 tsp for the pot, Boiling water, Sugar - to taste, Milk or lemon - to taste.

Fill the kettle with fresh cold water and bring it to the boil.

Meanwhile, swirl hot water around in the teapot (preferably china or earthenware). This warming ensures that the water will remain at boiling point when it hits the tea leaves.

Just before the kettle boils, empty the water out of the teapot and put in the tea leaves. Take the teapot to the kettle and fill it with the freshly boiled water.

Stir the tea briefly, then put the lid on the pot and leave the tea to brew for 3-6 minutes, depending on the size of the leaves (larger-leaved teas take longer).

Pour the tea through a strainer into the cup, and then add milk, sugar etc.

You can serve a second cup from the same pot of tea, but after 15 minutes a new pot must be made - the same procedure all over again - as the tea will not only have cooled, but will have become bitter with excess tannin.

Have ready slices of lemon for those who would prefer their tea weaker and without milk.