TEA! In the UK a cup of tea is regarded as the panacea of all ills and the saviour of the soul - the first thing British peope do when confronted with any kind of upset or problem which requires sorting out, or when any kind of issue has just been sorted out, or when coming indoors again after doing whatever it is you've done in the great outdoors - or whatever else that has occupied you at any given time of the day (or night - tea doesn't recognise time) is to switch on the kettle. The kettle is one of the most vital of accoutrements in the British kitchen - it is sacrosanct.
Of course there are people who'd rather reach for the brandy or gin or voddie bottle in times of upset or distress but that's a different story altogether..here we are concerned only about Britain's national drink, and, most important of all, how to properly make a cup of tea - or mug in the case of most people.
For speed and convenience most peope use teabags...only a few people bother with loose tea - for instance, one of my grannies still does, bless her - for her tea making is a formal ritual carried out with care and precision, and her bloody kettle always seems to be on the boil. It's a wonder she didn't die from tannin poisoning years ago.
Loose tea and teapots are all so time consuming (and for most people time is precious) and it's always a wee bit of a problem disposing of the soggy mess of wet tealeaves from the teapot afterwards. Most Brits have a proper teapot but they seem to be just for decorative purposes - standing quietly in some corner of the kitchen, acting solely as some kind of symbol of calmness and consolation in a world of confusion and disarray, and ever ready to be used in the event of some change of heart in the art of British teamaking by the official teamaker in the household - which pretty much includes everyone.
It's all quite simple really -
1 Empty any remaining water out of the kettle and then replace with cold, fresh water. Switch on.
2 Take out your fave mug - I have a whole range of them - most with slogans or logos of various kinds. Warm the mug with previously boiled water.
3 When kettle is close to boiling empty mug of water and chuck in a tea bag. Then wait for kettle to boil completely and it switches itself off.
4 Immediately - stress - immediately! - pour in boiling water into mug, up to about 3/4 of capacity.
5 Slosh around in the mug with a tea spoon until the required strength has been achieved.
6 It is then up to you whether you fish out the soggy teabag before you add milk or afterwards (assuming you take milk, as most peope do - my grandad has his black - no milk - but he always was weird). Milk beforehand is easier because then you an see from the colour of the brew whether or not it is strong, or weak, enough. I like strong tea - if the spoon can stand upright on its own in it then it's just right.
7 Add required amount of sugar or sweetener.
8 Stir well
9 Chuck disgusting soggy teabag in the waste unit.
10 Sit down and enjoy the steaming brew along with some tasty Scottish shortbread and watch Scotland hammer the hell our of England down at Twickenham. If you don't like tea then a can will do just fine.
This bloke has the right idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSF6MHsEJZ4&feature=related
PS: I actually prefer coffee but don't tell anyone.......and the Queen prefers Earl Grey apparently - and drinks Malvern water. Aaw..bless her!