Tea is the perfect winter warmer, the go-to daily refreshment for 84% of UK consumers.
The British population imbibes a whopping 100 million cups a day, but is it being brewed correctly? There’s much more to it than dunking a teabag into a mug of boiling water.
In order to get the most of your tea leaves, there are a few golden rules to follow. For operators in particular, it’s an opportunity to create a bit of theatre and differentiate your tea offering.
Our hot beverages category manager, Sarah Eastman, says: “Brewed correctly, tea can be a truly joyous occasion but not everyone is aware of the correct methods and requirements. These methods change depending on the type of tea you are brewing, so it’s important to get the basics right.
"The best temperature at which hot tea should be drunk is around 65°C".
| Type of tea | Water temperature | Brewing times |
| White tea | 70-80°C | 2-3 minutes |
| Green tea | 70-80°C | 2-3 minutes |
| Oolong tea | 80-90°C | 2-3 minutes |
| Black tea | 95-100°C | 3-5 minutes |
| Infusions | 95-100°C | 3-5 minutes |
Here, the experts at the Dilmah School of Tea share their tips for the perfect brew:
