How to Craft the Perfect Cup of Tea
With Henrietta Lovell, founder of Rare Tea Co.
Tea has long been an essential part of British life. True connoisseurs would say a good life is unthinkable without good tea: not just as a utilitarian, daily ‘cuppa’, but a truly exquisite and elegant pleasure.
Cue our Panama Tea Set.
Created in collaboration with Henrietta Lovell’s Rare Tea Co., this tea set has been crafted to be the tea-loving entertainer’s charming companion, ready to be rolled out to create the perfect brew or mix up a tea cocktail or two. Henrietta is the world’s leading creator of bespoke English tea blends. She works with only highly skilled, passionate artisans around the world who craft the most exceptional tea.
Bound in our signature Panama leather, this luxurious set comes complete with a teapot, teaspoons, strainer, bespoke bone china cups and saucers, our unique black tea blend and a set of corked glass bottles for your milk and honey (or a nip of something stronger).
Beautifully equipped? Check. Exquisite leaves? Check. Now, how does one make the most of them? Here, Henrietta shares her wisdom on how to craft a delicious cup of tea.
1
Allocate one heaped teaspoon of tea leaves per cup of tea. If you take your tea a little stronger, simply add more leaves rather than extending the infusion time. Over extraction will result in a bitter tea, rather than deepening the desired flavours.
2
Use boiling water if you enjoy your tea with milk. For more delicate and nuanced black tea, drop the temperature to around 85 degrees Celsius. Infuse for one, two or three minutes depending on your taste.
3
Make sure to strain all the water from the teapot into your cups. A further infusion of your lovely leaves will then be possible. If you leave water on the leaves to stew they will not be in a fit state to reveal more elegant flavours. Simply add fresh water when you are ready for your second cup.