Four tips to avoid a mediocre cup of tea

‘… a unit of time, a highly effective comfort blanket, a social glue, and a kind of magical fuel that in the morning helps bridge the gap between sleep-in-your-eyes muddle-headedness and wide awake getting on, then throughout the day provides restorative solace’.

– Victoria Moore, author of How to Drink.

Whether you’re seeking some timeout at home, a moment shared with friends, or simply craving your caffeine fix, there’s always time for tea.

A bad brew can break your day, so follow these tips from London’s Postcard Teas to brew the perfect loose-leaf cup.

1. Use a high quality leaf tea … and don’t forget the strainer.

Your cup of tea will release a much better flavour if the leaves have room to move around.

2. Water quality makes a huge difference.

Where possible use filtered tap water, (however readers in London will know that water quality does vary throughout the city). The best substitute for hard tap water is a good basic mineral water – it doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a supermarket brand will do the job.

3. Make sure you pay attention to the water temperature.

Water on a rolling boil doesn’t make a nice cup of tea. For black tea, water just off the boil is idea. When it comes to green, use water that’s a slightly lower temperature.

4. Taste your tea while you brew, and brew to taste.

Sip your tea as you brew it. If it needs to brew for longer, then let it.

What are your tips for avoiding a bad cuppa? Tell us in the comments below.