how to: make a great pot of tea

I recently learned a few tips from a Canadian who often prepares high tea for guests at a Shakespeare festival:

1. Boil the water

Don't just get it hot. Boil it. Electric kettles work fine, with the added benefit of shutting off at just the right temperature. Microwaving is not recommended. When I'm at home, I personally prefer the old whistling-type stovetop kettle, but when I'm working at a theatre, an electric kettle is really the only choice.

2. Heat the teapot

If the pot is cold, it'll cool the boiling water too quickly and won't let the leaves steep properly. To heat the pot, either stick it in an oven at low heat or (if you're away from an oven) fill the teapot with very hot water. I find it handy to boil some water, pour it in the teapot, and let it set for a minute or so. Then bring the water in the kettle back to a boil (it won't take long becuase it's already hot) as you empty the pot and add the leaves.

3. Add the water to the tea

And not the other way around. The water should be boiling as it touches the tea. After adding the water, put the lid on the pot.

4. Let it steep

You don't have to touch it. Don't swirl it, dunk it, or shake it. Just let the water and the tea do its magical thing for 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like it. Any less, and it's not tea. Any more, and you've got a bitter mess. When the time's up, open the lid and discard the teabags. Consider using a tea cozy if you're not going to drink it too quickly.

5. Enjoy

Pour and add your sugar and milk or lemon, if you like. If you're going to add milk, make sure you put it in the cup before you pour the tea. There's actual science behind this: it has to do with letting the milk cool the tea, instead of the tea scalding the milk. If you're going to add lemon, don't add milk. Rememeber that one time at the bar when your friends ordered you a cement mixer? That's why.

Will knowing how to prepare tea make you a better actor? Probably not. But it will make you a better person.* There's also the cool factor, and the chance that someone might make some scones for you. And the street cred. The sweet, sweet, streed cred.
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*Not true.