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The addition of too much sugar too tea is a worldwide affliction and is probably done in England as much as anywhere else.
A huge mug of tea with next to no milk sat next to a really fatty fried breakfast is still a popular way to start the day in the UK. So even though the elements of Tea that are well known to improve health are there, they dont have a huge affect on the population as a whole.
I make tea in the mug. Has to be a big one too. PG Tips is the best Tea because its got a good all round taste, has a funny shaped bag which brews quickly so you dont have to risk the breakdown of the parts that make tea taste good into the parts that make tea taste overdone and nasty, which happens if you leave the bag in the water too long. (Stewing) and also PG tips is by far the cheapest of the popular brands.
So. PG Pyramid bag in big mug. Add the water straight from the boiling kettle until the water reaches 5mm from the top.
Leave it for at least 3 minutes and then stir and strain for a further 60 seconds. ONLY then do you put the milk or sugar in (if thats your bag)
The milk amount should be just enough so the meniscus doesnt look like water, but no more. You shouldnt actually have the taste of milk after finishing your mouthful. For that reason semi-skimmed (half fat) milk is probably the optimum type.
Tea such as PG shouldnt be drunk black. It is generally nothing more than a blend of tea dregs, the powder left over from the good stuff in bags that act as filters and doesnt really suit the addition of sugar and lemon.
If thats what you are after then the best bet is to take a tip from the real tea afficionados of this world, the southern and eastern asians where tea comes from and has been drunk since before the brits left the caves.
Treat yourself to a whole green tea, stewed for at least 5 minutes and strained to remove the leaves.
Now that is an aqquired taste for many but Lotus Green is a good start for steady Tea Drinkers who want to try the real stuff.
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