TEA-ING OFF

MUST HAVES TO MAKE GOOD LEAF TEA

BOROSILICATE CARAFE WITH TEA INFUSER

This helps boil as well as brew the tea. It also saves the tea from the residual smells of chai in the saucepan.

A TEA TIMER

An absolute essential if you want to get the best and consistent tea taste. The first flush needs to be brewed for 4-5 minutes. Any less and it will taste like wasted money. Any more and it will become too astringent and bitter. You can also use a stopwatch but the sand-timers are best since they are visually more prominent and calming (plus the effect on the visitors is priceless).

A GOOD TEA CUP Even if you have the most expensive stoneware cup, it is not the right one for a good first flush. Marvelling at the colour of the tea is part of the tea experience, which is best in white porcelain or a transparent glass cup.