Though a simple enough task to make a cup of tea, there are many nuances to getting it right. For a classic British afternoon tea experience, we have all the tips and tricks you’ll need to get the most out of your tea drinking in our guide to the best English tea. This includes top tips like not using the water when it’s scalding hot, so you don’t burn the tea leaves and ruin the flavor. It’s also a good idea not to add too much milk to the tea. Though some tea drinkers do like their tea very white, the milk will mask a lot of the delicate flavor of the black tea. It’s worth noting too that English tea tends to be stronger in both flavor and caffeine than American tea, so won’t need steeping for as long as your usual American go-to.
Within the world of English tea, there’s an ongoing debate around whether or not you add the milk first. It really is up to you, but if you add the milk last this gives you more control over the final desired taste and flavor as you can more easily monitor the color of your brew.
You can vary the type of black tea used in your milk tea. Common varieties include English breakfast tea and Earl Grey tea, which has more floral notes. Either way, if you choose to use tea bags, make sure you don’t compress and squeeze them on the side of the mug to extract any more flavor, as this can add a bitter taste to the tea.
For the milk, this comes down to personal choice. It’s possible to make milk tea with either whole milk, semi-skimmed, or skimmed cow’s milk, depending on your flavor preferences and possible dietary requirements. Plant-based milk alternatives can also be used in tea and you can experiment with different types of milk alternatives from oat milk to almond milk, to see how this affects the flavor, and find your favorite type.
Many countries have a different answer to the question, “What is milk tea?" We’ve shared a classic British combination of black tea with milk above, but there are lots of different varieties across the world. Bubble tea is a form of milk tea, popularized in Taiwan, that’s now widely available. It features a mix of tea, milk, ice, and tapioca bubbles, and is often brightly colored in all sorts of shades. Masala chai, from India, and on-trend matcha lattes, are also other popular varieties of milk tea.
How to Serve it
A classic British afternoon tea is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. A treat-centered occasion, English tea is served in pots alongside finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and a selection of cakes. If you have a tiered cake stand available, this adds an extra layer of elegance to the afternoon. Take inspiration from English cuisine and try baking a classic Victoria sponge cake or introduce an American touch with a colorful red velvet cake.
For a daily serve, milk tea can be enjoyed as a warming breakfast drink alongside your favorite cereal, or in the afternoon with a helping of traditional English biscuits like rich tea biscuits.
Storage
When storing black tea, make sure it’s kept in a cool, dark place and ideally away from any odors and excess moisture. You should store black tea in an airtight container to prevent exposure to external factors which can affect the final flavor of your tea. Even sunlight can alter the flavor of the leaves, which is why it’s best to keep the tea in a cupboard or a dark place.
