Hot Tea with Sweetener and Milk or Lemon

Introduction

Pre-warming the teapot and leaving the tea undisturbed during infusion gives you a cleaner cup with less bitterness. This 1-liter batch makes 4 servings and works for breakfast, an afternoon pot, or a simple base for milk tea or lemon tea.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 32 fl oz (1 L) hot water
• 3-5 measures of loose tea leaves or 3-5 tea bags
• Sweetener, such as sugar or honey, to taste
• Milk or lemon juice to taste

Instructions

1. Pour freshly-drawn water into a tea kettle, and heat it to your desired temperature. An electric kettle is fast and convenient.
2. Pour some hot tap water into your teapot and let stand for about several seconds to a minute to pre-warm it. Alternately, you can swish some of the hotter boiling water from your kettle around in the teapot for a few seconds. Pour out this water before adding the tea to the teapot.
3. If using loose tea, place it into an infuser, then into the teapot. If using teabags, place them into the teapot.
4. When the water reaches the preferred temperature, pour it from the tea kettle into the teapot. As you pour, try to avoid pouring directly onto the tea (especially important for green and white teas) to avoid scalding the leaves.
5. Allow the tea to infuse quietly (i.e. do not stir the teapot or “dunk the teabag”). Agitating the tea releases more of the bitter compounds and degrades the taste. Watch the time to avoid over-infusion, and remove the infuser or tea bag when the time is up.
6. Pour tea into your cup(s). Add sweetener and milk or lemon to taste.

Variations

• Use black tea leaves or bags for a stronger brew that holds up well to milk.
• Use green tea leaves or bags and a lower water temperature in step 1 for a lighter, more delicate cup.
• Choose honey instead of sugar for a softer sweetness that pairs well with lemon juice.
• Add milk for a rounder, fuller finish, or use lemon juice for a brighter, sharper cup.

Tips for Success

• Pre-warm the teapot in step 2 so the brewing water does not lose heat too quickly.
• In step 4, pour the water beside the tea instead of directly onto it, especially if you are using green or white tea.
• Remove the infuser or tea bag as soon as the flavor tastes balanced, because the tea keeps extracting in the hot pot.
• Add sweetener and milk or lemon after pouring into cups so you can adjust each serving separately.

Storage and Reheating

Store brewed tea in a covered glass jar or pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days. It keeps best without milk or lemon already added, so add those when serving if you plan to store leftovers.

Freezing is not recommended because the flavor turns flat after thawing.

FAQ

Can you use tea bags instead of loose tea?

Yes. Use 3 to 5 tea bags, depending on how strong you want the pot.

How long should you steep the tea?

It depends on the type: black tea usually takes 3 to 5 minutes, green tea 2 to 3 minutes, white tea 2 to 4 minutes, and herbal tea 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the tea when it tastes full but not harsh.

Can you add both milk and lemon juice?

It is better to choose one. Lemon juice can cause milk to split.

Can you sweeten the whole pot instead of each cup?