A Perfect Cup of Tea

To ensure a great pot of tea, fill a kettle with fresh, cold water, and bring it to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, fill a teapot with hot water to warm it. (This will encourage the tea leaves to open properly). Empty the prewarmed teapot, add the tea bags, and pour in the boiling water. Don't brew the tea any longer than the recipe directs (about 3 to 5 minutes), or it will be bitter. After brewing, squeeze the tea bags gently--just enough to remove any excess water, but not enough to extract bitter tannins.

If you prefer to use loose tea, place one teaspoon of loose tea per six-ounce cup into a tea ball or infuser. When making six or more cups, add one extra teaspoon for the pot. If you do not have a tea ball or infuser, don't worry. Just use one of those marvelous little tea strainers when pouring your tea!