Celebrate National Tea Day with a perfectly brewed cup

National Tea Day hits the UK on 21st April and we feel this is an event not to be missed. Rightly acknowledged in the spring, this is the perfect time to experiment with new tastes and aromas when it comes to the nation’s favourite drink.

So whether it’s black, green, fruity or herbal you enjoy, this blog will walk you through how to choose and brew the perfect cup of tea. Choosing loose tea instead of tea bags also provides a fuller and fresher taste. However, if you opt for a teabag make sure it's a high-quality one from a specialist tea retailer as you can really taste the difference!

First of all, it’s worth mentioning the Bosch Sky Kettle which has earned itself quite the reputation among tea connoisseurs. With a Temperature Control function, this kettle allows you to adjust the temperature of the water depending on the delicacy of the leaves you’re brewing, or the depth of flavour you prefer. Because it really is quite the art, perfecting the ultimate cup of tea.

Here is a quick step by step for brewing the perfect cup of Whittard of Chelsea loose tea:

The higher the levels of oxygen in the water, the cleaner and brighter the taste of your tea, so always use freshly drawn water from the tap or the filter.

Now you can rely on your Sky Kettle to adapt the temperature to suit the tea. Flavours like Pu-erh and Oolong can tolerate freshly boiled water, but for purer teas like white or yellow, opt for a temperature closer to 80°C.

A quick tip to remember: use one teaspoon (around 2g) per cup of tea, or two per cup if you’re brewing white tea, yellow tea or a fruit and herbal infusion.

Make sure to brew for the optimal amount of time depending on your tea type. This helps with infusion as more robust teas (like most black teas) will require about 3-5 minutes, compared to more delicate flavours such as white tea and green tea only need about 2-3 minutes.

Whittard of Chelsea developed a great system which comes up with recommendations for their customers based on their preferred teas. For example:

If you like... Early Grey
You might like... Orange Blossom

If you like... Peppermint tea
You might like... Marrakech Mint

If you like... Jasmine
You might like... Cherry Blossom

If you like... English Breakfast
You might like... Tippy Assam or Chelsea Breakfast

But you might also like to pair your tea with your favourite foods. Here are some great pairings to suit the aromas of the most popular tea choices:

White tea
Pairs well with... cucumber, mild cheese

Green tea
Pairs well with... chicken, fish, sushi

Black tea
Pairs well with... lasagne, red meat, dark chocolate

Oolong
Pairs well with... lobster, duck, smoked salmon

It’s worth exploring some new flavours and opening your palette to new aromas and scents. There is so much more to tea, and with an array of variations and leaves, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your senses.

So relax this National Tea Day with a perfectly brewed tea; in one of your favourite aromas, and enjoy all that this warming and traditional treat has to offer.

Explore the full Whittard of Chelsea tea range here.