Instructions

1. Start at local tea houses and specialty tea stores to select the type and grade of English tea leaves, which will depend on your personal taste. It is best to buy organically grown tea leaves (most of the best quality teas are grown and imported from China or India).

2. Use distilled or purified water for making the tea. This will eliminate any chemicals or artificial tastes to the tea. Boil the water in a traditional copper kettle on a hot stove. If you do not have a copper kettle substitute with a stainless steel kettle.

3. Warm the teapot and the teacups before adding the boiled water and tea leaves in the teapot. This will help the infusion process and gives more flavor and aroma to the cup of tea.

   Traditionally, British people prefer to serve their tea in porcelain teapots and teacups. Fine china like Wedgwood and Royal Doulton are popular brands of tea sets that they use.

4. Leave the hot tea to brew for 5 minutes before serving in the teacups. Use a "tea cozy" or teapot warmer to help in the infusion process.

5. Pour a little fresh cream or milk into the pre-warmed teacups and serve the delicious hot tea using a tea strainer to strain out any loose leaves from the teapot.

6. Serve the tea with tasty finger foods like cucumber sandwiches, miniature pastries, fruit or any other healthy snack.