The Standard PG Tips Original Cup
The British everyday mug done right: fully boiled water, 3 to 4 minutes, milk last. Strong, malty and never bitter.
The PG Tips Original cup is the British everyday standard, and most people get it slightly wrong with under boiled water and too short a steep. Done properly it's brisk, malty and ready for milk. Fully boiled water, 3 to 4 minutes in the mug, then milk last: that really is the whole job.
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for the The Standard PG Tips Original Cup recipe. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/cocktails/the standard pg tips original cup/
It uses PG Tips Original English Breakfast, a brisk everyday Black Tea. One mug, the foundation cup.
You'll need
- 1 PG Tips Original tea bag
- 250ml freshly drawn water, brought to a full rolling boil
- A splash of cold milk, to taste
- Sugar or honey, optional
Method
- Fill the kettle with fresh cold water and boil it fully. Black tea needs 100C; reboiled or under boiled water gives a flat mug.
- Put the bag in the mug and pour the boiling water straight onto it so it agitates the leaves.
- Steep 3 minutes for a standard cup, up to 4 for builders strength. Past 4 the tannin makes it bitter.
- Lift the bag out and press it gently against the side once, no more, then discard it.
- Add the milk after the bag is out so the brew stays hot enough to extract; cold milk too early stalls the steep.
- Sweeten if you like, stir, and drink while it is properly hot.
Want the background, not just the brew?
Brewed with: PG Tips Original English Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 232g
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