The delicate cup is an elderflower and pear White Tea, and white tea is about the easiest tea to ruin: boiling water and a long steep give you a bitter mess instead of the soft, lightly floral, lightly sweet cup it should be. Keep the water just below the boil and the steep short, and you have a lovely, faff-free cup.
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for the The Standard Delicate Cup recipe. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/white-tea/the-standard-delicate-cup/
It uses Good Earth Elderflower and Pear White Tea, a delicate white tea blend. One mug, three minutes.
You'll need
- 1 Good Earth Elderflower and Pear White Tea bag
- 250ml fresh water, boiled then cooled to about 75 to 80C
- No milk; white tea takes none
- A teaspoon of honey, optional, very lightly
Method
- Boil fresh water, then let it stand 2 to 3 minutes off the boil; white tea wants 75 to 80C and burns at full boil.
- Put the bag in the mug and pour the cooled water over.
- Steep 2 to 3 minutes only; longer makes white tea grassy and slightly bitter. The bag releases flavour quickly because the leaves are unrolled.
- Lift the bag out without squeezing, which would press out unwanted tannin.
- Drink as is to taste the elderflower and pear; if you want any sweetness, a tiny bit of honey is enough. Never add milk; it muddies a white tea completely.
Want the background, not just the brew?
Brewed with: Good Earth Elderflower and Pear White Tea, 15 Tea Bags 18g
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