Introduction: The name English Breakfast evolved for hearty, "morning cuppa" dark black teas that were suitable for brewing with milk. English tea lovers have given this flavor profile tremendous popularity in the last 40-50 years. Typically, the blend has included a mix of Chinese, Sri lankan and Indian black teas. Most tea merchants offer their own version of this blend. Ours includes a Chinese black, and offers a hearty morning brew.
Brewing Suggestions
For brewing black teas, we recommend using higher temperature water, close to or just before boiling (190 - 200 F), with a proportion of one teaspoon of leaf per 8oz of water. Some recommend water at a full, rolling boil, but in our opinion boiling reduces the oxygen content in good water and gives the tea a “flatter” taste as opposed to a more “lively” taste from slightly cooler water. Steeping time can vary depending on whether you wish to drink with milk (or non-dairy equivalent) or without. To drink without milk, 3 ½ to 4 ½ minutes is plenty of time to bring out a well balanced sweetness and astringency. With milk, a slightly longer time is required, 5 to 6 minutes, to acquire enough astringency to balance the milk.
