How do you make the perfect cup of English tea? Almost everyone, including the tea companies, has an opinion. Now, the producers of Typhoo offer some advice.
For those unfamiliar, Typhoo is a brand of tea produced in England and popular throughout the world. Typhoo primarily makes the black variety which is available in regular and decaf.
Just a few simple steps stand between you and the perfect cup.
First and foremost, use fresh water every time you put the kettle on and boil it only once. Tea needs oxygen from water to get its full flavor. If you boil the water again, all the oxygen is removed from the water and the result will be a flat taste. Black varieties, like Typhoo, need the water to be boiling.
Bring out your Typhoo, regular or decaf, whichever you prefer. Put your bag loose or in the cup and then pour in freshly boiled water. Following this order will allow it to infuse and result in a better drink. Remove bag or loose.
How long to steep? Typhoo recommends 3 minutes. The amount of time depends on how you like it. One difference between English and Irish teas is the steeping. Irish produce is best soaked for 3-5 minutes.
Now, depending on preference, use milk or sugar.
Do you use a kettle? Then, tweak the addresses a bit. Put some boiling water in the kettle to warm it up and then pour it out.
How much tea should you use in a teapot? For bags, every 4 cups requires 2 bags. With loose, 1 teaspoon is required for each cup and 1 extra for the teapot. Soak times remain the same.
If you want to follow these instructions, first make sure you get the original article. Look for authentic Typhoo, made in England. All Typhoo products are sealed in a foil packet and then packed in the distinctive red box, except for the decaf which comes in a white box. The bags are round in shape and filled with leaves. It is available in a variety of bagged and loose sizes.
If you go shopping, here’s a tip. Since you don’t know how often stores sell the tea, look for freshness. All Typhoo products have an expiration date on the box. Make sure you get an expiration date at least a few months in the future. If you are buying online, make sure the date is provided.
With a long history and global availability, Typhoo is one of the world’s great brands. It was started in 1903 by John Sumner of Birmingham, England. He joined the family grocery business and ran it successfully for many years. Sumner started the tea business after his sister, who had indigestion, felt better after drinking tea.
Sumner marketed it under a brand name, Typhoo Tipps, instead of selling it loose in grocery stores. It was the first tea sold under a brand name. The word Tipps was actually misspelled due to a misprint, but it stuck for years.
With high customer loyalty, the brand grew rapidly, even though it was more expensive. Customers believed that Typhoo aided digestion. Sumner used many methods to promote the brand, including, in 1906, the sale of Typhoo-branded teapots. He also inserted picture cards into each package. Even today, these cards are collectible.