English-style tea: how to prepare it like across the Channel

In the UK, tea is drunk from morning till night: upon waking, at the 11 a.m. break, after lunch, at 5 p.m., and often before bed. A cuppa is a reflex, a way to welcome someone and recover from bad news. And contrary to what one might imagine in France, it's prepared simply, with strong black tea and milk.

A black tea, and a strong tea

The quintessential British cup of tea is a blend of black teas from Africa and India, designed to stand up to milk. This is what major brands found in every kitchen offer: Yorkshire Tea , PG tips , or Twinings ' English Breakfast . For those who prefer a richer tea, Twinings ' Yorkshire Gold or Assam go even further. And if you have hard water, Yorkshire Tea has you covered with a " For Hard Water" version.

The method

Boil the water, really boil it: black tea needs boiling water to release its full flavor. Pour it over the tea bag, directly into the cup or teapot. Let it steep for four to five minutes, without cutting it short: this is what gives the tea its color and strength. Remove the tea bag, then add milk until you get a caramel color, and sugar if you like.

Milk before or after?

This is the great national debate. Pouring milk into the cup first is an old habit, supposedly used to protect fragile porcelain from boiling water. In 1946, George Orwell, in his essay "A Nice Cup of Tea," argued the opposite: tea first, so the milk could be measured by eye. Today, with a tea bag in a cup, tea first is the norm: the milk would cool the water and prevent the tea from brewing properly.

Builder's tea and other expressions

A "builder's tea," the tea of construction workers, is a very strong tea, with milk and two sugars, served in a large mug. Having "white" tea means with milk, "black" without. And when someone suggests "shall I put the kettle on?", they're not just talking about heating water: it's an invitation to sit down and talk.

And with tea?

A biscuit, of course, and preferably one for dipping. Our little guide to English biscuits helps you choose between Digestive, Rich Tea, and Hobnob. For special occasions, afternoon tea includes sandwiches, scones and pastries.

All our teas are gathered in the Teas section.