Life & Style

How to make the perfect cup of tea

THE average Irish adult has four cups of tea per day, which puts the country in running for being one of the top tea-drinking nations in the world - alongside Turkey and Morroco and just ahead of Mauritania and Britain.

And now researchers at University College London (UCL) have claimed to have found the secret to the perfect cuppa - claiming one of the crucial aspects is to allow the tea to brew for five minutes to allow complex flavours to emerge.

Tea was first introduced to Ireland in the 19th century by the Anglo-Irish aristocracy who imported it from India. But the beverage soon spread to every part of society, and the cup of tea has been a feature of Irish life ever since.

So you’d assume, over the last few centuries, we might have discovered how to make the perfect cuppa, be it Lyons or Barry’s - the two most popular blends in Ireland.

But not so says Malcolm Ferris-Lay, ambassador for national children's charity Dream Tea, and also a tea consultant and expert who travels the world lecturing on tea.

Mr Ferris-Lay has also advised The Royal Collection, the Director General of the Indian Tea Board and afternoon tea venues across the world such as The Ritz, The Dorchester and The Savoy.

“We’re always in a rush and the average person leaves their tea to brew for just 30 seconds,which is not long enough and one of the main problems in tea making," he said, in support of UCL's latest research. "Something else that is important is to always use freshly boiled water, a warmed pot and good quality tea.”

Mr Ferris-Lay will be putting his expertise to use during Dream Tea’s annual fundraising campaign from June 15-21.

The charity hopes that people nationwide will take time out to out with friends, family and colleagues over cake and a cuppa, whilst raising money to bring joy to children and young people with serious and life-limiting conditions.