1. The ‘Perfect’ Cup of Tea
John Sutherland
sneeu.com
BarCampBrighton 2007

2. Overview
• Introduction: myself & tea
• Ingredients
• Method
• Finish-up

3. Introduction

4. Who?
• John Sutherland
• john@sneeu.com
• sneeu.com

5. Explain
• Edinburgh
• Web-developer
• Why tea?
• Now

6. Authority
• “The best cup of tea in The Highlands”

7. History
• 1000s BC: Magic & myth in China
• 1660: King Charles II
• 1750: National drink
• 1775: Tea taxes, American War of
Independence
• 1840: Afternoon tea
• 1894: First tea-shop

8. Global
• Tea available everywhere
• Only in Britain do we make good tea

9. Why?
• We make good tea
• We could make great tea

10. Ingredients

11. Cup
• Good size
• No flowers
• Good handle
• Ergonomic design
• Maintains heat

12. Cup
• Good size
• No flowers
• Good handle
• Ergonomic design
• Maintains heat

13. My favourite mug

14. Pot
• Good
• Brew tea, add milk
• More tea
• Share with friends
• Three types

15. Type 1
• Loose leaves
• Sieve to catch before pouring into cup

16. Type 2
• Holds loose tea
• No need to sieve
• Press tea to avoid stewing

17. Tea-press

18. Type 3
• Hot water
• Tea bag
• Metal pot
• Marginally better than no pot

19. Preparation
• Warm the pot:
• Swill hot water around; or
• Microwave hot water in pot

20. Tea
• Brought up on Tetley
• Early grey: British, flowery
• Fruit tea: hangovers (along with jelly)

21. Bags
• Great for making a single cup of tea
• Great for lazy people

22. Brew, Don’t Stew
• 3-5 minutes
• Less: watery tea, or worse: milky-water
• More: bitter & grey tasting

23. Colour
• Think red
• Opaque is bad
• Greyscale: somehting went wrong

24. Water
• Fresh water is essential
• Soft-water
• Boiling (not boiled and definitely not re-
boiled)
• Infusion, not wet leaves
• Go to the kettle

25. Milk
• Fresh is best, of course
• Semi-skimmed: a personal preference
• Full-fat: also acceptable
• Skimmed: no
• UHT: no!

26. Adding Milk
• Before
• Doesn’t scald
• Tastes “better”
• Takes time to master
• After
• Easier to vary colour

27. Sugar
• Sugar: fuck off
• You’re not tasting the tea
• A challenge
• Make sure it’s stirred in if you must

28. Accompaniments
• Biscuits
• Fry-up
• Friends

29. Method
(We’re almost done)

30. Cup
• Bag in
• Boiling water in
• Brew: 3-5 minutes
• Milk in
• Squeeze bag against side, remove & bin
• Stir

31. Pot
• •
Get friends Press tea
• •
Warm pot Pour through sieve onto
milk
• Add leaves
• Enjoy
• Boiling water in
• Brew 3-5 minutes
• Milk in favourite mugs

32. That’s it
Go forth and make great tea

33. Thanks!
http://sneeu.com/