Make a Brewth in a Mug
To make a delicious Brewth in a mug, you'll need the following ingredients:
-
A good mug.
Nothing ornamental or decorative – you're going for a no-frills, sturdy
receptacle which retains heat.
-
A sensible tea bag.
Leave your fancy tea elsewhere, the Brewth is made with “normal”
tea. Use the Greasy-Spoon Test: If you wouldn't find it in a greasy-spoon café,
you wouldn't find it in a Brewth.
-
Milk.
That's cow's milk; soya milk is only acceptable if you have a lactose
intolerance.
-
Sugar (optional).
White or brown is fine. This should also pass the Greasy-Spoon Test, so that's a
big no to both Muscovado and low-fat artificial sweeteners.
-
Water (and a kettle to boil it with).
Don't forget to descale your kettle!
Instructions
- Empty your kettle of any water, even if it only boiled a couple of minutes ago – never re-boil. Fill the kettle with freshly drawn water and begin to boil.
- Optionally warm your mug with a swill of hot water.
- Place the tea bag in your mug, along with your sugar and a splash of milk. Don't over-milk your tea, half-an-inch in a regular mug should do it.
- Once the kettle has boiled, leave it until the water has settled and then pour into your mug (you know it's ready when the kettle gives off an audible sigh). You should pour the stream of water through the tea bag at this point. Resist the urge to stir.
-
After about two minutes, give the Brewth a gentle stir. Now take a spoon and
repeatedly dunk the bag into the brewing tea; it helps to use the side of the spoon
to allow hot water to flow through the leaves in the bag. As Phil says:
I'd emphasise gentle at this stage. we're looking to circulate and percolate without any agitate.
- After 30 seconds to a minute of dunking, leave the Brewth for the rest of the four minutes.
- Give the Brewth a final stir and squeeze the bag against the side of the mug to reduce the amount of liquid lost. Dispose of the tea bag.
- Before serving, give the Brewth a final Whirlpool Stir: Twist the spoon quickly around the edge of the mug until a vortex appears in the center. Don't worry if you spill a little, but you get kudos if you reach the lip of the mug without spilling.
- Sit down and take a moment to appreciate the aroma of your Brewth. Enjoy.
A sensible leaf tea.
A tea-pot (and strainer).