Notes on tea, from Glasgow
Plain answers to the questions people ask us most. How to brew, how to store, what to buy and why.
Scottish Breakfast is stronger and maltier than English Breakfast, blended for soft Scottish water and a splash of milk. Here is what actually goes into each and which to pick.
Loose leaf tea has four enemies: air, light, heat and smells. Here is how to store it, how long each type keeps, and why the kitchen window is the worst spot in the house.
What is actually inside a tea bag, why loose leaf tastes different, what each costs per cup, and the honest case for keeping a box of bags in the cupboard too.
One heaped teaspoon per mug is the rule for most tea, with two for fluffy leaf like peppermint and white tea. Here are the amounts, water temperatures and times for every type.