In the UK, if they ask you if you would like a 'cuppa', they are asking you if you would like a cup o' tea. The good kind. I know this, because after a recent visit to the UK I had the best cuppa. And I am not talking about a Timmie's Steeped Tea. Pa-lease. This is excellent tea. And I didn't have the best tea at one cute cafe in a country town, nor at Harrod's in London, no, I had the best cuppa EVERYWHERE. I guess everyone in the UK knows how to make a proper cup of tea.

So upon my return to my cold and snowy home in Alberta, I was on a mission to perfect the cuppa. Drinking tea will be very important in Vavenby since sitting on the back porch to listen to the birds will be a regular part of my morning routine. And so after a few attempts, I did it, I perfected the cuppa.

My friends, today is your lucky day. Today you will learn my secret. And don't be fooled in to thinking that Twinings knows how to make the perfect cup of tea, I mean who has time to worry about the oxygen levels in their water or over boiling. No, I am going to give you the secret of making the best cup of tea a la real world.

What you will need:

This beauty was from my friend. Tea taste better in a mug from a friend. She knows these are my fave.

Water
Tea pot
Loose black tea- preferrably English Breakfast, but any black tea will do. No bags, they don't cut it. And organic, but that goes without saying.
Tea cozy - I find cat tea cozies or artsie ones somehow make the tea taste better or maybe they just make the table look better.
Tea strainer - if your pot doesn't have one built in. To catch all the tea bits.
Cream - I prefer Avalon dairy, since it is organic and comes in a glass jar. And I do love my organic food. I mean, if I could milk that goat myself I would.
Honey - also local and organic is best. Word on the street is that eating local honey helps boost the ol' immune system come allergy season.*
A cup/mug - you definitely want to chose your favourite mug for this since you are about to make memories. My fave mugs are by Shannon Butler. out of Fort St John, BC.
Tea spoon - clean

And now that you have gathered all of the necessities, we shall start our perfect cuppa.

Step One

Boil water. I prefer filtered, but at this point you just need to fill up the kettle and flip that burner to max.

Everything you need to make the perfect cuppa. The mug in this pic was built by all my besties in our graduating year from high-school.

Step Two

Once the water has reached a screeching boil, fill your tea pot with the water. No tea at this point. Throw on the cozy, set your timer to five minutes, or just put a record on and dance to two songs.

Step Three

Put the water back in the kettle. Like I said, I am not too worried about over boiling my water, so pour it back in and boil that water.

Step Four

Now you can put the desired amount of tea in the pot. I actually read the package for this. I am sure there is a rule of thumb, but every tea company is different. Right now I am enjoying a Scottish Breakfast tea that I picked up on the trip. It is divine. If you can get your hands on Brodies 1867, Scottish Breakfast, you won't regret it. And no, it is not organic. This is an exception, not the rule.

Step Five

Once your kettle has reached its' second boil, fill up the ol' pot. Slap on the cozy. and wait about four or five minutes.

Step Six

Pour your bit of cream into your selected fave mug. Now pour your piping hot tea into the mug. Watch as the cream and fresh tea become friends. Now get that tea spoon into the honey and add it to your tea.

Step Seven

Enjoy.

I really can't wait until we live in Vavenby and we don't have to rush off to work each morning and we can enjoy our time and the view from the porch. I'll have my tea and Cam will have his coffee. He certainly has perfected that, but I'll let him post about that another day.

*Cam is obsessed with the honey he found in Vavenby and he bought four big jars when we were there. And no, I am not allowed to use them for baking; they are strictly for coffee and tea consumption.