How do you make the perfect cup of tea?

I suspect "perfect" is in the eye of the beholder. lol. Me, I heat up water in the microwave in a Pyrex measuring cup, then pour it into my mug that has the tea bag in it. Let it sit there until I remember about it. Add some sugar, and then probably reheat it in the microwave. lol. My very proper British grandmother is most likely spinning in her grave. 

I am going to go with perfect being in the eye of the beholder!

I use a quart jar, fill 1/3 with water, microwave for 1 minute, drop in a lipton's tea bag. Forget I put the tea bag in, take the bag out when I remember it. Add some sweetener, a few drops of mint extract, add water to about 3/4th full, add ice and drink it.

So I'll preface this by saying I only drink tea and have become quite picky about the teas I purchase. My husband calls me a tea snob (but he's a coffee snob so we are even). First, I only buy from a local tea company called The Tea Spot which is based out here near Boulder. I ONLY buy loose leaf tea as most bagged tea contains plastic and I find that loose leaf provides a better taste profile since they tend to be whole leaves compared to broken leaves in bags.

I make hot tea every morning and during the summer months I'll typically make cold-brew tea. I heat my filtered water on the stove in a kettle. For black teas, I steep at boiling temp for 3-5 min. Greens or whites I will bring to boil, let the water stand for 3 min to cool slightly then steep for 2-3 min MAX (otherwise they get bitter). My goal is to get the tea pot that you can program to bring the water to the ideal temp based on leaf type eventually, but I'm also okay without the extra appliance for now.

Happy to give some recommendations of my favorite teas from the Tea Spot!!

Edited to add: I add nothing to my tea. I like it plain and unsweetened. However, the Earl of Gray from the Tea Spot is my absolute fav Earl Grey and they do add some citrus rind and vanilla to the dried leaves so it imparts that flavor in the tea. 

I LOVE cinnamon anything. Just ordered some of this tea.

I ask DH to make one for me.

He's the tea maker here----he loves the whole ceremony of boiling the water, warming the cups and the teapot, measuring out the tea, timing the steeping, and so forth. It makes him happy. And then I enjoy having some time together while we drink it.

He prefers loose leaf, since it adds to the whole experience, but we also buy tea bags of either Twinings or Newman's Own black teas. And I keep some Stash brand bags of flavored teas around.

Neither of us add anything at all to our teas.

Always whole leaf tea. I carry it with me when I travel so as not to get stuck with a cheap tea bag full of powder.

At home, where I have more control over the process, the temperature of the water and the brewing time are dependent on the variety of tea or herbal infusion.

Otherwise, for black teas, water boiled and left to cool for about a minute, poured over leaves in cup (using an infuser or a pyramid tea bag). I time the brew for about four minutes, sometimes five. Tea left to brew too long gets bitter and nasty tasting. Remove infuser or bag, add a splash of milk sometimes, and let cool another few minutes before drinking.

I only drink herbal tea occasionally so I don’t own a tea kettle, I just use my microwave to heat the water in a mug then add my tea bag and a tiny bit of sugar or honey.

This cinnamon tea is a favourite of mine and my ds, Santa brought some for his stocking!

I am boring. I drink Tetley tea black with no sugar. I also like to drink Yogi perfect energy vanilla tea. However I have to cut back on caffeine so I’ll be drinking decaf Tetley and herbal tea here on out.

My electric kettle has different temps on it, I use the highest temp for my tea. I don’t add anything to it so it’s easy.

That’s how I make too.

My favorite for the winter is Celestial Seasoning Cranberry Vanilla Wonderland. 

Boil water in an electric kettle. In the morning I make a pot of tea, so I pour the water into a pottery teapot I have. I might use teabags or loose leaf tea. I used to use honey and milk in my tea but now I drink it black. I like Harney & Sons hot cinnamon tea. I like chai and mint also.

    

This is probably the most unsettling thread I have read here for a long time.  

I drink Harney’s Ceylon & India orange pekoe. I boil the water in my electric kettle and steep for 5 minutes. I then add a little bit of milk (lactose free skim). During the day at school I bring my Hydroflask full of Hot Cinnamon Spice. That is just boiled water and the tea sachet. I leave the sachet in the whole time I drink it. I find it doesn’t taste bitter and I’m not good at getting the lid off the cup without spilling or burning myself.