Indulge in an English institution

With Christmas fast approaching, there’s no better way to stave off the cold than with a warming cup of tea. Well-versed in the art of a good brew are British tea experts Fortnum & Mason, thanks to the three centuries of practice under their belt – serving twelve British monarchs along the way, even creating its famous Royal Blend for King Edward VII in 1902.

From October 17 until Christmas Day at Lane Crawford’s ifc store, you can follow in royal footsteps as Fortnum & Mason hosts a Blend Your Own Tea counter at Lane Crawford’s ifc store. “Sitting down with a cup of tea is the ultimate ‘me’ time,” says Fortnum’s resident tea expert Angela Pryce. The Fortnum’s counter will allow you to take that ‘you’ time to the next level: you’ll be able to decide exactly how to blend your tea, and then decorate it with the flower petals of your choice. You can even blend two or three types to drink at different times of the day, or else create a personalised gift for a tea-loving friend.

Before you blend and brew though, it’s good to get know more about where your chosen tea comes from and what characteristics make it unique. Like wine, single-origin tea has its own terroir. “All tea comes from the same plant but the flavour is determined by the conditions in which it’s grown, from tropical-climate Assam, which is strong and full-bodied, to high-altitude, cool-climate varieties that are more delicate and flavourful,” explains Pryce.

Any seasoned tea drinker will tell you that there’s an art to brewing the perfect cup. “Choose whole-leaf tea for the best flavour”, Pryce says, “then use freshly boiled water for black teas and cooler water for green teas – here, you can either use a temperature-controlled kettle or leave your boiling water to cool for five to ten minutes before pouring. Then, allow time to brew, between three and five minutes depending on your preference.” And while there’s nothing wrong with a cosy mug of tea, if you want to take the taste up a notch, Pryce suggests that you invest in quality porcelain with a translucency and fine edging.

Loyal coffee drinkers might find it difficult to forego their trusted brew in favour of tea, but there are many wonderful teas that make great coffee alternatives. “Dark Rock Oolongs such as Da Hong Pao from the Wuyi Mountains of China, have wonderful complexity and depth,” Pryce shares. At Lane Crawford’s ifc event, Fortnum & Mason’s tea experts will be on hand to help you blend something a little stronger. “You can blend rich flavours with a full-bodied strong Assam tea base. Something like our spiced tea blended with Assam would work well: strong, warm and spicy, and perfect served with a dash of milk,” Pryce suggests.

Once you’ve concocted your perfect cuppa, it’s time to think about a tasty bite to accompany it. And you’re in luck – Fortnum & Mason will also be serving a range of speciality biscuits to enhance the flavours of your blend. Brew-tiful, darling!