How to use the online timer
Stay beside the pot while your strong tea brews for two minutes and fourteen seconds, keeping an eye on the colour rather than starting another job. This short pause suits a brisk morning cup before the train or a quick tea break when you cannot wander far. Have the mug and milk ready so the leaves are not left steeping after the alert.
As the tea darkens, the timer tab may slip behind a message, recipe or news page on your phone. The countdown should continue while the tab is in the background, although some browsers may delay its sound when battery-saving settings are active. Remaining nearby means you can glance back at the tab if the expected alert does not arrive.
When another person wants the same strong brew, empty the pot, warm it again with a little hot water and use fresh leaves before repeating the countdown. Starting again with spent leaves gives a flatter second cup, while leaving the first batch in the pot makes it increasingly bitter. Reset only after the fresh water reaches the leaves, so the repeated interval measures the actual steep rather than the time spent preparing the pot.
Common questions
Should this brewing time change if the strong tea is made in a large pot?
A larger pot does not automatically need longer if the ratio of tea to water stays similar. Add a little time only when the first pour looks noticeably pale, and taste before extending the steep further.
What if the tea becomes strong before this brewing time has finished?
Pour it as soon as the colour and strength suit you; there is no need to wait for the alert. Hard-water areas in Britain can affect how quickly the brew looks dark, so taste is a more useful check than colour alone.
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