<h3>The Perfect Cup of Tea</h3>

I've often heard it said that it's impossible to get a decent cup of tea outside of England. People who say that have never been to Japan. In fact, Japan is peppered with tiny tea and coffee shops serving not only premium grade teas, but in the finest imported bone china. Tea is served either by the pot or by the cup, and teabags are never used. For a single cup of tea, preparation is taken very seriously. First the water is brought to just under a boil. Then the teacup is warmed. Loose tea is measured into a strainer, and a small amount of the hot water is poured through it to remove tea dust, which is then discarded. Finally, the strainer is positioned over the teacup and the perfect temperature water is poured through the strainer into the warm cup, creating an instantly drinkable pristine and powerful cup of tea.