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The slow tea ritual: three brews for three moods

One teapot, three leaves, and a ten-minute pause that changed my afternoons. None of it needs special equipment.

1. Morning: a strong black teaBrew it for 4 minutes with water just off the boil. It's bold enough to take milk and gentler than a third coffee.
2. Afternoon: green, cooler waterLet the kettle rest 3 minutes (about 80°C) and brew for 2. Green tea goes bitter when the water is too hot.
3. Evening: something caffeine-freeChamomile or rooibos, steeped for 5 minutes. The ritual of pouring matters as much as the tea.