A tea shop has shared its tips for making the perfect brew ahead of offering a free cup to Sussex residents.

Bird and Blend, a tea company with stores in Brighton and Worthing, are offering a cup of one of their blends to commemorate the day on April 21.

Now, ahead of the big day, the company has shared some top tips to get the best tea every time.

Krisi Smith, co-founder and chief tea mixologist at Bird and Blend, said: “When using whole tea leaves and not tea dust, your cuppa will taste better & also give you all the proper benefits from the tea.

“At a molecular level, the type of cup or teapot – be that porcelain, China or clay – or the size of your mug will change the taste and experience of your tea. Some larger mugs allow more space for the tea to brew and therefore oxygen to further the flavour and aroma development.

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“Whether your favourite mug is a bone China heirloom, a gift with the words ‘Best Mum’ or the humble tea-stained mug in everybody’s cupboard, the cup you choose is an essential part of making the perfect cup of tea.”

“If you want that perfect brew, you need to get out of the habit of re-boiling your water. Instead, use a mug to measure out exactly the amount of water you’ll need and boil the kettle with freshly drawn, cold water.”

Krisi also added that while classic breakfast teas should be heated to boiling, other green teas should sit slightly below at around 80 degrees. The best advice was to check the brewing instructions to see how best to enjoy your tea.

To claim the free cuppa, customers simply need to head into one of the company’s shops for “elvenses” on the day.

Customers can enjoy one of over 100 teas on the day including Chocolate Digestives, Blue Raspberry and Whisktea, a whiskey flavoured brew.

The deal is available on Friday April 21, from 11am to 12pm at stores including in Kings Road and Gardner Street in Brighton and Woods Way in Worthing.