Slam dunked

The fusion of tea and biscuits is a perfect one – like strawberries and cream or bubble and squeak. On 21 May we are able to celebrate both International Baking Day and International Tea Day. This means at V for Life we’ll be rustling up some delicious vegan biscuits and then brewing up the perfect cuppa to dunk them in.

Take the Biscuit

World Baking Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in May as the day for everyone to bake something. Perhaps you’re a person who bakes often, or someone who has never baked at all. If you’re the latter, it may be the perfect day for you to try something – as long as you follow the recipe then you can’t go wrong. Sweet, savoury, cake lover, bread addict, we urge you to try baking. Chances are you’ll love it, especially if there are baked goods you’re especially fond of – they will taste even better if you’ve made them yourself. Baking is also a great activity to do with residents, being tactile and with a tasty outcome to share.

Vegan baking is exciting and is even trending. It doesn’t mean compromising on taste or textures, rises or crispy crusts. Recently, we released our Vegan Baking Guide. This will provide inspiration and equip you with all the knowledge for successful egg and dairy replacements, and help you create an array of incredible bakes. Recipes include Victoria Sponge Cake, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Brownies, Savoury Muffins and many, many more. There is also a recipe for Lemon Shortbread Biscuits, the perfect vegan dunking biscuit. Download a copy here.

Time for Tea

Every biscuit deserves a brew. Do you love a good cup of tea? Whether we have it with milk, sugar, lemon or just plain, in Britain we certainly have a fondness for its flavour, drinking approximately 100 million cups every day! And it’s not just the traditional breakfast brew – there’s a whole rainbow of colourful cuppas available: herbal, fruity, flowery, ones to help you wake up and ones to sooth you to sleep. 

Although International Tea Day certainly involves paying homage to tea, it also acknowledges the workers within the industry. Working conditions in the tea industry still need much improvement. The best way to support this is by helping to raise awareness and also by making ethical and environmentally-conscious choices when shopping. Nowadays, most fairtrade brands, co-operatives, and companies that support women or refugees, are plastic-free or use unbleached bags. These brands are available at many supermarkets.

How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

Everyone likes their cuppa, their way – and this is ours!

Time and temperature: Whether you prefer your tea in a bag or loose, always start with fresh cold water. If you use a teapot, warm the inside first with hot water and then discard.

Using tea bags: Bring your water to a boil, pour it over the tea as soon as it reaches boiling. Over-boiling will cause oxygen to be reduced and result in the tea tasting flat. Use 1 tea bag per cup, steep the tea for 3-5 minutes.

Try not to judge the tea by its colour, as this comes more quickly. Flavour will take longer to develop.

Loose tea: Prepare by placing 1-2 teaspoons of loose tea into a tea strainer, put the strainer into your cup, then pour the freshly boiling water directly over the leaves. If using a teapot, measure 1-2 teaspoons per 240ml of water.

If you take your tea with milk, then simply finish your brew with your favourite vegan milk. We find barista milks work particularly well in tea as they are a bit thicker and creamier.

If you’re brewing up for someone else, take the time to find out how they take it. Even the type and texture of the cup or mug can make a difference. It can really show you care.