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How do you make YOUR perfect cuppa?

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  • How do you make YOUR perfect cuppa?

    As an English gardener I drink almost as much tea as an English Labourer, and I have MY way of making a cup.
    But whenever I make a brew for someone else, they always seem to question my methods. So, how do you brew yours?

    My method:
    Teabag in cup
    Splash of milk (most people question this at this stage, but this way I can fill it up without worrying if I've left enough room for milk at the end.)
    Hot water
    Squash teabag against side of mug with teaspoon
    Remove teabag with teaspoon and squish last drip of water out
    Add sugar now if required
    Stir
    Drink.

    Any complaints?
    Current Executive Board Members at Ollietopia Inc:
    Snadger - Director of Poetry
    RedThorn - Chief Interrobang Officer
    Pumpkin Becki - Head of Dremel Multi-Tool Sales & Marketing and Management Support
    Jeanied - Olliecentric Eulogy Minister
    piskieinboots - Ambassador of 2-word Media Reviews

    WikiGardener a subsidiary of Ollietopia Inc.

  • #2
    Yes , milk in first, I know the reason they didnt do this was because pouring hot water onto cold milk could shatter the fine bone china cup but I think the tea should brew in boiling hot water especially as I dont use bone china, I also dont like squashing the tea bag against the side
    Last edited by TEB; 08-07-2009, 09:42 AM.

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    • #3
      YES! putting the milk in at that stage interferes with the brewing process!
      The PERFECT cuppa is made the traditional way, in a nice tea pot.
      A perfectly satisfactory cuppa is made by putting the SUGAR in the mug with the teabag, letting it brew a while before removing, and squeezing, teabag (strength can be judged by the colour of the 'drips' when the bag is lifted) and adding the milk last. If you don't overfill (and to be on the safe side, underfill), you can always add extra hot water after adding the milk......
      Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by TEB View Post
        Yes , milk in first, I know the reason they didnt do this was because pouring hot water onto cold milk could shatter the fine bone china cup but I think the tea should brew in boiling hot water especially as I dont use bone china, I also dont like squashing the tea bag against the side

        I have a proper teabag squeezer!
        If I was drinking tea from a bone china cup, I would use a tea pot!
        Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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        • #5
          Using filtered water!!!!

          I put milk in at the end!

          Tea bags for me and OH...tea pot once we have visitors ( cups not big enough..I prefer a mug of tea!!!)
          Last edited by Nicos; 08-07-2009, 09:47 AM.
          "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

          Location....Normandy France

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          • #6
            No, no, no, no, nooooooo! milk goes in the cup first ONLY if the tea is being brewed in a tea-pot. If you put the milk in with the tea-bag before the boiling water, then you're cooling it before the tea brews, therefore ruining the tea. Tea-bag in cup, pour water on whilst still boiling, 2 minutes, take out the teabag, add milk. Simple!

            On the other hand, coffee should always have the milk (or cold water) added before the boiling water, or, the water should boil and then cool for a little while before pouring, because using too hot water makes it bitter. (Or so I've read). I don't drink coffee often but when i do i always put milk in first, much nicer.


            I have to disagree with Hilary too - you shouldn't put the sugar in until after the tea is brewed either, because the sugar dissolved in the water leaves less room for the tea to infiltrate the water as well. Especially if you're one of the heathens that puts more than one sugar in - the water ends up saturated with sugar and there really isn't room for the tea molecules as well....
            Last edited by SarzWix; 08-07-2009, 09:58 AM.

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            • #7
              Interesting that everyone is saying NO to the milk being in first on the grounds that it cools the water. However, from what I read you shouldn't make tea with boiling water anyway as it's too hot and damages the delicate flavour of the tea.

              Discuss
              Current Executive Board Members at Ollietopia Inc:
              Snadger - Director of Poetry
              RedThorn - Chief Interrobang Officer
              Pumpkin Becki - Head of Dremel Multi-Tool Sales & Marketing and Management Support
              Jeanied - Olliecentric Eulogy Minister
              piskieinboots - Ambassador of 2-word Media Reviews

              WikiGardener a subsidiary of Ollietopia Inc.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by SarzWix View Post
                No, no, no, no, nooooooo! milk goes in the cup first ONLY if the tea is being brewed in a tea-pot. If you put the milk in with the tea-bag before the boiling water, then you're cooling it before the tea brews, therefore ruining the tea. Tea-bag in cup, pour water on whilst still boiling, 2 minutes, take out the teabag, add milk. Simple!

                On the other hand, coffee should always have the milk (or cold water) added before the boiling water, or, the water should boil and then cool for a little while before pouring, because using too hot water makes it bitter. (Or so I've read). I don't drink coffee often but when i do i always put milk in first, much nicer.
                Instant coffee isn't 'good' enough for the touch of boiling water to do much harm, but I do prefer 'just off the boil' anyway.
                Adding milk first may create problems with dissolving granules.
                My favourite 'real' coffee is made espresso style (the one you put on the hotplate), so it is inevitably boiling hot, and tastes all right to me.

                My favourite way to make instant coffee is using hot milk anyway.....
                Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                • #9
                  If I had time I would subscribe to this method A Nice Cup of Tea by George Orwell however I dont agree with number 6 as thhe water should only be boiled once, reboiling can cause less oxygen in the water and doesnt allow proper infusion or so I have read.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by OllieMartin View Post

                    My method:
                    Teabag in cup
                    Splash of milk (most people question this at this stage, but this way I can fill it up without worrying if I've left enough room for milk at the end.)
                    Hot water
                    Squash teabag against side of mug with teaspoon
                    Remove teabag with teaspoon and squish last drip of water out
                    Add sugar now if required
                    Stir
                    Drink.
                    Exactly like that, but no sugar
                    Urban Escape Blog

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                    • #11
                      Apparently this is how you 'should' make a cuppa!!..

                      YouTube - Tea Making Tips (1941)

                      Darned tea chest does tend to get in the way somewhatharf harf
                      "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

                      Location....Normandy France

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by TEB View Post
                        If I had time I would subscribe to this method A Nice Cup of Tea by George Orwell however I dont agree with number 6 as thhe water should only be boiled once, reboiling can cause less oxygen in the water and doesnt allow proper infusion or so I have read.
                        That's brilliant! I've never seen that before, but of course he is absolutely spot on My OH takes the P out of me all the time for warming my mug up before I make tea, and always pouring the water in whilst it's still boiling And the sugar comments are spot on too...

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                        • #13
                          At the risk of sounding like a right tea snob , I'm into making mine with loose leaves at the moment, and it is much better! Warm the pot, then pour freshly boiled water over the tea and leave for a couple of mins, stir and strain tea into mug (milk in there waiting)....mmm, may have to go and make one now. I only drink Earl Grey, just don't like the taste of 'normal' tea - I know that adding milk to it is a bit 'infra-dig', but rules are there to be broken.

                          And I only drink fresh coffee too, really don't like instant.

                          All drunk with pinky in the air of course

                          (p.s. If I do use a teabag, I add the milk last. No sugar for me ta).
                          Life is brief and very fragile, do that which makes you happy.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by SarzWix View Post

                            On the other hand, coffee should always have the milk (or cold water) added before the boiling water, or, the water should boil and then cool for a little while before pouring, because using too hot water makes it bitter. (Or so I've read). I don't drink coffee often but when i do i always put milk in first, much nicer.

                            Defo....dont add boiling water...let it cool slightly...you brew will be much better.....
                            Im into Twinnings afternoon tea and Chai at the minte, as well as my Green Tea!
                            Last edited by SarzWix; 08-07-2009, 10:40 AM.
                            Impossible is not a fact its an opinion...
                            Impossible is not a decleration its a dare...
                            Impossible is potential......


                            www.danmonaghan.co.uk

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                            • #15
                              You've started something now Ollie.

                              My perfect cup:
                              Big Mug with bag in the bottom
                              Boiling water on top
                              Swish it round for a bit to required colour
                              Teabag out, lightly squishing on the side of mug
                              Topped up with milk
                              Slab of Victoria Sponge on the side!!

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