How do you make YOUR perfect cuppa?

[OllieMartin]

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?

[TEB]

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

[Hilary B]

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......

[Hilary B]

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!

[Nicos]

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!!!)

[SarzWix]

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....

[OllieMartin]

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

[Hilary B]

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.....

[TEB]

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.

[pdblake]

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

[Nicos]

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

[SarzWix]

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...

[pipscariad]

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).

[danmon_81]

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!

[Pumpkin Becki]

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!!