It’s all about the Tea Bag
I am starting my shiny new blog with a subject very close to my heart. How to make a decent brew. Now I know that there are loads of websites covering this subject, so I am not going to give a blow by blow account on how to make a cuppa, however I am going to tell you how I think you should do it, in one easy step..’
Tea bag, milk and then hot water. In that order.
Anyone who gives you the ‘put the milk in last rubbish’ doesn’t live in a hard water area. Tea bag and then hot water before milk means you’ll end up with a scum topped brew and a stained cup.
Regardless of if you like your tea bag in, don’t put the hot water and then squeeze the living crap out of the bag. Please for the love of god let it brew for a minute.
While I am on the subject and feeling slightly riled about shoddy tea making, why do hotels always have those crappy English breakfast tea bags? I bet the hotel staff have a stash of PG Tips or Tetley out the back, I think next time I’ll ask for one of those.
I am not even going to go there with people who ruin their tea and put sugar in it!
What a load of crap. Loving the blog and all that and it is indeed an excellent topic for discussion. That said, everyone knows the correct order for making tea and it is:
Tea bag, hot water, then milk.
Check out the British Tea Council for full instructions on this. The reason is that if you put the milk in first, the temperature of the water is compromised meaning the tea doesn’t brew properly. This is why you have to leave the tea bag in for age’s lankygit.
If you made the tea properly, you’d find that the tea brewed in mere seconds, and then you can add milk and stir up for your perfect colour combination.
I know you like tea bagging lankygit but really – my mug is definitely not the place for it.
I’m with the less skinny bloke. Tea bag, water, leave for 5 minutes, remove, then loads of milk! Oh and two sugars please. British Standard Tea I believe.
Damn right! Nice one Clarkson…
Speed is of the essence, because if you leave the teabag in too long, you’ll end up tasting the bag! Teabag goes in first, pour boiling hot water slowly over the bag so that the tea leaves can circulate, then give the bag a gentle stir followed by a good squeeze against the side of the mug (yes, a MUG, not a cup!) before removing it, then add just a splash of milk to end up with a deep golden-brown brew.
Chris – 5 minutes? Bloody hell, it’d be as dark as coffee! I’m a two minute man
Also, completely agree about not squeezing the bag as it makes the brew just too damn bitter.
And quality of bag is key. Mother buys that cheap rubbish, there’s nowt wrong with a good ‘ole cuppa Tetley!
That’s why its a nightmare consulting – you go into offices and people just make hideous brews. I’m going to have to build a brew clause into my consultancy contracts.
Good to see someone covering the important issues at last, even if you have got it totally wrong – it’s tea bag, water (very hot, but not boiling), leave for 2 minutes, add milk to colour. Add kit-kat (or similar chocolatey device) from fridge and relax.
Tea – you should try being over here – Orlando- and try getting a decent cup of tea, it’s downright impossible. Mind you had fabulous fish and chips yesterday ( I know, you can take the girl out of Leeds …..)
To be perfectly honest, as long as someone makes the tea for me in the first place, I will take it any way that pleases the maker!
>> British Standard Tea
NATO Standard Tea, actually
Your other options are limited to Tea, Whoopie, and Tea, Julie (if you haven’t already got it, that translates to tea, black, nun, and tea, white, nun, respectively…)
The best way to make a fantastic cuppa is to do it the old way! First, buy some quality dried tea leaves, put into a china teapot. And freshly boiled mineral or filtered water. Leave to stew for approximately 10 minutes, with the teapot covered with a cosy. Next get your china cup or mug and place your tea strainer over the cup and pour the fresh … Read moretea into the cup via the strainer. Add milk and sugar if required and enjoy!
Teabag, 1 sugar then boiling water, leave for a minute, squeeze and add milk – perfec. I’m sure my Mrs makes me horrible ones on purpose but hers are never half as good as mine, its getting to the point that i’d rather make them myself! Dont even start me on my Dad – he makes 2 with one T bag to save money – i’ve told him that they are only 1p each but he still does it!
Such an insightlful post, im a beer man myself:
Step 1). Obtain can from fridge by either bribing wife / girlfriend or training your dog to get it for you.
Step 2). Crack open the can (pull the ringy thing).
Step 3). Drink
Now they are helpful instructions!
I’m a weirdo when it comes to tea. I basically show the hot water and sugar a tea bag, then pour in loads of milk…
Then you have to consider the correct biscuit for the type of tea…
Hannah
After lots attempts to make a cup of tea the way you do, I have finally cracked it! And i must say it was a bloody good one!
Thanks Chris
Lindsay x
Sorry Chris, have to agree with the good ol’ British ‘bag, water, milk’ affair.
The flavour never seems to come out right when I put the milk in first. Perhaps I’m doing something wrong?
The way I like tea to be made is …
by a member of staff!
I’m also a fan of Paul’s method with the beer!
Not that I want to drag this out any more, but -
PG Tips Morecambe and Wise Tribute Video http://www.pgtips.co.uk/
Check out how Johnny and Monkey make the tea!
Tetley’s website on the perfect cuppa –
“Also, despite a common misconception which dates back to when we all used tea leaves brewed in pots, milk should be added after the tea bag has brewed, otherwise it will lower the temperature from the optimum level and affect the brewing process.”
http://www.tetley.co.uk/Why-tea-is-great/Perfect-cuppa/How-to-make-it
I am still convinced that I am right on the tea making process and that article on the Tetley website was obviously written by the bloody PG Tips monkey!
Hi there just looked at your carpentry very nice, cant wait to see the finished product with the trains and sceanery. By the way on makeing a great cup of tea and i say great cos theres nothing better or more thirst quenching than it and should be drunk at least 10 to 15 cups-no mugs a day,(thats if you can). I like to put the hot water in first then only P,G, TIPS (the pyramid ones) let stand for 3min 8sec pull it out then milk-not to much, and thats perfect for me. I havent had any complants from frinds only that its the best cup of tea thay have had so thats got to be good yea. ps suger spoils it and the water in south wales is very good too.
Sorry, but if you put milk before the hot water, it cools the water in the cup and it won’t brew properly. Tea bag, hot water, brew THEN add milk. That’s how it’s done.