Never use boiling water to make a cup of tea, says expert

Mirror (U.K.) ^ | 27 SEP 2020 | Paige Holland

[nickcarraway]

Martin Isark, a professional food and drink taster has revealed the most common mistake we're all making when it comes to making a classic brew - and it's so easily fixed

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. If there's one thing Brits are passionate about, it's a cup of tea.

Although the amount of milk and sugar varies from person to person, we all tend to follow the same method, one which is explained by Yorkshire Tea, with boiling the water and prepping your mug with a tea bag being the first steps.

When the water is hot enough, pour it into your mug and wait patiently for it to brew - four to five minutes.

Gently squidge the tea bag against the side of the mug and add as much milk and sugar as you please.

But according to Martin Isark, a professional food and drink taster, we've all be doing it wrong - including the tea connoisseurs.

Martin says that you should never use boiling water to make a traditional brew because it will make it taste 'no better than cabbage water.'

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Gordon Ramsay slammed after furious diner's sticky toffee pudding comes with 'gravy' Instead, he says you should let the water cool down to 80 degrees.

He explained to Daily Mail that boiling water was originally used when it was necessary to make sue that the water was safe to drink.

[Secret Agent Man]

i’ve made tea with hot and cold water for decades

i can’t really say I notice a taste difference either way

but now i drink cold unsweetened tea , i let it sit in the fridge for hours to steep and get a nice flavor

[spokeshave]

A true friend will squeeze your teabag.

[hercuroc]

Lol

[lee martell]

Certain News Readers would agree with that statement.

[Viking2002]

I ain’t your friend. You deviated prevert. LOL!

[4everontheRight]

Bookmark

[llevrok]

From my Canadian mother-in-law -

Bring the kettle to a boil and take off the heat.
Use a earthenware British “brown betty”
Pour the boiling water in the Betty to warm it up for a few mins.
Empty the Betty.
Add loose tea or (gasp!) tea bags and refill.
Steep for 5-7 minutes.

The time it takes to warm the tea pot and then refill it allows the water to come down to about 180 degrees. Perfect tea steeping temp.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Sun tea.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The kettle should be just off the boil. Means that it should not be boiling but about 210 degrees. It should be poured over loose leaf tea in a warmed pot (glass, china or British Silver is acceptable). The tea should steep for no less then two minutes and no more then five.

Pour into your mug, add what you want and drink.

[heartwood]

I’ve just been dropping a teabag into a mug and nuking for 60-70 seconds. Tastes fine.

[Equine1952]

I like tea unsweetened and cold. I will brew it warm and let it cool in the fridge. I worked with the Brits for a while and told Ian the Americans fought for independence because the Brits didn’t use ice in their tea. Strong brown and British blend is my cup of tea. To hell with four o’clock, it’s 24/7 with me :)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

How do you keep the bag from catching on fire?

[Fungi]

Reminds me of an article in the LA Slime about “ knife cutting or hand breaking romaine leaves for a salad.” Yes that was really the gist of the article. Look it up on the LA Slime data base, it is there. I refuse to give a penny to this leftist piece of crap.

[llevrok]

I’m good with loose or bags (although I prefer loose teas). But you start putting in crap like herbaceous flowers and hints of patchouli and I’d rather cut to the chase and have a nice, cool gin and tonic !

[ChildOfThe60s]

A true friend will squeeze your teabag.

Sounds a little gay LOL

[mom.mom]

Oh for crying out loud.

[proud American in Canada]

I have heard that it’s better to rip the lettuce rather than cut it. FWIW, which is probably not much. LOL!

[KarlInOhio]

“No,” he said, “look, it’s very, very simple … all I want … is a cup of tea. You are going to make one for me. Keep quiet and listen.” And he sat. He told the Nutri-Matic about India, he told it about China, he told it about Ceylon. He told it about broad leaves drying in the sun. He told it about silver teapots. He told it about summer afternoons on the lawn. He told it about putting in the milk before the tea so it wouldn’t get scalded. He even told it (briefly) about the history of the East India Company.

“So that’s it, is it?” said the Nutri-Matic when he had finished.

“Yes,” said Arthur, “that is what I want.”

“You want the taste of dried leaves in boiled water?”

“Er, yes. With milk.”

“Squirted out of a cow?”

“Well, in a manner of speaking I suppose …”

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I visited a young Swiss lady acquaintance in Zermatt, Switzerland in 1977. We had dinner at her parent’s house and I still remember being called out on two big American faux pas:
1. Wearing a green paisley polyester shirt to dinner.
2. Cutting my salad lettuce to mouth-sized bites with a knife and fork. The polite Swiss thing was to push, fold, and shove the entire lettuce leaf into your mouth. No cutting allowed.