The only correct way to make a cup of tea according to the experts

Virgin Radio

14 Apr 2022, 09:56

We all have our way of making the best brew, but apparently, there is a scientifically correct way to make the perfect cup of tea, and most of us have been doing it all wrong.

Most of us can probably agree that, when making a cuppa, we put the tea bag in first, then the water for it to brew and then the tea.

However, according to Dr Andrew Stapley, a chemical engineer at Loughborough University, it is actually better to put the milk in first.

Yes, we were shocked too.

After conducting extensive research, Dr Stapley concluded there are a few benefits to making your tea with the milk before the water.

On top of that, apparently we should be pouring tea into the milk and not the other way around.

The research found that if you pour milk into a boiling hot cup of tea, the milk with heat unevenly, causing the proteins to ‘denature’, which causes all those floaty bits to appear on the surface of your brew.

It can also cause the milk to its flavour during the process.

If you live in an area where there is hard water, pouring milk into the mug first can also help because the proteins in the milk will lower the mineral content of your water and bring back some flavour that is lost by putting the water in first.

According to Dr Stapley, this is the scientifically tested method you should follow for the perfect cuppa:

1. Use Assam tea
2. Use a clean, warm china or earthenware pot
3. Add one spoonful of tea (or tea bag) per cup
4. Use freshly drawn water, boiled once only to retain as much oxygen as possible to bind with tea polyphenols
5. Avoid hard water (calcium ions) to prevent tea “scum”
6. Best flavour is achieved using a high temperature, but short time infusion
7. Stir the teapot
8. Leave to brew for 3 minutes
9. Add the tea to the milk – rather than the other way around
10. Add sugar if you like but only use white sugar and not too much
11. Drink tea at 60-65°C

So, there you have it- how to make the perfect cup of tea, as proven by science.