How do you make your tea?

thorsoak

I once worked for a tea-trader, and although he hated the thought of teabags, preferring to blend tea for a pot, he said that to release the full flavours of the tea, one should always use freshly drawn water to fill the kettle, allow the kettle to come to the boil, warming the pot (if using a pot) or the mug, put in the tea (or teabag) and pour the freshly boiling water over said tea/teabag. Allow to brew for up to four minutes (depending upon the size of the pot/cup) then, if using a mug, add milk. Then take out teabag! If using cup, pour milk in first.

WantToBeSE

Milk first!

Beckyy

Not much of a tea drinker but:

Tea bag in
Water
Tea bag out
Milk in

vodkachick68

I also go against the grain and put the milk in first. I've always done it that way and always will. My boss at work always moans that I do it this way as she likes milk in after. She still says it's a lovely cuppa ;-)

SailorSam

Tea bag in the mug with about half a teaspoon of sugar, then once i've put the water in i'll top up with a little bit of milk.

iris

I always make our tea in a teapot. I warm the teapot first with hot water from kettle and pour away, then add 1 Yorkshire tea bag, followed by boiling water and leave for a few minutes. I put milk and/or sugar in either a cup/mug first and then pour on the tea.


This way is also money saving, because I only use 1 tea bag for two people;)

Mr_Toad

I'm a lifelong coffee addict, the proper stuff not instant but I do like the occasional cup of tea.

I always use a pot and I always put the milk in last.

As an aside I recently bought myself a techno teapot, one of those with a basket for the tea leaves so I've gone back to using proper tea rather than bags.

I have to say that the flavour of the various teas I've tried is by far so much better than the 'equivalent' tea bags.

There's no getting away from the convenience of tea bags but tea leaves are the way to go if you have the time.

onlyroz

My parents recently went on a trip to Sri Lanka and went round a tea factory. She said that the Sri Lankans could not understand the British obsession with tea-bags because they are basically full of the floor sweepings.

gadjah543

I think milk in first stems back to when people used china cups. If you pour boiling water into the cup first it cracks the glaze.

hgotsparkle

People always think my way is odd:
I put the sugar and tea bag in, let it steep for about a minute and then scoop up the teabag with the spoon, and with the teabag just above the water level, pour the milk onto the teabag, you can see the milk changing colour as it touches the teabag. My theory is, I'm infusing the milk with the taste of tea to make for a stronger cup.
No ones ever complained about the taste though, I'm usually requested for hot drink making over OH when we have people over.