According to a recent survey, many Brits have been making their cups of tea wrong, and as the average person drinks four cups a day – here’s how you make it ‘properly’
One thing we Brits know is a good cup of tea – but it seems many of us are still making them wrong. A good cuppa can solve pretty much anything, and with roughly 127 million consumed in a day, it’s clear it’s a national staple.
In data released by budget supermarket Aldi, nearly a quarter of people aren’t making them right, which is alarming as it works out that the average Brit is gulping down four cups of tea. More than half the nation (55%) also reportedly say they’d prefer a brew over a coffee.
Research commissioned by Aldi quizzed the nation to discover what makes the perfect cuppa, with 78% so passionate about the hot drink, that they give exact instructions when someone offers to make them a cup to make sure they get it right.
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What comes first the milk or the water?
It found that 67% of people believe English Breakfast is the go-to-brew, but alarmingly, a quarter have been making it “wrong” by adding the milk first while 78% add the water first before letting the bag stew for TWO minutes to achieve the ultimate shade – classic builders (toffee brown).
Half (49%) agree that a splash of semi-skimmed milk should then be added to help bring the temperature down to 57 degrees, which is considered the perfect drinking temperature.
Jo Bryant, etiquette consultant, said: “It’s clear that tea remains a very important part of our lives, with the average Brit consuming a staggering 1,460 cups a year, and each tea-drinker has their own particulars about how they have their tea.
“I’m with the majority as I love a cup of English Breakfast tea, freshly-brewed for around two minutes, with a moderate amount of milk – and it’s always tea first, milk last.”
Jo said it’s “good manners” to check how someone likes it when offering to make them one, and it’s not just about whether they take sugar or not. “It is better tea-making etiquette to also enquire about strength and any other preferences. Try to take the time to make perfect brews for friends, colleagues and family, and make sure you remember just how they like it for next time.”
More than four in five (85%) feel so strongly about ‘liquid gold’ that they admit that it is important to them that their partner and family know how they take their tea, which is lucky as partners (57%) and mums (28%) all seem to nail the perfect cuppa.
To combat being given a bad brew, Aldi has announced the launch of its NEW Smart Kettle and at just £29.99, it is set to solve the nation’s tea woes – available in stores from 13th July. The Smart Kettle costs just £29.99 and features smart app control over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, temperature display and an easy-to-use touch screen temperature control from 40 to100 degrees Celsius as well as a keep warm function.
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