Time for Tea

[Francis]

I just drink loads of tea in every kind of mug - the bigger
the better. I always put milk in first and add lots of hot
water to make it nice and weak. Not too much milk though.

[Spitfire]

So, should we warm the mug, if making a cuppa in a mug with a tea bag?

Shouldn't think so. A mug of tea is one drink for one person, drunk instantly... a pot enables top-ups or second cups so warming the pot first just prevents the tea from cooling off so quickly whilst it is brewing.

I love tea, and the way its made definitely makes a difference to the taste. Personally I always add the milk last if I'm making tea directly in a mug, or first if I'm pouring it from a ready-brewed pot. However its made, the crucial thing is to let the tea brew for long enough and not add too much milk which kills the tea-taste. Ultimately though it's down to personal preference of course!!

I was always taught to warm the pot first too, Miss Pepper, and use the number of teabags for the amount of people drinking, and then an extra one for the pot... pour the water, stir once and leave to brew. And I think that tea always tastes better from bone china cups, though I have no idea why.

BTW, welcome to the forums!

[Lenoir]

I'm not sure why, but if you make it in a cup it tastes better from a flatter cup which has a bigger surface area and is more shallow than a tall cup or mug.
I've tested this at work where there is an assortment of cups/mugs. The tea on offer there is not the best quality so you have to try anything to get a decent cup.

I warm the cup first with some hot water from the urn, so the cup itself doesn't absorb a lot of the heat when the water is poured in and reduce the quality of the brew. On the other hand, Rooibos tea or herbal tea tastes ok to me no matter how it's made.

The tea on sale at the Day tasted fine. It was in a plastic cup (surface area not ideal!) and had probably been standing a while in the pot, but it was good. The caterers obviously know how to make a nice cup of tea.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I always buy Tetley. I have tried the decaff Tetley, but it's not really strong enough!

I never use a teapot either, just a bag in mug. Convenience really, why brew up in a pot when there's only two of you!

[dsr]

Our household tends to go for Yorkshire Tea. Though funnily enough, I've been through Yorkshire pleanty of times and haven't found the tea plantations yet!

My Dad used to have his own special pot which he never washed. He reckoned it improved the flavour.

[Icecream342]

sOme times tea stains the cup and ruins the taste of the cup/drink.

[Nick]

My latest purchase is a pack of Dilmah Breakfast Tea. Not quite as golden in colour as the M&S, a little lighter in flavour but refreshing none the less. M&S still my favourite.

[RunrigNutter]

I love tea; but have to be specific how I like it. You have to add the teabag in, pour cold milk on the teabag, and leaving enough room so you can see the teabag. Then pour the hot water on the tebag;; until it goes a lovely golden colour, remove the bag, stir and enjoy

[Icecream342]

I make tea: Get the cup, boil the kettle, put the tea bag in, pour the water in, stir, add the milk, take the tea bag out, enjoy!

[Francis]

And mine is milk first, 1 sugar next, hot water third, dip tea bag by hand 20
times last!

[Icecream342]

What you mean you go 1. in. 2. out. 3. in. 4. out?

[RunrigNutter]

Sometimes I find adding milk last, it makes the tea like cream. Hence why I add it first.

[Francis]

Icey
Sounds like the hokey-cokey in,out,in,out - shake it all about!

[RunrigNutter]

And turn it all around (stirring with the spoon)

Dunno why whenever I add milk last; the tea looks like cream

[Francis]

I find you can only control the amount of milk you use by putting it in first.