You've been making tea wrong – expert shares unusual hack for perfect brew
Most people are quite particular about how they like their tea – some people like a very specific amount of sugar or milk, and others like their teabag to be in for a set amount of time.
With more than 100 million cups of tea consumed every day in the UK, it's not a surprise that many people take their own special serve and have particular brewing methods.
But one tea expert thinks we've all been doing it wrong, and has a very specific hack to make the perfect brew.
Jake McMullon, expert tea buyer and blender at Ringtons, has shared his trade secrets – including one that not many people are doing.
One of the lesser-known tips that Jake shared is covering your tea while it steeps.
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A professional tea taster has shared his unusual hack (stock photo) (Ringtons)The professional tea taster said: "This retains more of the heat and maintains a consistent temperature, which allows the tea leaves to unfurl and the flavours to be released."
In order to get even more flavour out of the tea, experts agree that you should gently stir your teabag during the steeping process.
When it comes to how long you should steep the teabag for, it depends on how strong you like your brew to be. For black tea, Jake recommends steeping for four minutes for the perfect beverage.
Some people might like to leave it in for longer, but Jake doesn't recommend leaving it in for too long as it can result in "unpleasant bitterness and astringency".
The temperature of your water will also make a huge difference to the tea. The optimal temperature for the perfect brew is usually between 95-98C, says the expert.
Everyone has their own way of drinking tea (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Milk is also quite a controversial topic with endless varying opinions on what type and how much is correct. According to Jake, both whole-fat and semi-skimmed milk are good options because they will add a "creamy note to your tea, making it smooth and rich".
He continued: "You may find that skimmed and low-fat offerings are too watery and don't give you the same silky-smooth texture. They're also unlikely to balance out any bitterness in the tannins.
"Black tea is typically stronger and bolder in flavour than its paler cousins and it stands up well to milk and sweeteners, making it the ideal choice for your morning cuppa."
If you drink non-dairy alternatives such as soya milk, you might find that your tea will split, so Jake recommends warming the milk beforehand so this doesn't happen.
The mug you use will also make a difference (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)While what's inside your cup is important, the type of vessel which you drink it from is also crucial, it turns out.
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Jake said: "Choosing the right type of mug to conduct heat and retain it effectively, whilst not affecting the taste is a key part of making a tasty cup of tea. Glass, china and porcelain are all smooth, non-porous and won’t affect the flavour of your brew.
"Thicker mugs will retain the heat for longer whereas thinner, more delicate cups will lose heat faster. Warming your mug to roughly the same temperature as the tea before using it will help your infusion along."
Jake has also settled the much-divisive "milk or tea first" debate. He said: "To get the best infusion possible, add your tea first, brew to your taste, then add the milk after.
This also means that you can better judge the strength of your tea, as milk will affect the colour and aroma.
Do you do any of these things? Let us know in the comments below.
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