Their preference: Fill a kettle with fresh, cold water and boil it on the stove. Don't forget how long you've been steeping your tea. Put your tea in your cup, then pour boiling water on top. Steep for three-to-five minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
In general, the British custom is to pour milk in your cup first, then tea. Whereas, the European custom is to pour the hot tea in first, then milk.
The answer is that in the 17th and 18th centuries the china cups tea was served in were so delicate they would crack from the heat of the tea. Milk was added to cool the liquid and stop the cups from cracking. This is why, even today, many English people add milk to their cups BEFORE adding the tea!
Although typically served with milk, it is also common to drink certain varieties black or with lemon. Sugar is a popular addition to any variety. Everyday tea, such as English breakfast tea, served in a mug with milk and sugar is a popular combination.
But a closer look reveals the Welsh have a much sweeter tooth as 42% admit to having some sugar in their tea compared with just 30% of the English and 27% of Scots. Despite calls by the government and health bodies to cut down on sugar, only 9% of Brits take sweeteners in their tea.
In Britain, when hot tea and cold milk are drunk together, the drink is simply known as tea due to the vast majority of tea being consumed in such a way. The term milk tea is unused, although one may specify tea with milk if context requires it.
Clotted Cream, customary for afternoon tea (or cream tea) is a thick, unsweetened cream that comes from the best Devon cows served on English scones. Read on to find out about the making of the cream and the history behind this quintessential British pastime.
The amount of milk added to English tea is entirely up to personal preference. As a general rule, don't exceed a 80:20 ratio of tea to milk. Just a dash will usually do. People have different preferences for how they like their tea.
Additionally, milk or cream is added simply for taste. Tea, notoriously, embodies quite a bitter taste. This can be a result of over steeping but more frequently is product of picking a naturally bitter tea rich in tannins. Lactose in milk or creamer easily offsets the bitter taste and neutralizes the tannins.
Bring water to a rolling boil and immediately pour over your tea bag. Steep for a good 3 to 5 minutes. (Great taste can't be rushed—it really does take the full time to release the tea's entire flavor.) Remove the tea bag, relax and enjoy!
Squeezing Out Tea Bags
Because of the high levels of tannic acid in tea, you're actually making the tea more bitter. It's not only weakening the taste, but it's also wearing the strength of the tea bags itself. By squeezing it, you run the risk of tearing the bag and releasing some of the tea leaves into your cup.
You will notice that before taking a drink many Brits will clink their glass together and say 'cheers'.
By pouring tea into a saucer rather than a cup, it cooled more quickly and saved precious time. Saucers were also preferred by the labouring classes because they were perfect for balancing a biscuit on the corner.
It was Tetley in 1953 that drove the introduction of tea bags in Britain, but other companies soon caught up. In the early 1960s, tea bags made up less than 3 per cent of the British market, but this has been growing steadily ever since.
Q: HOW MANY OF CUPS OF TEA DO THE BRITISH DRINK EACH DAY? A: Approximately 100 million cups daily, which is almost 36 billion per year [Source: ITC].
Add the teabags and water to the pot. Use a tea cosy, if you have one. Steep the tea at least 5 minutes. Pour the tea and add milk and/or sugar if desired.
Yorkshire tea is often regarded as Britain's most popular tea type, and Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea is no exception.
Turns out, it's all to do with taxes. Tea was first brought to Britain in the early 17th century by the East India Company and was presented to King Charles II. His Portuguese wife, Princess Catherine of Braganza, set the trend in drinking tea, which then caught on among the aristocrats of the time.
Traditionally, Earl Grey tea is served with a slice of lemon and sugar to taste. According to YouGov, a massive 85% of British Earl Grey and English breakfast tea drinkers enjoy their tea with milk. In the US, they like to add milk and sugar to their Earl Grey tea.
The proof is in the numbers: the British drink 100 million cups of tea every day. That's almost 36 billion cups per year, divided amongst British men, women, and children (that's right, they start them young over there).
English breakfast tea is made from a blend of black teas. It tends to be stronger than other teas, like herbal teas and some green teas. Black tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Black tea has less caffeine than coffee, so many people drink it to stay healthier and improve their diet.
Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches (including of course thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches), scones served with clotted cream and preserves. Cakes and pastries are also served.