Happy National Tea Day! New research finds almost half of Brits NEVER add water in their brew first

Virgin Radio

21 Apr 2022, 11:03

Grab your favourite mug - it’s definitely time for another cuppa in celebration of National Tea Day!

It comes as no surprise that Brits can knock back a few cups of tea a day, but did you know that almost half of us are making our tea differently than the norm?

In new research by Coffee Friend, they asked 2001 people about their tea-drinking habits, and it turns out that bag-in-water-first technique isn’t always the way to go. 

The research showed that 41% of tea drinkers don’t start with water, and 21% opt for sugar, while 20% reach for the milk first.

Not everyone is consistent either as while 77% have a tried and tested way of concocting a brew, 13% don’t stick to the same method each time they make a cuppa. 

When it comes to how much tea we can sling back, the average person drinks around two-and-a-half cups a day, while 39% say they gulp down two or three mugs. 

15% of people go for five or more cups a day, while 16% skip the hot drink altogether. 

A spokesperson for Coffee Friend said in a statement: "With a nation known for its love of tea-drinking it’s no shock so many have a tried and tested method of making a brew. 

“However, many may be surprised to learn our research for National Tea Day found that 40% don’t pour the water in first, plumping for milk or sugar instead. 

“While there might be an ongoing debate on the ‘right’ way to make a cuppa, there’s certainly no doubt over the UK’s passion when it comes to tea.”

This research comes after scientists spilt the beans (or the tea leaves) on the ‘correct way’ to make the perfect cup of tea. 

According to Dr Andrew Stapley, a chemical engineer at Loughborough University, it is actually better to put the milk in first.

After conducting extensive research, Dr Stapley concluded there are a few benefits to making your tea with the milk before the water.

On top of that, apparently we should be pouring tea into the milk and not the other way around.

The research found that if you pour milk into a boiling hot cup of tea, the milk with heat unevenly, causing the proteins to ‘denature’, which causes all those floaty bits to appear on the surface of your brew.

So there you have it. The people, and the scientists have spoken!