Tea Making

[Wispy68]

What's better, putting the milk in the cup first, or last?

[William]

Milk last (if making the tea from scratch in the cup anyway). The tea won't brew as well if there's milk in with the bag (not as hot). Sugar will take longer to dissolve if added after milk. I believe that milk first is also frowned upon in terms of correct etiquette.

[mug of tea]

But then again, when you're brewing the tea in a teapot, it's certainly etiquette to put the milk in the cups first - ask any brownie guide... Saves on teaspoon cleaning too as the tea sorta stirs the milk as it goes in (technological answer)

[andy hughes]

You can't beat a good debate about an important issue! Etiquette aside, I think it's largely a matter or personal taste. I remember watching a college friend make tea by putting milk sugar and hot water into a mug, and dunking the teabag in afterwards, which looked revolting! He explained that this is the only easy way to guage the strength of the tea, and i enjoyed the taste so much, I have continued to use this method from that day to this - 30 years and counting.

[bimsey]

We own a cafe and at work the milk goes in last....but at home the milk goes in first...dont know why i do this strange isnt it,I suppose its my way of separating work from home.

[WendyW]

I think that the two different ways came from if you used china then the cups could stand to be filled with boiling tea but if you used pottery then the milk needed to go in first to avoid breaking the cups. Which way round you did it was supposed to indicate your class by showing if you were used to china or pottery.

[rekstout]

I find that adding milk to tea produces a nasty film of some sort on the surface. Adding tea to milk does not - usually - have the same effect. I was told this was because the milk scalded if added to the hot tea but I have also noticed that it happens more in hard water areas