A debate has been sparked over tea (stock photo) (Image: Getty)
The way you boil your water could make all the difference to your cup of tea.
It’s no secret that millions of us love a cup of , and we can get quite territorial over the brew. From what tea bags you use to when you put the milk in and how much milk you use, people have different definitions of the perfect cuppa.
One thing that people don’t often disagree on is the water. We all know that you have to use boiling water for a properly infused tea, and hasn’t been much else to debate when it comes to water – until now.
It turns out that people do actually have different methods of boiling water for their cups of tea. Of course, you can use an electric kettle or a stovetop one, but even the water itself is up for debate.
The little-known discrepancy revealed itself in a video shared by Caitlin Laoise, who asked an innocent question that turned into a huge debate – do you use water that’s in the kettle already, or do you tip it away and refill?
In her video, Caitlin said: “If you’re about to make a cup of tea and you’ve already got water in the kettle from a previous boil, do you reboil it or do you pour the water out, refill the kettle, and then stick it on for a boil? Let me know, I need to know.”
Most people had never considered the question before, and the British public is divided on what the correct answer should be. Many pointed out that tipping away water was a “waste,” and they didn’t see the point in getting rid of it when there’s nothing wrong with it.
One person said: “Reboil! Why waste water?”
[ADVICE] [TIP]
However, others argued that they always get rid of “old” water and refill the kettle. Some said they were worried about “bugs and dust” getting into their water, while others said it had to do with oxygen in the water that helps tea brew better.
Someone stated: “Definitely fresh water, not sure this is true but my dad told me that boiling water removes oxygen and the tea brews better with oxygen in the water.”
Another argued: “Fresh EVERY TIME has more oxygen in it and helps the tea infuse better. I take my tea seriously.”
How to make a perfect cup of tea
According to the , you should “always use freshly drawn water” when preparing tea. They claim that: “The hot water ‘energises’ the leaf and extracts all the character in the tea”.
What’s more, they state: “In order to draw the best flavour out of the tea, the water must contain oxygen; this is reduced if the water is boiled more than once and you waste energy! Only boil the amount you need.”
The experts also recommend using a water filter before filling your kettle, as living in an area with hard or soft water can affect the taste of the tea. You should aim for water that’s between 90 to 98oC for black tea and around 80oC for green tea.