People have been left gobsmacked by the state of a cup of tea served in a US café (stock) (Image: Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography via Getty Images)
Brits have been left aghast after seeing the one foodie was served in , with some even declaring that “it should be illegal.”
Us Brits are renowned for our passion for tea, having honed the art of making the drink over countless cups. With over 100million mugs of tea consumed daily in the UK, it’s no wonder we take our brews seriously.
So it’s no wonder Sophie, an English woman who grew up in China, was appalled at the cuppa she saw during a recent visit to New York with her uncle. He ordered an English breakfast tea, but what arrived was far from what they expected.
A video shared by showed Sophie’s uncle trying to stir his teabag in an exceedingly milky cup of tea, suggesting the milk had been added first.
Viewers were shocked at what the café had served. Yorkshire Tea responded to the video, exclaiming: “What fresh hell is this?!”
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“This can’t be legal,” quipped Lidl’s social media page. One viewer remarked: “I’d never be rude to a service worker but that would seriously test me.”
“As a British person, I just had an aneurysm,” another commented. Someone else noted that it “looks like chicken soup”.
Another simply asked: “What on earth is that?” “This has really upset me,” said another tea enthusiast. “That ain’t English tea, that’s warm milk,” another chimed in.
Another agreed, stating: “That’s milk with a side of tea.”
Jake McMullon, an expert tea buyer and blender at Ringtons, believes many people overlook a crucial step when brewing their cuppa. Jake, who is well-versed in the art of tea-making, previously shared his secrets for achieving the perfect brew. One lesser-known tip he offered was to cover your tea as it steeps.
The seasoned tea taster elaborated: “This retains more of the heat and maintains a consistent temperature, which allows the tea leaves to unfurl and the flavours to be released.”
To extract even more flavour from your brew, experts agree that gently stirring your teabag during steeping can be beneficial.
As for the optimal steeping duration, it largely depends on personal preference for tea strength. For black tea, Jake suggests a four-minute steep for the ideal cup.
While some may prefer a longer steep, Jake cautions against over-steeping, as it can lead to “unpleasant bitterness and astringency”. He also noted that thicker mugs better retain heat and firmly advocated for adding water before milk.
Do you agree? Comment below.