Tea making

joselo2
joselo2 Posts: 461
in Food and Nutrition
Hello,
This is mainly for Brits because we have strong feelings about tea, but other people can join in too if they have a view!

OK, when making tea (as in a cup of normal tea) MILK first or WATER first?? and WHY?? I know this can be a very devisive issue!!
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Replies

  • jameseylefebure
    jameseylefebure Posts: 234 Member
    I usually put milk in second because I think it changes the taste and makes a weaker cup of tea if its got milk in first. :)
  • bhankiii
    bhankiii Posts: 217 Member
    Milk first. What you're trying to do is keep the milk from being scalded by the water.
  • Jenky85
    Jenky85 Posts: 190 Member
    I dont drink tea myself but never understand putting milk in first unless you've made a pot of tea and so it's been allowed to brew before hitting the milk.
  • EpitomeOfSxy
    EpitomeOfSxy Posts: 157 Member
    I drink tea daily even though I am not British. I put the milk in second, I usually just steep a cup so if I put milk first if I didn't steep the tea long enough then my tea is weak. I also steep the bag so long that it isn't boiling when I add the milk.
  • joselo2
    joselo2 Posts: 461
    I think milk first because else you get a greasy film on top (but this might only be in soft water areas, not sure)
    I am a recent convert after years of going water first. I did wonder if it would brew properly but I've found it actually does.

    BUT I do see the brewing without the milk argument. I suppose this is why teapots, best of both worlds!
    xx
  • rich6819
    rich6819 Posts: 1 Member
    Hbizzy is correct in my opinion. If it's in a mug; MIS, if it's from the teapot; MIF.
  • hdlb
    hdlb Posts: 333 Member
    I drink tea every day, but I have never added milk to mine. When I make it for the kids, milk goes in second.
  • RAF_Guy
    RAF_Guy Posts: 230 Member
    Always water first. To properly infuse the tea the water needs to be as close to 100 C as possible, if you add the milk first this immediately reduces the temperature of the water, stopping the infusion. This is why you can not get a good cup of tea anywhere that is at altitude as water boils at a lower temperature the higher you go. If you are making a pot of tea, you should always warm the pot first to stop the dramatic drop in temperature when you had the boiling water to the cold pottery.
  • susannahsutton1
    susannahsutton1 Posts: 372
    Hbizzy is correct in my opinion. If it's in a mug; MIS, if it's from the teapot; MIF.

    ^^^THIS^^^
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    Regular tea: Boil a mug of water (add sugar if you like), when the water is violently boiling, add 1/2 tea spoon of black tea. Boil it more for about 2-3 minutes. Now when you pour it in a cup, you can use 1 tbsp of powdered milk if you like. Or some evaporated milk. If you prefer regular moo-cow milk, I would suggest using it while boiling (around the time you add sugar). This way you can limit your use of milk rather than eliminating it completely

    doodh patti: boil a mug of milk, when the water is boiling violently, put half a tea spoon of black tea in it with sugar (if you like). Wait about 2 minuets

    ilaichi chai: start boiling a mug of water, add some milk into it (as much as you prefer) with 2 pods of cardamom. As soon as it starts boiling, add 1/2 tsp of black tea with sugar. Boil for 2 more minutes,

    If you take away the cardamom from the above ilaichi chai then that is regular indian chai. If you make that 1 tsp of black tea in it then it is tadak chai. If you add Jaggery in the start of boiling process in any of those chais then it becomes "gur chai" (or "gud chai")

    This is how we make it in Pakistan and many areas of India.

    Hope this helps you a bit. Good luck.

    PS. This is a copy/paste. I know a bit off-topic but this gave the recipes and how my people add milk too
  • shanmackie
    shanmackie Posts: 194 Member
    I don't put milk in my tea anymore but when I did, I added it after it was already brewed in the water.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    I'm American but I do have a strong opinon about this :flowerforyou:
    I think water first because you need the heat for a good strong steep. Then milk (for me vegan milk) Cheers!
  • benmarcum
    benmarcum Posts: 132 Member
    Always water first. To properly infuse the tea the water needs to be as close to 100 C as possible, if you add the milk first this immediately reduces the temperature of the water, stopping the infusion. This is why you can not get a good cup of tea anywhere that is at altitude as water boils at a lower temperature the higher you go. If you are making a pot of tea, you should always warm the pot first to stop the dramatic drop in temperature when you had the boiling water to the cold pottery.

    Yup.
  • our_ayley
    our_ayley Posts: 66 Member
    Water first to brew the tea. Then milk to add flavour. Water has to be boiling for the leaves in a teabag to properly brew.
  • KeithChanning
    KeithChanning Posts: 202 Member
    Always water first. To properly infuse the tea the water needs to be as close to 100 C as possible, if you add the milk first this immediately reduces the temperature of the water, stopping the infusion. This is why you can not get a good cup of tea anywhere that is at altitude as water boils at a lower temperature the higher you go. If you are making a pot of tea, you should always warm the pot first to stop the dramatic drop in temperature when you had the boiling water to the cold pottery.
    This, if you are using tea bags. If making tea with leaves in a teapot, milk first.
  • WrenStory
    WrenStory Posts: 103
    Bump

    American here. Curious about trying out milk in tea.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I need a Brit to teach me how to make proper tea.

    I have tried putting milk in tea and it just doesn't work out right. I put it in my chai (as a latte -- and water first, steep, then milk), but in any other tea, it just doesn't seem to taste right. I know I'm missing something ...
  • ashleyhacker
    ashleyhacker Posts: 48
    I only use milk if I am making boba tea.
    Otherwise its just straight boiling/simmering water with a tea bag and some honey.
    I'm American, of British descent, living with Chinese man and he taught me the Asian love of tea.
  • DoomCakes
    DoomCakes Posts: 806 Member
    I would think water first then milk, just for the steeping. However, I never tried to brew it with the milk in it already. I can't wait to go get a tea pot, then I can steep it apart! I really want to get a tea ball though, and brew from my own tea leaves. :)
  • RAF_Guy
    RAF_Guy Posts: 230 Member
    Bump

    American here. Curious about trying out milk in tea.

    It only works really with a breakfast blend, not too great with green tea or earl grey
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    I make teabag tea in the mug, so of course I add water first. If the milk went in first the water wouldn't be sufficiently near boiling to properly steep the tea.
  • RAF_Guy
    RAF_Guy Posts: 230 Member
    I need a Brit to teach me how to make proper tea.

    I have tried putting milk in tea and it just doesn't work out right. I put it in my chai (as a latte -- and water first, steep, then milk), but in any other tea, it just doesn't seem to taste right. I know I'm missing something ...

    Probably the blend, you need a nice breakfast blend such a Twinnings

    With tradiitonal Chai Tea they heat the milk, water, tea and spices together for many hours over a medium heat
  • jenihullett
    jenihullett Posts: 241 Member
    I drink tea daily even though I am not British. I put the milk in second, I usually just steep a cup so if I put milk first if I didn't steep the tea long enough then my tea is weak. I also steep the bag so long that it isn't boiling when I add the milk.

    I do the exact same thing.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I need a Brit to teach me how to make proper tea.

    I have tried putting milk in tea and it just doesn't work out right. I put it in my chai (as a latte -- and water first, steep, then milk), but in any other tea, it just doesn't seem to taste right. I know I'm missing something ...

    Probably the blend, you need a nice breakfast blend such a Twinnings

    So, just the English breakfast tea, then? I don't know if I ever tried putting milk in that. I have some at home, but I don't know what brand. We have Twinnings here, though. Maybe I'll try this weekend.

    Is it just a splash of milk? My chais are a cup of water and a cup of milk with some honey, but it seems like that would be too much milk for other teas.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    I dont drink tea myself but never understand putting milk in first unless you've made a pot of tea and so it's been allowed to brew before hitting the milk.

    This.

    Milk on top of a tea bag seems to stop it from brewing well and it ends up too weak. If the tea's already brewed in a pot then I'll put milk in first.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member

    Is it just a splash of milk? My chais are a cup of water and a cup of milk with some honey, but it seems like that would be too much milk for other teas.

    Yes, just a splash. I probably only use around a desertspoon of milk in black tea. Some people would have a bit more.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member

    Is it just a splash of milk? My chais are a cup of water and a cup of milk with some honey, but it seems like that would be too much milk for other teas.

    Yes, just a splash. I probably only use around a desertspoon of milk in black tea. Some people would have a bit more.
    Thanks! I'm going to try again.
  • RAF_Guy
    RAF_Guy Posts: 230 Member

    Is it just a splash of milk? My chais are a cup of water and a cup of milk with some honey, but it seems like that would be too much milk for other teas.

    Yes, just a splash. I probably only use around a desertspoon of milk in black tea. Some people would have a bit more.
    Thanks! I'm going to try again.

    Amount of milk is purely to your own taste
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    The most important thing is to have the water boiling when you pour it on the teabag - this is why tea in the US (and often Europe) is not very strong because you get brought a cup of water with a teabag on the saucer (and a slice of lemon.) Also if you use the Lipton yellow label they are not strong nough - try 2 teabags if you can't get Assam or English Breakfast tea. Give the teabag a good squeeze (wiht the spoon against the side of the cup) before taking it out then add enough milk so the colour looks "right" - this is a matter of taste, my boss likes very little milk, my mother-in-law really weak and milky, I'm about in the middle. (About medium oak works for me)
  • marsellient
    marsellient Posts: 591 Member
    Black tea is so much better steeped in a teapot! As someone else said, warm the pot and add your tea bags or leaves and pour just boiled water over them. Then decide for yourself if you'll put milk into the mug (or teacup) first or after you've poured the tea.

    I do have a large pottery mug with a lid that makes a passable cup of tea, though. In there the milk has to go in second.

    Anyone else think tea out of a styrofoam cup is horrible?

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