when making a cup of tea, is it milk first or last.?

Answer 1

last, you want tea to steep for 3-5 minutes for maximum flavor. Since milk is cold, it will cool the water and shorten the steeping.

Answer 2

This is actually quite technical...

If you are making a mug - teabag first, then the hot water, then the sugar, then the milk.

The reason for this is that if the teabag is dropped into the milk, then it gets coated in proteins which harden when the hot-water is added, reducing the efficiency with which the tea can infuse the water. And adding the sugar next ensures that it's properly dissolved (if you stir at the right moment) before adding the milk cools down the tea.

If on the other hand, you're making a pot, then it's a little bit topsy turvy...
Warm the pot, add the bags, add the hot water to the pot and leave to stand. As soon as you've done this, put milk into the cups. This will let the milk warm a little before the tea is added so that when you put the sugar in last, it's still hot enough to dissolve it.

I'm sure there's a law about this somewhere...

Answer 3

Milk last always. The tea is supposed to brew in near boiling water, but adding the milk first will lower the temparature of the water, which in turn will mean that the tea will release less flavour. If taken, the sugar should be added before the water as this actually helps the tea to infuse.

Answer 4

Hi, i say make it how you want but you are suppose to put the milk in last as you need the heat to brew the tea back so you let it brew for a while befroe you put the milk in. Even though it brews any way. I got shouted at by this old guy i used to work with he seen me but the sugar tea bag then the milk, he threw an almighty strop and said i ruined the cup of tea coz i put the milk in first, and the boss agreed. I just said you didnt moan when i made you all of the other cups of teas, only when you saw how i made it. It doesnt really matter how you make it as its suppose to be brewed first in a tea pot anyway, we all havent got time and are posh to brew it in a pot. Its fine either way just as long as you let it brew for 3mins.

Answer 5

Last- so if you get distracted, wander off and leave the tea bag stewing for too long, you can just splosh more milk in to compensate!!

but in the world of traditional etiquette, it is milk firs, as it cooled the tea down, thus preventing the fine porcelain cups from cracking from the heat

Answer 6

Milk goes in last when you are making tea otherwise it just tastes like warm milk. You put the milk in first when you make coffee to prevent the coffee from burning.

Answer 7

I'm not a tea drinker but when I make it I tend to put the milk in first so I can tell if the colour is right!
I have been told that this is wrong as it makes it go cold quicker ?? Which I didn't understand?

Answer 8

If you use a teapot it's milk in first as the tea will 'brew' perfectly adequately in the pot.

In a cup or mug then it's milk last so as to allow the tea to 'brew' properly on it's own.

Answer 9

I'm with George Orwell on this one - pour the tea first then add the milk while stirring the tea so you can see how much milk you need.

Answer 10

traditionaly its milk first, This dates back to when cups were fragile and pouring in the hot tea would crack the china/porcilain. Therefore the milk was poured in first to make sure that the cup didnt get too hot