2006-10-12 05:29:38 · 10 answers · asked by tommy g 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
There was a recent controversy regarding "tea scum," which is an oily-appearing film that floats on the top of the water in the brewing pot. A scientific study concluded that tea scum was caused by hard water -- endemic in London. The study suggested that adding a bit of lemon juice would cure the problem - and conversely, that the addition of milk increased scum. Nonetheless, the people were aghast -- adding lemon just to reduce tea scum was just not worth the effort and change of habit involved. The British are a traditional people -- if tea scum was good enough for grandma, it will be good enough for me
BTW
"[T]ea scum is a complex organic material derived from the oxidation of tea solubles mediated by calcium salts and accompanied by calcium carbonate.
2006-10-12 06:31:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is dried milk, that is the skin ontop of a tea/coffee. limescale is caused by deposits of limescale from water, where the water has been in contact with limestone. this is a harmless mineral that water extracts from ie. a reservoir.
limescale is white and usaully appears on the inside of a kettle, even the shower head, depending if your area has water that is contact with limestone. hence limescale
2006-10-12 12:40:57 · answer #2 · answered by dennis s 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ADDED: GIve the 10 points to Bonnie at the bottom! She truly has the best (and funniest) answer ;)
Do you use cream in your tea? I do and I get that "film" sometimes. I think it's from the fat content in the cream rising to the top.
Oh, Added: For the first poster, limescale is everywhere lol - it's not only found in certain places, so there are no places where "limescale isn't."
Limescale is the hard, off-white, chalky deposit found in kettles, hot-water boilers and the inside of inadequately maintained hot-water central heating systems. It is also often found as a similar deposit on the inner surface of old pipes and other surfaces where 'hard water' has evaporated.
These types of limescale differ slightly due to their origins.
The type found deposited on the heating elements of water heaters etc. has a main component of calcium carbonate, precipitated out of the (hot) water. Hard water contains calcium (and often magnesium) carbonates and/or similar salts.
Calcium carbonate is unusual, in that it is less soluble in hot water than in cold water, leading to deposits in places where water is heated. Local boiling 'hot spots' can also occur, when water is heated, resulting in the concentration and deposition of salts from the water.
Calcium cations from hard water can also combine with soap, which would normally dissolve in soft water. This combination often forms scum which precipitates out in a thin film on the interior surfaces of baths, sinks, and drainage pipes. Soap usually contains salts of anions from neutralized fatty acids or similar chemical compounds. The calcium salts of these anions are less soluble in water.
The type found on air-dried cooking utensils, dripping taps and bathroom tiling consists of calcium carbonate mixed with all the other salts that had been dissolved in the water, prior to evaporation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limescale
2006-10-12 12:33:37 · answer #3 · answered by tagi_65 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
mostly its limescale from your kettle due to hard water...I would suggest you chuck the kettle (don't even bother with a descale) get a standard britta water filter & new kettle and DON'T allow any water other than filtered go into your kettle...voila no more limescale. & tea, coffee taste 100% better.
2006-10-12 12:43:08 · answer #4 · answered by Denise W 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes it is limescale, it appears all the time, to try wash it out keep your kettle and cups rinced, it can be harmfull if its old and you drink it. They use lime stone to put on buildings.
2006-10-12 12:37:34 · answer #5 · answered by Fariy_God_Sistah 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Perfect Cup of Tea.
Avoid “hard” water as the minerals it contains gives rise to unpleasant tea scum. If you live in hard water area use softened (filtered) water. For the same reason do not use bottled mineral water.
http://seis.bris.ac.uk/~nh4549/perfectcup.htm
hope this helps :)
2006-10-12 12:46:32 · answer #6 · answered by Karen J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have come to the conclusion that it has something to do with the water. I notice the film when my water softener is out of salt. I dont notice it when there is salt in the softener. Must be due to the hardness of the water.
2006-10-12 12:36:58 · answer #7 · answered by Jenny K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is. Ive never seen this in other countries where there isnt limescale
2006-10-12 12:31:39 · answer #8 · answered by Big Sis 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yeah i think you are right it might just be the limescale!
2006-10-12 13:16:59 · answer #9 · answered by twinkle star 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it might be oils from the tea leaves...I know coffee sometimes gets that film too. Not sure on that but just think it might be.
2006-10-12 12:34:07 · answer #10 · answered by th25tina 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋