Milk first or last in your tea?

Question

Tinschn asked the question: How come that British people drink their tea with milk? It made me wonder how people put the milk in.

When taking milk with tea, some add the tea to the milk rather than the other way around when using chilled milk; this avoids scalding the milk, leading to a better emulsion and nicer taste. In Britain and some Commonwealth countries, the order in which the milk and the tea enter the cup is often considered an indicator of social class. Persons of working class background are supposedly more likely to add the milk first and pour the tea in afterward, whereas persons of middle and upper class backgrounds are more likely to pour the tea in first and then add milk. This is ostensibly a continuing practice from a time when porcelain (the only ceramic which could withstand boiling water) was only within the purchasing range of the rich - the less wealthy had access only to poor quality earthenware, which would crack unless milk was added first in order to lower the temperature of the tea as it was poured in.

The above text was from the web pages whose link is below:

http://www.reference.com/search?q=tea

Apparently, according to the way I drink my tea, I am working class! I drink my tea with the milk in first. I prefer the taste. :-P

Answer 1

I put the milk in last because I can always tell by the colour of the tea if it is going to taste nice. I just pour it straight out from the plastic milk carton. Normally semi skimmed, a 4 pint one.

If it's too dark, then I'll taste too strong. If it's too light it'll taste too weak or too milky.

For me it has to to be of average strength, but with a little more milk in than usual. That for me would be perfect, in a mug with a nice picture or pattern on it.

Just going to put the kettle on!

Answer 2

At one time it was traditional to pour the milk into the cup before the tea. This was done to prevent the glaze on delicate tea cups from cracking. We do not have that problem today, so add the milk after the tea so that you can judge how much to use based on the color change.

Answer 3

The perfect cup of tea apparently is made by putting tea, sugar, milk in then adding the water and leaving it for 3 mins before taking the tea bag out.

Answer 4

I always thought that pouring the milk first helped to prevent the tea cup from becoming stained....

Answer 5

Milk first if tea is made in a teapot.

Milk last if making the brew in the cup.

Answer 6

Last

Answer 7

It's supposed to be put in last, that's the proper way of making tea. But I know lots of people add it first, oh and Hippie, that's just lazy! :) Lol x x

Answer 8

Last

Answer 9

Last

Answer 10

have you ever try chai is an Indian tea with British influences, basically black tea with spices as cinnamon, cardmon, cloves, etc with milk, and my favorite part I top with whipping cream, in the winter is really a comfort drink, give a try, you may find yourself hooked