Are you brewing your tea wrong? Quarter of Brits are

The research commissioned by the supermarket found that nearly three quarters of Brits (72%) drink an average of four cups a day, with 78% so passionate about a good brew that they give exact instructions when someone offers to make them a cup to make sure they get it right.  

Almost a quarter (22%) of those who make tea are doing it wrong by putting the milk in first and English Breakfast (67%) is the go-to brew.

Of those asked, 78% add the water first before letting the bag stew for two minutes to achieve the ultimate shade - classic builders (toffee brown), the supermarket shared.

How many cups of tea/coffee should you drink a day?

Nearly half agreed that a splash of semi-skimmed milk should then be added to help bring the temperature down to 57 degrees which is considered the perfect drinking temperature. 

Two in five (38%) of tea drinkers revealed they prefer their brew with no sugar at all, while almost a quarter (22%) take two sugars.

How should you make the perfect tea?

Jo Bryant, an etiquette consultant, said: “It’s clear that tea remains a very important part of our lives, with the average Brit consuming a staggering 1,460 cups a year, and each tea-drinker has their own particulars about how they have their tea.

“I’m with the majority as I love a cup of English Breakfast tea, freshly-brewed for around two minutes, with a moderate amount of milk – and it’s always tea first, milk last. 

“It is good manners when making someone else a cup of tea to check how they like it. Most people simply ask about milk and sugar, but it is better tea-making etiquette to also enquire about strength and any other preferences

“Try to take the time to make perfect brews for friends, colleagues and family, and make sure you remember just how they like it for next time.” 

While tea remains a constant in British lives, the way the nation is consuming it seems to be changing, with several tea traditions falling out of favour.  

Can drinking tea help you live longer?

Drinking two or more cups of tea per day is linked with a lower risk of death, compared with not drinking tea, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine,” says the British Heart Foundation.

The charity added: “Tea is known to contain beneficial compounds, such as antioxidants, that boost your overall health.

“Previous studies in China and Japan have suggested that drinking green tea regularly is linked with better health and a lower risk of dying.

“But past studies focusing on populations that mostly drink black tea haven’t given clear results.”

Recommended reading:

• Scientists claim drinking tea releases billions of microplastics into our bodies

• The best cup of tea? I blind tested 7 to see if Yorkshire really is my favourite

• 'Do not eat': Popular snacks recalled in the UK due to salmonella contamination

Tea traditions that are becoming less popular

Below are the tea traditions that are becoming less popular, according to Aldi.

1. Tea cosies 
2. Teasmades 
3. Sugar lumps in a small bowl 
4. Teapots 
5. Using tea leaves and strainers 
6. Milk and two sugars 
7. China cups 
8. Sugar in your tea 
9. Cow’s milk 
10. Dunking biscuits 

How many of these still apply to your tea-making routine? Let us know in the comments.