You can't go wrong with a cup of tea in the morning - except, you actually can, according to an expert.
People may not realise that there are several little-known hacks to get the best out of your brew. From an optimal temperature to the thickness of your mug, Jake McMullon, expert tea buyer and blender at Ringtons, has shared some of his tricks of the trade.
As reported by the Mirror, Jake says a trick that some may not be aware of involves covering your tea while it steeps.
The professional tea taster explained: "This retains more of the heat and maintains a consistent temperature, which allows the tea leaves to unfurl and the flavours to be released."
According to Jake, both whole-fat and semi-skimmed milk are good options because they will add a "creamy note to your tea, making it smooth and rich".
He continued: "You may find that skimmed and low-fat offerings are too watery and don't give you the same silky-smooth texture. They're also unlikely to balance out any bitterness in the tannins.
"Black tea is typically stronger and bolder in flavour than its paler cousins and it stands up well to milk and sweeteners, making it the ideal choice for your morning cuppa."
And as for what goes in first, the tea bag or the milk, Jake stated: "To get the best infusion possible, add your tea first, brew to your taste, then add the milk after."
And one more piece of advice that Jake had was the thickness of the mug that you chose, as it can impact the heat at which the tea brews - which he says should be between 95-98C.
Jake said: "Choosing the right type of mug to conduct heat and retain it effectively, whilst not affecting the taste is a key part of making a tasty cup of tea.
"Glass, china and porcelain are all smooth, non-porous and won’t affect the flavour of your brew. Thicker mugs will retain the heat for longer whereas thinner, more delicate cups will lose heat faster.
"Warming your mug to roughly the same temperature as the tea before using it will help your infusion along."
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