How do you make YOUR perfect cuppa?

[OllieMartin]

^That's the No.1 reason why I have no desire to scale Mount Everest!

You can always add more milk after adding the water (although you can't add less) and I find it easier to empirically measure the amount of milk in different size/shaped mugs if it goes in first.

[Mac]

I heard (or read or saw...) that you shouldn't put the milk in with the T-bag before the water as the milk has bigger molecules or particles or somethings that clog up the teeny-tiny holes in the bag so not letting it do it's "stuff" properly! I take tea and coffee black just to be safe!

[organic vic]

My perfect cuppa has to be teabag in teapot then add 'off the boil' water and put sugar in cup/mug. Then remove teabag (defo no squishing!) by getting teaspoon under bag and moving from side to side then lift out and let excess water drip off then pour onto sugar. Both tea and coffee should not be made with boiling water as it is bad for the taste of each and is not good for your throat either!!!

[TEB]

Both tea and coffee should not be made with boiling water as it is bad for the taste of each and is not good for your throat either!!!

No definately not , water has to be fresh drawn and poured while boiling ( a rolling boil), this is for Tea dont care for coffee.

[OllieMartin]

A while ago I was running a training session when the delegates got into a light-hearted arguement about the best brand of beans. So on the lunch break I bought as many different brands as I could, peeled the labels off and did a taste test with them.

Tempted to do the same here, take several of the most common methods and put them to the test, only problem is I'm on a restricted milk diet!
Anyone else want to play scientist?

[ckfe]

My mum shows the tea bag to the hot water

you could share one teabag between my OH, her sister and her brother.. one dip each

[lainey lou]

you could share one teabag between my OH, her sister and her brother.. one dip each

then hang it out to dry for 'ron!

[Hilary B]

If I had time I would subscribe to this method A Nice Cup of Tea by George Orwell however I dont agree with number 6 as thhe water should only be boiled once, reboiling can cause less oxygen in the water and doesnt allow proper infusion or so I have read.

Only major point of disagreement is the snob attitude to sugar. I've heard the same said of coffee.
I like the combined flavour of 'tea-and-sugar'. If the sugar was all I wanted to taste, I would like weak tea. Weak tea is disgusting (my sister has a rude name for it, relating to gnats).
Similarly I like coffee strong enough to taste, but sweetened, It doesn't DROWN the tea or coffee flavour, it just adds something else to it! Condemning the combination is like objecting to blackberry-and-apple (I prefer them separate, but I know that a lot of people enjoy the mixture).

[zebedee]

I like my coffee from a cafetierre, black no sugar (occasionally cream!). Tea heaven, for me, is a cup of strong tea in a BIG cup, with tinned milk and brown sugar. It goes with the big, sloppy bacon sandwich. (Another thread)

[Flummery]

You've started something now Ollie.

My perfect cup:
Big Mug with bag in the bottom
Boiling water on top
Swish it round for a bit to required colour
Teabag out, lightly squishing on the side of mug
Topped up with milk
Slab of Victoria Sponge on the side!!

I do mine like this - but the cake or biscuit du jour varies!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Ollie - make DH cups of tea just like you, milk in first then hot water. DH says he can always tell I've made it like that. Coz I don't drink tea, I don't know what he's talking about. My answer? Make your own!

[Nicos]

I've just remembered...my grandpa used to pour a bit in his saucer and rest it on top of his cup for a few minutes to cool down!( I wonder what all that was about????) ..I've seen other peeps do that many years ago!

[lainey lou]

Go on then, own up, who's a dunker? I am! Hobnobs dunked in tea/coffee, yum!!

[OllieMartin]

Go on then, own up, who's a dunker? I am! Hobnobs dunked in tea/coffee, yum!!

I HAVE to dunk. I can't have a cuppa without a biscuit. I'll often destroy an entire packet on one cup! The end of the mug os like soup!

[OverWyreGrower]

Go on then, own up, who's a dunker? I am! Hobnobs dunked in tea/coffee, yum!!

Mmmm... kitkats dunked in tea are yummy!