PG Tip
When making tea for ungrateful bastards, do you tire of them taking one sip before pulling a face and spluttering "Ugh, what did you put in first, water or milk?"? Dissuade such uncouth behaviour by responding "My nob".
(costas, Wed 24 Nov 2010, 23:29, 7 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

The idea that there's a discernible difference in taste between milk-and-tea and tea-and-milk is rubbish. The history of the etiquette for putting milk into the cup first stretches back to the early 18th century, when fine porcelain was made from (less sturdy) soft porcelain paste. This meant that milk had to be added to the tea service first in order to temper the porcelain and cool the hot tea when it was poured. The introduction of hard porcelain paste in 1710 negated the need for this ritual. Therefore I highly recommend sticking your nob in ever cup served at high tea (prior to the addition of tea) in order to crotch-thrust the point home.
(Chook, Wed 24 Nov 2010, 23:54, Reply)

if you use teabags then milk last is better as the tea seeps out of the bag easier pre-milk.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 3:38, Reply)

I always put the milk in first
when making it in the cup. That way I know when to take the teabag out as I know what colour I like it. If I put the milk in last, I might have left the teabag in too long or not enough
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 8:28, Reply)

See, I do it the other way for the same reason
If I put the milk in first, I might have put too much or not enough in. I put the milk in last, while stirring, until the tea reaches the right colour.

This is the correct way to do it. Your way is also fine, as long as you know it's wrong.
(bblgoose, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 9:26, Reply)

but
I make sure the milk to water ratio is pretty much constant every time, therefore the strength of the tea will be constant also.

Or, make it in the pot. With loose tea and use a strainer. Far better because all the bitter tannin stays in the pot.

Oh, and Tetley is fuck-awful and used to make my cups go brown.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 10:08, Reply)

Is that a euphemism?

(costas, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 12:53, Reply)

I'm liking this response very much and may be forced to borrow :-)
On the subject of decent tea though, the only rule is that the water should be boiling when it hits the lea teaves and preferably not be allowed to cool too quickly.

The whole "milk in first" argument refers only to tea from a pot, and is only relavent to those sensitive flowers who can taste if the milk has been scalded by being added to boiling tea as opposed to warmed up slowly by having hot tea added. I dont really care, my tastebuds are rubbish.

But if you put milk on a teabag, you wont end up with tea.
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Tue 30 Nov 2010, 13:58, Reply)