A woman from Canada attracted the attention of passionate Brits after she was asked if her way of serving tea to guests was “acceptable.”
The Canadian sought advice from the British population as she “got the hang of English customs” and sparked a lively discussion in the process.
He said he normally drinks black tea, so he questioned whether it was “acceptable” in the UK to serve “guests and traders” a cup of tea on a tray with the milk carton and a small bowl of sugar on the side.
Many applauded the woman’s method, adding that she should invest in a jug of milk, while others thought she should learn how to make a decent cuppa for her visitors.
‘Is it okay to serve black tea with milk and sugar as a side instead of mixing it myself? Disclaimer: I’m Canadian, I drink black tea, and I’m still learning English customs,” he asked on Reddit.
A woman from Canada attracted the attention of passionate Brits after she was asked if her way of serving tea to guests was “acceptable.”
‘When a friend or shopkeeper comes to my house and accepts my offer of tea, I make a cup of English breakfast, then take the tea bag from him and bring him a tray with the tea, milk and sugar. Mainly because I have no idea how much milk or sugar is appropriate, since I don’t have either in my tea.
‘Is that acceptable? Would it be acceptable to a Brit or are foreigners given leeway?
The question garnered hundreds of responses, with one praising her “tea etiquette” for being “on point.”
‘Totally acceptable to anyone. Extra points for sugar cubes and a small jug of milk,” another agreed.
‘This is the dream! It’s perfect! Personally, I like very strong tea, with a splash of milk… No sugar. “Most people milk my tea a lot, but giving me the option of exactly how much milk to add is perfect,” said a third.
“As a trader, this is acceptable,” someone else added.
Many applauded the woman’s method, adding that she should invest in a jug of milk, while others thought she should learn how to make a decent cuppa for her guests.
Some chimed in with some helpful suggestions.
“You could ask them if they like tea,” one person recommended, and a second responded, “There’s no arbitrary way a tea should be served, just ask them how they like it and do it that way.”
“And most Brits are too polite to say anything, even if they don’t like the way you made it, they’ll just drink it anyway.”
“Leave the tea bag there, let them decide how strong (they want it), otherwise there won’t be any notes,” another responded.
One tea lover said that while they agreed the Canadian’s efforts were respectable, she should learn “how much milk to put in a cup of tea so that it is within acceptable limits for 95 percent of people.”
“If you are offered a cup of tea and you really don’t like it one way or another, you would normally say something like: ‘Yes please, just a drop of milk’ or ‘Yes please, with milk, two sugars, ta ‘,’ they added.
One tea lover agreed that the Canadian’s efforts were respectable, but that she should learn “how much milk to put in a cup of tea so that it is within acceptable limits for 95 percent of people.”
Another idea was that serving tea with milk and sugar as an accompaniment “is not what an Englishman would normally do.”
A third criticized the expats’ attitude towards serving tea, calling it “unacceptable”.
“You’re depriving people of the opportunity to judge how you’ve made the tea, which is half the fun,” they joked.
The conversation comes after Yorkshire Tea revealed exactly how to make the perfect drink.
Tea experts shared a step-by-step guide on how to make the perfect drink and the common mistake people make that could leave your cup tasting bitter.
Before filling the teapot, tea lovers advised opening the tap for a few seconds to allow the water to aerate.
Kettle water should only be boiled once to maintain oxygen levels that enhance the flavor of the tea.
Brits online have long debated whether the tea bag is placed in the cup before or after boiling the water.
While many believe that tea bag first and water later is the only correct way, others respond by saying they prefer the opposite.
However, as reported by the MirrorYorkshire Tea put an end to the argument by confirming that it is best to put the tea bag in first and shake it briefly.
Approximately 100 million cups of tea are made in the UK every day; However, Yorkshire Tea has revealed that many may be preparing the British staple incorrectly.
They said to add the tea bag first, pour hot water over it and stir briefly.
If you’re brewing for a group and using a teapot, Yorkshire Tea Specialists recommend stirring boiling water inside the pot to heat it up.
Discard the water before filling the teapot, then add one or two tea bags depending on the size of the teapot and then stir.
Tea drinkers will have to be patient and let the bag sit in the water for four or five minutes to “unlock” the flavor.
When removing the tea bag from the water, it is recommended to give it just a little pressure on the side of the cup.
Yorkshire tea gurus claim that “mashing” the bag too hard will leave the tea tasting bitter.
When it comes to customizing your drink, the tea masters said to personalize your cup however you want.
They prefer a splash of whole or semi-skimmed milk, but are said to use as much or as little milk, sugar, honey, lemon, or none at all, depending on their tastes.
Another divisive dispute, Yorkshire tea put aside, was when milk should be added to the cup.
Miffy is the nickname given to those who choose to drink the milk first, while people who add a splash at the end are called Tiffys.
Yorkshire tea experts have sided with Tiffys and shown that tea is best brewed in very hot water, so adding milk first will lower the temperature and not infuse effectively.
If brewed in a kettle, the order of the milk doesn’t matter, it’s all a matter of personal preference.