How do you make a cup of tea? The sacrosanct order is surely mug, tea bag, hot water, milk, remove the teabag, drink - and enjoy
Well, according to new research, 20% of people across the UK put the milk in first.
Shocking, we know, but according to an expert at Loughborough University, putting milk in before the hot water is actually the correct way to make a brew. This somewhat bold claim is a result of the milk heating unevenly when poured into hot tea.
So, where in the UK is most likely to make a cuppa 'wrong'? Scotland, apparently.
According to the research by digital learning providers Virtual College, 88% of Scots put the milk in last compared to just 75% in Wales.
It appears to be a generational thing, though. Research suggests that the older Brits are the more likely they are to add milk first; 32% of those aged 65 and over opt for the flagrant method, followed by 24% of 50 to 64-year-olds, 15% of 25 to 49-year-olds and only 4% of 18 to 24-year-olds."
Speaking about the findings, the team at Virtual College said: "We’ve all had that moment haven’t we, where we realise that the little food ‘quirk’ we have is, in fact, quite bizarre...? That's why digital learning providers Virtual College have found out just how common some of the UK's weirdest food habits actually are.
"The most unfathomable habit of all, in my opinion, is relating to tea. A beverage that has enough clout to divide the nation about whether water or milk should be added first…"
23% of those surveyed admit to reusing teabags 'at least sometimes'. And we’re not just talking one bag for two cups. No, no, we’re talking about reusing on a completely separate occasion.
The VC added: "If you’re not storing your used tea bag in a moist medium, you’re essentially leaving the gates wide open for hygiene issues as once a teabag gets dried out, it becomes a breeding ground for mould and bacteria. So, if you still want to keep up this pretty unhygienic habit for sustainable reasons, your best bet is to store them in a small shot glass filled with water."
Other bizarre findings include:
- A quarter of 18-24-year-olds don’t feel confident in telling whether food has gone off.
- Almost one in six Brits keep their bread in the fridge.
- 58% of Brits would pick up and eat food that they had dropped on the floor, with almost two in five abiding by the good old 5-second rule…
- Two in five Brits eat in bed, with Gen Z being the biggest culprits.
- 39% of Brits admit to not feeling comfortable sending back food in a restaurant if there was an issue - and 6% wouldn’t even if it was undercooked!
What strange food habits do you have? Let us know below.
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