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National Tea Day: Does the perfect cuppa exist?

Can you make the perfect cup of tea?
Can you make the perfect cup of tea?

TODAY is National Tea Day and we’re steeling ourselves for the annual debate on how people should take their brew.

Teabag in a mug or teapot? Milk before or after the tea? There are endless questions.

Read more – Vote: How do you make the perfect cup of tea?

Research from the Premier Inn has shown an overwhelming preference for tea of medium strength. They asked 1,000 tea lovers to pick from a number of options.

(Premier Inn)
(Premier Inn)

The results may be in, but how do you actually make that perfect cuppa? We asked Twinings’ master blender Rishi Deb to give us the low-down on the art of a brew.

Rishi is happy for us to go freestyle with our tea, but he is convinced that milk goes in last. At least that’s one debate settled!

Microwave tea?

 

Research by an Australian scientist has found that microwaving a cup of tea is the best way to get the most health benefits out of it.

Dr Quan Vuong, from the University of Newcastle, has dedicated years to studying green and black tea. His findings show that the method of microwaving activates 80% of the caffeine, theanine and polyphenol compounds – which are essential amino acids and healthy antioxidants, respectively – as well as generating the best taste.

He told ABC News: “Microwaving is one of the advanced technologies to get more bioactive compounds from the products”.

making a cup of tea in the microwave (Halfpoint/Thinkstock)
(Halfpoint/Thinkstock)

His proposed method for making the perfect cuppa is as follows:

1. Put hot water in the cup with your teabag.
2. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds on half power.
3. Let it sit for a minute.