Tea, How Do You Like to Drink Yours

Tea that is hotter than the Sun

I remember a little while ago stopping at services, did my business, and went to get a cup of tea from McDonalds (you wouldn’t by choice get anything else).

While in line I overheard the following conversation:

Server: Madame your tea.
 Lady: oh! You have not put the milk in first.
 Lady removes the bag quickly
 Server: eh
 Lady: um I always have the milk in first, can I have another cup?
 Server: uh ok
 Server gives another polystyrene cup and four milks.
 Lady: oh excuse me I need more milk?
 Server: ok how many?

Holding up two more

Lady: Ten

Yes ladies and gentlemen that would be a total of 14 milks

Server: umm
 Server turns to manager and has whispered conversation before returning with ten milks
 Lady: thank you
 Server: we don’t normally do this
 Lady: thank you

What is odd about that you say? So the lady likes to drink brown milk (well is not going to taste of tea now is it). Yes I agree she probably wanted the milks for something else.

That is not what I found odd.

The habit of putting the milk in first is as old as tea in the UK. It dates back to when we had delicate bone china cups and the process of putting boiling water into the cup would crack it.

So the milk goes in first to cool the water before it cracks the cup.

But this was a polystyrene cup — the temperatures involved in cracking the cup would be, well, far in excess of the boiler at MacyD’s.

So why make such a big fuss, does it really matter. Particularly when you’re going to drown any flavour it has with milk.

So I am interested please do tell, how do you drink your tea? Does it matter if the milk goes in first? do you notice the difference in taste if it does?

I like my tea warm and wet, I generally prefer it strong (as per photo) with milk. But it is tea, I’ll drink it however I am given it.

I do have one oddity, when on Scout Camp I like to leave the bag in. This probably stems back from realising I had to head to an activity, so put the lid on my mug and forgetting about it.

Happy Tea Drinking