How to Make Tea the British Way - Anglophenia Ep 31

Anglophenia

18 Jun 201503:56

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Anglophenia explores the traditional British way of making tea, diving into the cultural significance of tea in the UK. It provides tips for making the perfect cup, such as using freshly boiled water and steeping tea for 2-5 minutes. The ongoing debate about whether to add milk before or after tea is addressed, along with preferred types of tea, like English breakfast. The host also discusses British tea habits, including 'builder’s brew' and biscuit dunking, highlighting the love for tea in British culture.

Takeaways

☕ Brits take tea-making seriously, with George Orwell even writing an essay on the perfect cup.
🔥 Freshly boiled water, preferably from an electric kettle, is key to making a proper British tea.
⏳ Tea should steep for 2 to 5 minutes, depending on personal preference.
🥛 98% of Brits drink tea with milk, but there's debate about whether milk goes in first or after water.
🔬 Scientists at University College London suggest adding milk after water for tea made in a cup, but adding milk first when tea is brewed in a pot.
🍵 The most common tea in Britain is English Breakfast, a blend of black teas.
🫖 Brits prefer using tea bags at home, but loose-leaf tea is often served in restaurants and hotels.
👷 A 'builder's brew' refers to extra strong tea with milk and sugar, popular among builders and tradesmen.
🍪 Dunking biscuits (less sweet cookies) into tea is a popular British habit, with Rich Tea and Digestive biscuits being favorites.
😊 The best cup of tea is often the one made by someone else.

Q & A

What percentage of tea consumed in the U.S. is iced?
-85% of tea consumed in the U.S. is iced.
Why do Brits prefer hot tea over iced tea?
-Brits prefer hot tea because it helps them get through the cloudy, rainy, and generally gray weather in the UK.
What is the typical steeping time for a cup of tea according to recent research?
-The typical steeping time for tea is around 2 to 5 minutes, depending on personal preference.
What is the traditional debate about milk and tea in the UK?
-The debate is whether milk should be added before or after the tea. Recent findings suggest that milk should be added after the water when making tea in a cup, but added first when making tea in a pot.
What is the most popular type of tea in the UK?
-English breakfast tea, a blend of black teas, is the most popular tea in the UK.
What is a ‘builder’s brew’?
-A builder's brew is extra strong tea with milk and sugar, traditionally associated with tradesmen and workers.
What’s the difference between a ‘white without’ and a ‘builder’s brew’?
-A 'white without' refers to tea with milk but no sugar, whereas a builder's brew is strong tea with milk and sugar.
What kind of biscuits are best for dunking in tea, according to the script?
-Rich tea biscuits are considered the best for dunking, with chocolate ones being even better. Digestive biscuits are also praised for being good dunkers.
What is a common failure when dunking American cookies in tea?
-American cookies often crumble under the heat of the tea, making them unsuitable for dunking.
How do most people in the UK drink their tea?
-98% of people in the UK drink their tea with milk, making the milk and tea order a widely debated topic.

Outlines

00:00

☕ Introduction to Making British Tea

The speaker introduces the topic of making tea the British way. While Americans love tea, the British enjoy it differently, especially to combat their cloudy and rainy weather. The speaker sets the scene for demonstrating how to make a proper cup of British tea.

🫖 How to Make the Perfect Cuppa

Making tea is serious business for Brits, with even George Orwell writing an essay on it. Freshly boiled water is essential, and the tea should steep for 2-5 minutes based on preference. The speaker emphasizes that the right way to prepare tea includes using an electric kettle, commonly found in British households.

🥛 The Milk and Tea Debate

A long-standing debate in the UK is whether to add milk before or after the tea. Scientists from University College London concluded that milk should be added after tea when made in a cup, but if made in a pot, milk should go in first. This scientific advice resolves the age-old dilemma.

🍵 What's Your Favorite Tea?

Though green and herbal teas are growing in popularity, most Brits prefer English breakfast tea, a black tea blend. While some enjoy loose-leaf tea, tea bags are more common in households. The speaker reflects on their personal favorite, Earl Grey, and invites viewers to share their preferred tea.

👷 Builder’s Brew and Tea Preferences

Tea preferences in Britain can be quite specific. A 'builder’s brew' refers to strong tea with milk and sugar, traditionally enjoyed by tradesmen. Other variations include tea with milk but no sugar. The speaker highlights the cultural importance of understanding these preferences and humorously advises against offering tea to burglars.

🍪 Dunking Biscuits in Tea

Dunking biscuits (or less sweet cookies) into tea is a beloved British practice. The best dunking biscuit is said to be a rich tea biscuit, while chocolate biscuits enhance the experience. Digestive biscuits, despite their name, are excellent for dunking. The speaker humorously dismisses the idea of dunking American cookies, as they crumble too easily.

🫖 The Best Cup of Tea

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that the best cup of tea is one made by someone else, playfully thanking a person who made their tea. Viewers are encouraged to share how they like their tea in the comments and to connect with the Anglophenia community on social media.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡British tea culture

This concept refers to the deep-rooted tradition of tea drinking in Britain. The video highlights how tea has become an integral part of British life, as seen through historical events that shaped the country's fondness for tea, and the special care Brits take in preparing it.

💡Electric kettle

An electric kettle is a common household appliance in the UK, used to quickly boil water for tea. The script mentions its use as part of the tea-making process, showing its convenience and prominence in British homes compared to the less common stovetop kettles in other countries.

💡Tea steeping

Steeping is the process of soaking tea leaves (or a tea bag) in hot water to extract the flavor. According to the video, the ideal steeping time for a British cup of tea is 2 to 5 minutes, depending on personal preference, emphasizing the importance of patience in making a good cup of tea.

💡Milk and tea debate

This refers to the long-standing debate in Britain about whether to add milk before or after the tea. The video touches on research from University College London, which recommends adding milk after pouring the tea to avoid interfering with the brewing process, especially when tea is made in a cup.

💡English breakfast tea

English breakfast tea is a blend of black teas, and it remains the most popular tea in Britain. The video mentions it as the standard offering when a cup of tea is made for guests, signifying its strong association with everyday British tea culture.

💡Loose leaf tea vs. tea bags

This contrasts two ways of preparing tea. Loose leaf tea, often served in restaurants and hotels, provides a more traditional, richer flavor, while tea bags are more convenient and commonly used in homes. The video highlights that both are popular in different settings, showing a range of preferences in tea-making.

💡Builder's brew

A 'builder's brew' refers to a strong cup of tea with milk and sugar, typically enjoyed by tradespeople like builders. The script uses this term humorously to illustrate a specific type of tea preference, showing how British tea culture includes different types of tea for different kinds of people.

💡Dunking

Dunking is the act of dipping a biscuit into tea, a common British practice. The video discusses which biscuits are best for dunking, mentioning rich tea biscuits and digestive biscuits as the favorites, while humorously dismissing American cookies for their inability to withstand the heat of tea.

💡Digestive biscuit

Despite its unappetizing name, the digestive biscuit is a beloved snack in Britain, often eaten with tea. The video mentions its excellent qualities for dunking, showcasing its popularity as a tea-time treat and its role in British tea culture.

💡Tea made by someone else

This phrase captures the universally relatable idea that tea always tastes better when made by someone else. The script ends on this humorous note, emphasizing the simple pleasures of a good cup of tea, especially when it's prepared by another person, enhancing the communal aspect of tea drinking.

Highlights

Tea is an integral part of British culture, with a long history that differs from how Americans enjoy tea.

In the UK, tea is typically served hot, which contrasts with the 85% of tea in America being iced.

The perfect cup of tea should be brewed using freshly boiled water, ideally from an electric kettle.

Tea should steep for around two to five minutes, depending on personal preference.

98% of British people drink their tea with milk, raising the debate of whether milk should be added before or after the tea.

Scientists from University College London concluded that milk should be added after the water when making tea in a cup.

If tea is made in a pot, then milk should be added first, according to the same scientific study.

English breakfast tea, a blend of black teas, remains the most popular choice in Britain.

Tea bags are favored by most Brits at home, while loose-leaf tea is often served in restaurants and hotels.

The term 'builder’s brew' refers to a strong cup of tea with milk and sugar, commonly enjoyed by tradesmen.

Different preferences for tea include 'white without,' which means tea with milk but no sugar.

Dunking biscuits into tea is a popular practice, with rich tea biscuits and chocolate ones being the best for dunking.

Digestive biscuits, despite their name, are highly popular in Britain and considered excellent for dunking in tea.

British tea culture often involves offering tea to guests, but it’s suggested not to offer one to burglars.

The best cup of tea is when it's made by someone else, a sentiment echoed by many tea drinkers.