A formula for the perfect cup of tea
How do you prepare your perfect morning cuppa? Well, scientists have developed a mathematical formula for the ideal cup of tea, best when drunk exactly six minutes after it’s made.
The optimum brewing time is two minutes and the ideal amount of milk is 10 ml, according to researchers at the University of Northumbria.
The perfect drinking temperature of 60ºC is achieved six minutes later — but after 17 minutes and 30 seconds the tea will be past its best as it falls below 45ºC.
For the research, the team spent 180 hours of testing and a panel of volunteers consumed 285 cups of tea in the lab to come up with the equation, the Daily Mail reported. Lead researcher Ian Brown said the complex taste of tea is what has made it so popular. In taste tests, the panel reported prevalent wood and grass “flavour notes” in black or over-brewed tea with hints of lemon, rose and geranium. However, the addition of milk significantly reduced these and replaced them with toffee and vanilla. The more milk that was added the more these sweeter notes intensified.
Mr Brown, a food and nutrition expert, said: “When enjoying a cup of tea, our palate requires a balance between bitterness and sweetness. “Milk quantities and brewing time were key factors studied throughout our investigation into the perfect brew.
Mr Brown said their findings showed that “10ml is the preferred amount of milk for our cuppas, due to its ability to balance natural bitterness and allow a smoother taste sensation.”
After perfecting the tea brewing process, Mr Brown and his team investigated how long we have to enjoy it and found the great British brew has a shelf life of 17 minutes and 30 seconds. —PTI
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