Most Brits Don't Know How To Make A Decent Cup Of Tea, Study Suggests | HuffPost Life

This Is Where You're Going Wrong With Your Tea-Making

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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Getty Images/Flickr Open

We Brits may be known for our love of tea, but according to a new study, the majority of us don't know how to make a decent cuppa.

A new study commissioned by the British Science Association looked at the tea-drinking habits of 1,000 Brits as part of British Science Week.

The researchers found that while three quarters of the nation drink at least one cup of tea each day, 80% of us don't let our tea brew for long enough to achieve the optimum taste.

According to the scientists, tea should be brewed for between two and five minutes to release its full flavour.

But 37% of tea-drinkers brew their tea for significantly less time at one to two minutes on average.

“This may be controversial, but the British do not understand how to make tea! Or at least they're not doing it properly. And it's because they don't understand the variables," Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials and Society at University College London and spokesperson for British Science Week, said in the study.

"Expediency is causing us to throw chemistry out of the window - we're not allowing our tea to brew for long enough, to release the flavours properly."

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On the topic of which goes first, milk or tea, the study found that the majority of people believe if you are making tea in a mug you should add the milk after the boiling water.

Over two thirds (69%) of tea-drinkers add milk after the boiling water, with those aged 65 or over being more likely to add milk before.

The study follows a guide on how to make 'The Perfect Cup Of Tea' which was released by the British Standard's Institution last month.

Although the guide has only just been brought to public attention it was developed in 1980 to help professional tea testers.

The guide states that tea should be left to infuse in a tea pot for six minutes, supporting the UCL finding that the majority of us are missing out on the perfect cuppa due to impatience.

H/T: The Telegraph

12 Benefits Of Green Tea

Green Tea Reduces DNA Damage(01 of11)

Drinking two cups of green tea per day will significantly lower DNA damage, according to a recent study published by Mutagenesis. The study had Type-II diabetes patients drink green tea for 12 weeks, and found that having two cups a day protected their DNA cells from harmful damage.
Green tea is full of powerful antioxidants (called catechins) says nutritionist Ara Wiseman. The antioxidants trap harmful molecules known as free radicals that contribute to aging and the breakdown of organs. (credit:Shuji Kobayashi via Getty Images)

It'll Keep Your Teeth Intact(02 of11)

During hockey season, a few Canadians will likely lose a tooth on the ice. If the tooth isn’t replanted immediately, the cells around the tooth can die, making it impossible to reinsert.
The tooth can be preserved in a saline solution known as HBSS to keep the cells alive so the tooth can be replanted, says the American Association of Endodontists. But if the solution isn’t readily available, green tea can sub in
Using green tea that was boiled for five minutes, filtered and cooled to 4° C worked just as well as HBSS, says a study published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry. It’s antibacterial, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects make it an ideal candidate for those who don’t have quick access to HBSS.
“Green tea has a natural antibiotic effect,” Wiseman says, and so it prevents tooth decay by “killing bacteria in the mouth.” That goes for the teeth in your mouth, too. (credit:Shutterstock)

A Workout Fluid? (03 of11)

It seems odd to have something hot before and after a workout, but green tea could be a new exception. An article published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine found that green tea can bring your body back to normal by stimulating blood cells.
Decaffeinated green tea was given to rats for two weeks before and after they would swim or run. Endurance went up during their exercise, and the green tea seemed to prevent a decrease in iron. This could prove beneficial for people with anaemia.
For everyone else, the antioxidants in green tea could help create and bring blood cells back to normal so your body can workout longer and recover faster. There isn’t a recommended dose of green tea, but drinking two to three cups of green tea per day will give your body these benefits. (credit:PeskyMonkey via Getty Images)

It Can Help Prevent Oral Cancers(04 of11)

A study was done on three common types of oral cancers at the First Hospital of Jilin University in China to see if green tea could prevent the creation of these cancer cells.
The group found that green tea significantly stopped or decreased the increase of these oral cancer cells. Although the study still needs more research, Wiseman believes the antioxidants in green tea prevent the growth of harmful cells. (credit:shutterstock)

Male Cancer Patients Should Consider It(05 of11)

Cyclophosmamide is a drug that treats cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, but is also known to cause infertility in male patients. According to a new study by Toxicology Reports, green tea could help prevent the infertility caused by this drug. Researchers found that infertility was lower in mice that were given green tea for two weeks before treatment. (credit:Tom Merton via Getty Images)

It Delays Brain Decline(06 of11)

Everyone worries about not functioning as well in their older age. In Canada, 15 per cent of people over 65 suffer from dementia. As it turns out, green tea can help with that too by keeping your brain young and fresh!
A study released by the University of Porto in Portugal found that green tea can keep brain cells stable for longer, and delay brain decline.
Green tea does this in three ways: preventing the buildup of abnormal proteins, breaking them down and creating new neurons for the brain, Wiseman says. The tea “boosts activity in an area of the brain specifically used for working memory." (credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)

It Lowers The Risk Of Type-II Diabetes(07 of11)

With all these new studies coming out, it’s easy to forget all of the older but just as important benefits that come with green tea. One advantage is that it it can help prevent type-II diabetes.
A study by Current Medicinal Chemistry showed that regular consumption of green tea improves type-II diabetes. This is because green tea improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin and reduces blood sugar levels, Wiseman says. (credit:JGI/Tom Grill via Getty Images)

It Can Prevent Some Cancers(08 of11)

Beyond the oral cancers mentioned earlier, green tea can prevent other cancers as well. The American Cancer Society believes this is because it stops the supply of blood to cancer cells.
While more research is needed to confirm different types of cancers, the Mayo Clinic says that people with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia who took green tea extract in pill form saw a decrease in their enlarged lymph nodes. Blood tests also showed that the extract can kill the cancerous cells.
The antioxidants in the green tea “directs cell signals that block harmful or dangerous activity,” Wiseman says, making green tea drinkers less likely to get various types of cancers (credit:shutterstock)

It Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease(09 of11)

The International Journal of Cardiology analyzed nine studies and found when it comes green tea and cardiovascular disease, the more you drink, the better.
Having a cup of green tea a day lowered your risk of cardiovascular disease. Having two to three cups of green tea a day decreased your risk of stroke. But if you continue to have more green tea throughout the day, the risks go down even further.
The antioxidants in green tea improve blood flow and reduce the chemicals that can cause inflammation in the heart, Wiseman says. (credit:rsester via Getty Images)

It Can Help You With Weight loss(10 of11)

Everyone wants the secret to losing weight, and although being active and maintaining a healthy diet are necessary reach any weight loss goal, green tea may also help.
Green tea supplements were used in a study of overweight and obese patients to see their effect on blood pressure. The supplements lowered blood pressure, helping to control fat buildup.
Green tea also prevents the breakdown of the chemical in the body that signals to the brain that we’re full.
“When levels are low, the body feels hungry,” Wiseman says. By drinking green tea you'll feel fuller longer. (credit:Sudarshan v via Getty Images)

It Fights Depression(11 of11)

It turns out green tea can also help make you happier. In a study published by Public Health Nutrition, people who drank about four cups of green tea per day were half as likely to feel depressed than people who didn’t drink green tea. It found the more green tea a person drank, the less depressed they felt.
Wiseman believes the amino acid L-Theanine in green tea could be another reason people feel less depressed.
“Depression oftentimes is a biochemical imbalance, unresolved emotional issues, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalance,” she says. L-Theanine helps make the chemicals like dopamine and seratonin that fight these problems. (credit:JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images)

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