How to Make the Perfect Cup of Tea

The perfect cup of tea…

I have noticed over the years that I can definitely taste the difference as to whether the milk has been put in my cup of tea before the water or after and I believe you can’t beat Yorkshire tea!

Many people don’t really care how their tea comes and then others can be quite specific for scientific sounding reasons. In my hunt for the perfect cup of tea I’ve found a scientist that has created a formula for the perfect temperature, infusion and imbibation (apparently!) and of course when to put the milk in.

There are apparently 11 steps in making the perfect cup of tea according to George Orwell who also said that tea – one of the “mainstays of civilisation” – is ruined by sweetening and that anyone flouting his diktat on shunning the sugar bowl could not be called “a true tealover”.

GEORGE ORWELL’S (adapted) TEA RULES:

1. Use tea from India, Yorkshire or Ceylon (Sri Lanka), not China… or Tetley!!!

2. Use a teapot, preferably ceramic or a giant Cath Kidson mug (makes about the same amount of tea)

3. Warm the pot over direct heat, or use a kettle so the water stays hot for longer

4. Tea should be strong – six spoons of leaves per 1 litre – the colour of

5. Let the leaves move around the pot – no bags or strainers unless its a Yorkshire tea bag- the larger bag allows the leaves to move around.

6. Take the pot to the boiling kettle

7. Stir or shake the pot

8. Drink out of a tall, mug-shaped tea cup (again a giant Cath Kidson mug is just about perfect)

9. Don’t add creamy milk, use semi skimmed for the perfect taste, skimmed is just white water.

10. Add milk to the tea, not vice versa when making a pot of tea. When making a cup add the milk first so you get a perfectly smooth and strong liquid.

11. No sugar! Ergh!

However the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has decided to look at this 11-point formula – and disagree with quite a few of the “golden” rules.

Dr Andrew Stapley, a chemical engineer at Loughborough University, found that Orwell’s six-spoons of tea per pot is very extravagant especially when the author set down this rule during post-war rationing. It is still far too strong today with recession looming the RSC advises a single spoon of leaves.

As for adding milk to the tea after it is poured, the RSC issues a stern scientific warning against the practice. It seems that dribbling a stream of milk into hot water makes “denaturation of milk proteins” (Denaturation (food) is the intentional adulteration of food or drink rendering it unfit for consumption while remaining suitable for other uses)

“At high temperatures, milk proteins – which are normally all curled up foetus-like – begin to unfold and link together in clumps. This is what happens in UHT [ultra heat-treated] milk, and is why it doesn’t taste as good a fresh milk,” says Dr Stapley.

It is better to have the chilled milk massed at the bottom of the cup, awaiting the stream of hot tea. This allows the milk to cool the tea, rather than the tea ruinously raise the temperature of the milk.

Scientists seem to like the idea of adding sugar to tea, they say it “acts to moderate the natural astringency of tea” – which translated into unscientific terms means that it makes tea… wait for it, less bitter. I still disagree though, there is no need for sugar or sweetener in something that is already so perfect.

Over ten million cups of Yorkshire Tea are drunk every single day, I feel Yorkshire tea beats all others, it is a fantastically strong tea with richness of flavour and always makes me feel happy, cosey and safe… everything seems ok when you’ve got a cup of Yorkshire tea

Thought for the day

I have been watching a fantastic film called “Into the Wild” and it made me think….

why is it, that just because we have worked so hard for something throughout our lives, through education and careers, that we think what we have ‘achieved’ means so much and has so much weight in who we are??

I think that only when we have lost/ given up/ walked away from everything we have ever worked for, and followed the rat race of society into believing is what we need, do we actually realise that having nothing gives us everything we ever wanted….

the freedom to appreciate our own state of mind, to develop our own unadulterated opinions (not following what your peers dictate is right) to understand exactly what sort of person we are and to re-evaluate what we want out of life.

I guess I’m saying that if I lost everything right now it wouldn’t be so bad… as long as I had clarity of mind I could appreciate the opportunity I was given and use it to its full advantage. Sometimes I think that wealth of money and education blinds us and drags us into a life where we are terrified of loosing and taking risks.

I liking having the freedom of not being tied into anything and knowing that where I am right now was my choice.

Hawkerette

xxxxx

Best fake tans I have used

Hi there,

I’m sorry its taken me so long to get around to writing my list of recommendations but here it is:

Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Quick Self Tanning Gel- I loved this, if you want a tan that is minimum effort, natural looking and doesn’t go blotchy or orange anywhere this is the one. The Gel is so easy to rub in and doesn’t feel sticky or slimy, the gel absorbs instantly with a cool sensation and gives a deep, even glowing bronze colour. I found this tan works perfectly on its own and wears off evenly without going patchy. it looks fantastic with one layer for a very natural glow and also works well when you build up a deeper colour with more layers. gold star for Shiseido because its so easy to just throw on quickly and not have to worry about horrible mistakes the next morning.

Loreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Fresh Feel Gel- this is almost as good as the Shiseido gel (for £8 you really cant complain because that makes it perfect), its a little more greasy but certainly not in a bad way because the next day after washing your skin feels very soft. It apparently has a smoothing effect for an even and natural looking tan. I found this tan works great on its own or mixes with a daily tanning moisturiser for more regular use. big thumbs up from me. (however I feel very strongly about Loreal’s false advertising and would only recomend it for the colour it gives I don’t believe a word of the smoothing effect rubbish a good tan comes from good application)

Garnier Ambre Solaire Express Bronzer Self-Tanning Spray

this tan dries very quickly and can be a little too dry. I found again mixing this with a Garnier daily tan it became the perfect colour and wasn’t too greasy. This tan gives a beautiful colour in one application and wears off relatively even, with a little exfoliation where needed.

Fake Bake Self Tanning Lotion – this is the super most bestest fake tan in the world!! this cream product comes out blacky brown initially so can look a little scary at first, again I sometimes mix this with a daily taning moisturiser so that it is easier to apply. The colour comes out olive as opposed to orange the next day and is perfectly even. The tan has a lovely Aloe Vera smell and the next day washes off to leave you looking glowing and naturally gorgeous!! I love it I couldn’t fault it any way. This tan even works to give you a little colour during the day if you needed to top up your tan for a special event, you can apply and go!

Ten gold stars and two thumbs up from me especially because you can buy three bottles for £40 at www.hometanning.co.uk Brilliant!

On final tip, if you make any mistakes while tanning Veet hair removal cream is a godsend, it takes fake tan clean off a day or two after application and hides mistakes the very next day if needs be! I discovered this vital piece of information after spending hours fake tanning for a super important date with my lovely boyfirend and then used hair removal cream on my legs the next day hoping to achieve silky smooth pins with a golden glow…. no such luck! my beautiful tan wiped away along with the cream!

Hawkerette xx

Thought for the Day

Hi there,

something interesting caught my eye at work today. A little while ago there was a program (not sure if it was the news or dispatches) about Second Life and how there were now secret areas in this site where pedophiles could go and find child characters who would perform very disturbing actions for the pedophile characters. I was so shocked by this as I understood Second Life to be a game and a great place where people could create their dream lifestyle.

I found myself feeling very confused however because a spokesperson for Second Life had said this “world” was created by its members and there were very few rules as to what characters could do in this fantasy world. It now seems that today Second Life have the power to ban banks??

Linden Lab, the creator of Second Life, said it had been forced to intervene after receiving complaints about a string of dodgy in-world financial offerings that promised unfeasibly high interest rates for investors.

In a post on its blog (http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/01/08/new-policy-regarding-in-world-banks/) it said the schemes, if left unchecked, posed “unique and substantial risks” to the financial health of the much-hyped community:

“As of January 22, 2008 we will begin removing any virtual ATMs or other objects that facilitate the operation or facilitation of in-world “banking,” i.e., the offering of interest or a rate of return on L$ invested or deposited.”

Linden Lab has always said it would limit its role in policing members’ activity in Second Life, however they have already banned gambling and said it had no “workable alternative” other than to step into the banking arena.

It said it had received complaints about several in-world ‘banks’ that ended up leaving depositors with nothing to show for their investments, the most high profile of which was Ginko Financial, which declared itself insolvent last August.

Linden Lab added:

“As these activities grow, they become more likely to lead to destabilization of the virtual economy. At least as important, the legal and regulatory framework of these non-chartered, unregistered banks is unclear.”

Apparently Second Life banks are now being hit by a run on their funds as residents seek to withdraw their cash before the ban comes into force.

My problem with this news is that it seems Linden Lab pick and choose when they want to step in and I feel the pedophile case would be a perfect example. surely these “secret areas” can be banned or removed somehow? even undercover characters could be monitoring who is consistantly visiting these areas of the site and monitor their behavior?

I worry because I was quite intereseted in Second Life and even considered joining just to have a look, whereas now I daren’t because I feel like its unsafe and there are too many unknown threats and problems lurking in this virtual world that I wouldn’t like to bump into by accident.

The second problem is that perhaps allowing pedophiles to “satisfy” themselves virtually may eliminate the real problem of pedophiles.

This issue is making my brain hurt because I feel that there should never be a situation where anyone is scared of a game whether it is virtual or real.