They've got it down to a tea: Scientists unveil the formula for a perfect brew

They've got it down to a tea: Scientists unveil the formula for a perfect brew

www.dailymail.co.uk

A team of university researchers has devised a mathematical formula for the ideal brew which shows that it is best drunk exactly six minutes after being made.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This is my first time creating a thread, but I did a search and didn't notice this piece of history has been posted yet.

Anyone laugh out loud at this? I did until the anger and disbelief set in. This article serves as a perfect example of where the human race is headed... right down the crapper. Nice to see our best and brightest are crunching numbers and pulling absurd overtime to create a formula for the "best cup of tea".

Forget about renewable energy and a cure for cancer... we need some great tasting tea!

Kind of reminds me of this quote from the movie Idiocracy.

The years passed, mankind became stupider at a frightening rate. Some had high hopes the genetic engineering would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources were focused on conquering hair loss and prolonging erections.

www.dailymail.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Or, as the scientists at the University of Northumbria put it in their formula: TB + (H2O at 100 degrees centigrade) 2mins BT + C (10ml) 6mins BT = PC (at OT 60 degrees centigrade).

Source


Please tell me they didn't fund this study using government grants.

Those geeky scientists need to get out some more and down a few brews instead of drinking tea with their pinkies up in the air.

I wonder if there is any idiot out there who will actually try to use this silly formula?

Are they mad? 6 minutes? SIX?!!

I get complaints from my mother sometimes because I like to leave the teabag in the water long enough to be able to taste something other than water and milk but never longer than 1-2 minutes.

its so true and not only sex but the almighty dallar try getting some one to care if all they get is a thank you from a million people not a million dallars yeah thats where we are money money money like the song only with porn or rape and less christan censor ship

I remember watching newsreels that said they had this figured out....

..... someone is getting gip't here.

Here is the newreel:

It sounds like a whimsical side project for kicks, if anything. Considering how hard it is to get funding, it seems unlikely it would have been a funded project.

Originally posted by curious7
Are they mad? 6 minutes? SIX?!!

I get complaints from my mother sometimes because I like to leave the teabag in the water long enough to be able to taste something other than water and milk but never longer than 1-2 minutes.

The optimum brewing time is two minutes and the ideal amount of milk is 10ml.

The perfect drinking temperature of 60c is achieved six minutes later – but after 17 minutes and 30 seconds the tea will be past its best as it falls below 45c.

I won't say it.

A . . . study? They financed a study on . . . ack. Well, Captain Picard drank tea if I remember, so I guess this is one step closer to interstellar travel . . .? Oh, you scientists.

reply to post by Erongaricuaro


Thanks for the info and I can see why, I hate drinking tea or coffee that's had water in a just boiled state, burns my mouth and tongue so leaving the water to cool before adding it makes sense.

reply to post by curious7


Yeah, you're still missing the point!

Add boiling water to a cup with a tea bad. wait 2 minutes, add milk and remove tea bag. wait a further 6 minutes then drink.

Sounds about right to me. I like my tea hot, but not too hot. I have worked it out on a far less scientific basis, namely thus:

Boil kettle, add to mug with bag. Leave to brew and go off to make special herbal ciggarette. Byu the time I am done with that, come back, add milk and remove Tea bag. Tea is perfect drinking temp with a nice strong tea flavour. Made perfect by adding 3 sugars.

But, each to their own. Everyone has their own favourite way of making tea and this study is ultimately pointless.

reply to post by stumason


That's what I've always done.

3 sugars, add teabag, boil kettle. Once boiled, pour water into cup, wait, remove teabag, add milk, stir.

My preferred method anyway. I'm suddenly getting thirsty....

...my inner paranoid is thinking maybe they funded this project in hopes that it would be posted here in an effort to distract ATSers with a tea making debate.

It seems to be working!

reply to post by Adyta


These scientists are certainly entitled to their opinions....but they are wrong when it comes to the southern favorite of iced sweet tea.

The formula is simple: 1 gallon of water, 2 cups sugar/splenda, 2 large tea bags/4small tea bags (orange pekoe/black tea. Cheap works great).

Boil 1/3 gallon water with the sugar in it. When it boils, turn it off. When the rolling stops, drop in the tea bags, let sit for about 30 mins to an hour. Mix with the remainder of the water and refrigerate. It will taste its best about 4 hours after brewing, if it last that long. It is key that you don't boil the tea bags, as it gives it a bad aftertaste.

Just a little tip from a tea addicted Texan. I trust my own palate far, far more than geeks in a lab.

I guess it all depends on what 'best' is. There are at least some worthwhile studies on the preparation of tea:

Both Negative:
Study linking the drinking of very hot tea to a higher incidence of esophageal cancer. (Of interest since the effect may not be limited to tea, and may help explain increase rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma).
news.bbc.co.uk...
www.sid.ir...

And Positive:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

8 oz of water, 170°.
1 tea bag of Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast, or Chai White.
Steep for 3 minutes.
2 sugars.
Bliss.

/TOA

reply to post by The Old American


Other than chai, which i absolutely love, i can't stand the idea of hot tea. I guess when you live where it has been 110 the last 13 straight days, and you find a cold drink refreshing, thinking of it being hot is repulsive.

But with chai, i like some heavy cream in it. or not....i will drink it either way. Chai also makes a good spice cake.