Tea Scientists Reveal the Formula for a Perfect Cup of Tea

Posted on June 15, 2011

The Telegraph reports that researchers at University of Northumbria's School of Life Sciences have discovered tea tastes best if it is left sitting for precisely six minutes before drinking it. The tea will cool to 60ºC (140ºF) by this time, which researchers say is the optimum temperature for releasing all the flavor from the tea.

The Telegraph says the researchers spent 180 hours testing tea to come up with the formula. A panel of volunteers drank 285 cups tea during this time period. The study was commissioned by Cravendale Milk.

The Daily Mail shared the exact formula for the perfect cup of tea from the tea scientists. The formula is:

TB + (H2O at 100 degrees centigrade) 2mins BT + C (10ml) 6mins BT = PC (at OT 60 degrees centigrade).

Instructions for a Perfect Cup of Tea

Add 200ml of boiled water to a tea bag (in a mug).
Let the tea bag brew for 2 minutes.
Remove the tea bag.
Add 10ml of milk.
Wait 6 minutes before drinking to allow tea to reach optimum temperature of 60ºC (140ºF)

For another look at how to create the best cup of tea you can review George Orwell's Tea Rules here.