Canadian expat ignites huge debate after asking Brits the best way to serve guests a cup of tea: ‘Unacceptable’

A woman from Canada has attracted a flurry of attention from passionate Brits after she asked if her way of serving tea to guests was ‘acceptable’. 

The Canadian sought the advice of the British population as she ‘gets the hang of English customs’ and sparked a lively discussion in the process.

She said she usually takes her tea black, so wondered if it was ‘acceptable’ in the UK to serve ‘guests and tradespeople’ a cup of tea on a tray with the milk carton and a small bowl of sugar on the side. 

Many applauded the woman’s method adding she should invest in a milk jug whereas others thought she should learn to make a decent cuppa for her visitors. 

‘Is it okay to serve black tea with milk and sugar on the side rather than mix it myself? Disclaimer: I’m Canadian, I drink my tea black, and I’m still getting the hang of English customs,’ she asked on Reddit. 

‘When a friend or tradesperson is over at mine and they accept my offer of tea I’ll steep a mug of English Breakfast, then remove the tea bag and bring them a tray with the tea, milk, and sugar. Mostly because I have no idea how much milk or sugar is appropriate, since I don’t take either in my tea.

‘Is that acceptable? Would it be acceptable for a Brit, or is there leeway given for foreigners?’

The query drew in hundreds of replies, with one praised her ‘tea etiquette’ for being ‘on point’. 

‘Totally acceptable for anyone. Bonus points for sugar cubes and a little milk jug,’ another agreed. 

‘This is the dream! It’s perfect! Personally I like my tea really strong, with the tiniest splash of milk… No sugar. Most people hugely over milk my tea, but giving me the option of exactly how much milk to add is perfect,’ a third said. 

‘As a tradesperson this is acceptable,’ someone else added. 

Many applauded the woman’s method adding she should invest in a milk jug whereas others thought she should learn to make a decent cuppa for her guests

Some chimed in with some useful suggestions.

‘You could ask them how they like their tea,’ one person recommended and a second replied: ‘There’s no arbitrary way in which a tea should be served, just ask them how they like it and make it that way’.

‘And most Brits are too polite to say anything even if they don’t like it the way you made it, they’ll just drink it anyway.’

‘Leave the tea bag in, let them decide how strong they (want it) otherwise no notes,’ another answered.  

One tea lover said while they agreed the Canadian’s efforts were respectable, she should learn ‘how much milk to put in a cup of tea to make it within acceptable limits for 95 per cent of people’.

‘If you’re offered a cup of tea and you genuinely don’t like it one way or another you would typically say something like, ‘Yes please, just a drop of milk’ or ‘Yes please, milky, two sugars, ta’,’ they added. 

One tea lover agreed the Canadian’s efforts were respectable but she should learn ‘how much milk to put in a cup of tea to make it within acceptable limits for 95 per cent of people’

Another thought serving tea with milk and sugar on the side was ‘not what an English person would typically do’. 

A third slammed the expat’s approach to serving tea as ‘unacceptable’.  

‘You’re depriving people the opportunity to judge how you’ve made the tea, which is half the fun,’ they joked. 

The conversation comes after Yorkshire Tea revealed exactly how to make the perfect brew. 

The tea experts shared a step-by-step guide for how to make the perfect brew and the one common mistake people make that could leave their cuppa tasting bitter.

Before filling the kettle, the tea lovers said to run the tap for a few seconds, so the water becomes aerated.

The water in the kettle should only ever be boiled once to keep the oxygen levels which enhances the flavour of the tea.

Brits online have long debated whether the tea bag goes in the mug before or after the boiling water.

While many believe tea bag first and water second is the only correct way, other hit back saying they prefer the opposite.

However, as reported by the Mirror, Yorkshire Tea put the argument to rest confirming it’s better to put the tea bag in first and giving it a brief stir.

Approximately 100 million cups of tea are made every day in the UK, however, Yorkshire Tea has revealed many may be brewing the British staple the wrong way

They said to add the tea bag first, pour hot water over the top and stir briefly.

If you’re making a brew for a group and using a teapot, the Yorkshire tea specialists recommend swishing boiling water inside the pot to warm it up.

Discard the water before filling the teapot then add one to two tea bags depending on the size of the pot then give it a stir.

Tea drinkers will have to be patient and let the bag sit in the water for four to five minutes to ‘unlock’ the flavour.

When taking the tea bag out of the water, it’s recommended to only give it one small squeeze on the side of the mug.

Yorkshire Tea gurus claim ‘mashing’ the bag too vigorously will leave your tea tasting bitter.

When it comes to personalising your brew, the tea masters said to customise your cuppa however you wish. 

They prefer a splash of semi-skimmed or whole milk but said to use as much or as little milk, sugar, honey, lemon, or nothing at all to suit your tastes. 

Another divisive row, Yorkshire Tea put to rest was when milk should be added to the mug.

Miffy is the nickname given to those who opt for milk first while people who add a splash last are called Tiffys.

Yorkshire Tea experts have sided with the Tiffys exampling tea brews best in very hot water so adding milk first will lower the temperature and it won’t infuse effectively.

If brewing in a teapot, the order of the milk doesn’t matter, it’s all about personal preference.