Tea is the most famous drink in the world. One can hardly imagine a time when the world did not know its taste. According to many studies, the British drink hundreds of millions of cups of tea a year. In the UK they like to drink tea with milk, there are a lot of recipes for lovers of this tradition, and the process itself is captured in cinematic chronicles and has become a national treasure of the country.
Royal History of English Tea Party
England first learned about tea during the reign of Charles II. The king tasted a fragrant Chinese drink brought to him by merchants from distant shores. The cold and humid climate of Misty Albion caused frequent colds, so the useful warming properties of tea were appreciated by the king and the court, and it became a tradition to drink a drink several times a day. At first, tea was an expensive pleasure, because its import into the country was taxed heavily, only wealthy people could afford a cup of it. But over time, tea became available to ordinary people.
How tea saved England from drunkenness
Poor water quality, characteristic of the developing cities of that time, imposed its own characteristics on the lives of ordinary people. In order not to put themselves at risk of contracting diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the English hard workers drank beer and ale instead of water, and many Londoners preferred stronger drinks. It was rare to see a sober worker, so the country's government began to look for ways to reduce alcohol consumption. Tea has become an excellent alternative: the water for boiling the drink was boiled, which contributed to its disinfection, and the useful properties of the tea leaf and its tart taste were enthusiastically accepted by people.
Why do the British drink tea with milk?
There is no definite answer to this question. Perhaps the recipe for tea with milk appeared in England due to the fact that the frugal inhabitants of this amazing country were afraid to spoil expensive porcelain sets, from which it is customary to drink tea. The fragile cups could not stand the boiling water and cracked, so before pouring the drink into the cups, the British came up with the idea of pouring cold milk into them, and then hot tea. The dishes were safe, and the residents of London liked the new unique taste so much that drinking such a “cocktail” became a national feature.
Another version says that adding milk to tea has become a necessary necessity, dictated by the desire to save. At the time of its appearance in the country, tea was an expensive pleasure and a scarce product, unlike milk available to everyone. Therefore, ordinary people began to dilute tea with milk in order to enjoy the drink longer. The amount of milk in the cup was determined by the prosperity of the owner. If a guest was given a drink with a low milk content, then this house did not skimp on refreshments. The poor, on the contrary, could not afford milk and tea, but milk with tea. Hence the eternal debate originates: what is the correct way to prepare the drink in question.
Traditional recipe for tea with milk with a photo
Tea with milk not only has a unique taste, but also many useful properties. The addition of various ingredients can enhance its healing properties. In addition, tea with milk is very nutritious and is perfect as a source of calories at the beginning of the day. As you know, the creators of this recipe love the rules. It was not without strict instructions in the preparation of tea with milk. Each English family prefers its own recipe, proving with ardor that their method of brewing plant leaves is the most successful. One way is presented below:
- Boil water.
- Pour boiling water over the teapot inside to warm it.
- Each serving of tea should be prepared from 1 tsp. dry leaf tea. Therefore, count the brewing strength for the exact number of guests.
- Pour tea in hot water. Important: it is not recommended to brew tea with boiling water, this method destroys most of the beneficial properties of tea. Allow the water to cool to approximately 80 degrees.
- Infuse tea for about 7 minutes.
- After the tea is infused, pour the drink into cups, pre-pouring milk into them or adding milk to the tea. Sugar can be added as desired.
Tea with milk and ginger will be a good warming and enhancing immunity remedy. Add a few thinly sliced slices of ginger to the drink and consume hot. Green tea with milk, the recipe of which is practically no different from the above, will be an excellent tonic.
Tea with milk as a means for weight loss
The presented “cocktail” has many useful properties, one of which is stimulation of the metabolism process. Nutritionists recommend the use of milk tea for weight loss. The recipe is very simple:
- Brew tea in the required amount.
- Add the desired amount of milk and bring to a boil.
- Let the tea brew for about 20 minutes.
- Eat hot throughout the day.
Green tea with milk well removes toxins and tones, it is advised to drink more often than black. It is not recommended to arrange tea parties before bedtime, since the invigorating properties of the plant will not let you fall asleep. To enhance the effect of losing weight, you can brew a diuretic tea, but then it is desirable to reduce the amount of drink you drink. Tea with milk will make the process of losing weight easy and natural.
It is not recommended to drink tea on an empty stomach, as it may cause heartburn. You should also limit your sugar intake. So that tea does not lose its taste, do not leave the tea leaves in a warm place and make sure that the brewed tea leaf is not in the water. If you want to brew tea again, the leaves should remain moist, and not swim in the tea leaves, this will lead to their oxidation. Doctors also advise to refrain from very strong tea, as it has a rather high caffeine content.
Useful properties of tea with milk
In addition to the beneficial properties of tea mentioned above, it is worth pointing out the following:
- Tea has a beneficial calming effect on the nervous system of the body, tones and uplifting.
- Increases brain activity.
- Strengthens blood vessels.
- Helps to cleanse the liver.
- Stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- It is a good prophylactic for colds and flu.