A member of Prince Charles‘ hospitality staff has offered a regal opinion on the ongoing debate on whether tea or milk should come first when enjoying a brew.
It appears the Prince of Wales has a strong opinion on what makes the perfect cuppa, with the 71-year-old royal apparently giving staff at Dumfries House, in Scotland, strict instructions when preparing his hot beverages.
Hospitality manager at the 2,000-acre stately home, Evan Samson, 27, told The Times, that while sugar or organic honey can be added before you pour – milk should only ever be added last before taking out the teabag.
Samson’s is the latest voice in the ‘milk or tea first’ argument, which hit the headlines again last month when Boris Johnson sparked fury on social media for pouring milk into his tea first – and then keeping the teabag in the cup for a lengthy period.
Evan Samson, 27, who is the hospitality manager at Dumfries House, revealed that Prince Charles, 71, (pictured in Canada in 2014) prefers milk to be added last before taking out the teabag
Voted in…but not for his tea-making skills: Boris Johnson was mocked back in November when he admitted that poured the milk in before removing the bag
Prince Charles (pictured in Wales in 2017) reportedly asks for milk to be presented alongside the teapot, so guests can top up if they wish
Offering a detailed description, the hospitality manager said tea must be heated to 100°C for Earl Grey or English breakfast and then measured with a thermometer to ensure accuracy.
He revealed Charles also has specifications on how the drink should be presented, expecting the handle of the teacup to be ‘placed to the right, with the teaspoon under the handle.’
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In addition, staff must present a jug of milk in case guests want to top up their cuppa, which is a special brew supplied to the royal household by tea giant Twinings.
Dumfries House, in Ayrshire, runs hospitality courses for butlers where the best are selected to serve tea to Prince Charles on his visits and at occasions at Buckingham Palace.
The bag was still floating later in the video, causing concern for certain viewers
Prince Charles has often been spied drinking tea at openings and events, such as at the opening of the Said Business School’s new building at Oxford University in 2013
Social media users joked over Boris Johnson’s ability to run the country, when they observed his tea-making method in a recent four-minute video from Conservative Party HQ.
The Prime Minister explained that he adds milk first and then leaves the bag in his tea as it ‘lets it brew and makes it stronger.’
However, it is believed that adding a splash of milk before the tea has brewed in its entirety can dilute the flavour while also reducing the beverage’s overall temperature.
An expert believes we should all be drinking tea like Prince Charles as honey can compliment the delicate flavours of tea, especially with green tea (pictured in 2013 at the Central London Samaritans)
Former royal butler Grant Harrold, previously revealed that the Queen enjoys her tea with milk added after and said it’s a tradition that dates back to the 18th Century.
Speaking to Business Insider, he claimed she enjoys her tea in a traditional way with the leaves left inside the teapot.
The debate over when milk should be added to tea has been the heated subject of many online forums.
Despite agreeing on the controversial topic, Prince Charles and the Queen have conflicting views when it comes to sweeteners – with the reigning monarch opting for no sugar.
Source: Food Recipes and News
