When it comes to concocting the perfect cuppa, there's typically a tried-and-trusted formula: tea bag, hot water, milk. If you add sugar, we can't be friends - sorry.
Yet even this simple three-step process can cause division, with some tea drinkers arguing the milk should be added before the water, which as a British person, goes against every fibre of my being.
But now, one Brit has sparked a new debate after sharing the very specific tip their father taught them to make the perfect cup of tea - and it's safe to say the controversial tactic had tensions brewing.
Sharing their dad's top tea-making tip to Reddit's Casual UK forum, the son explained that in their family, a tea must never be stirred with a cold spoon as it can affect the temperature of the beverage.
In a photo accompanying the post, the son demonstrated that instead, he places the spoon across the top of the mug as it brews - presumably so the steam from the hot water heats the spoon before stirring.
"How I make a cuppa. Got it from me dad. 'Don't put a cold spoon in the tea'... he would say it cools the tea down," he explained, adding: "Feel free to post any other dad tips below."
But not everyone on the subreddit was accepting of the technique, with several arguing that their tea is still too hot to drink even after being stirred with a cold spoon.
"Where do you keep your spoons? In a freezer?" one joked, while another shared: "I used to do it for the same reason, until I discovered latte spoons, or 'long teaspoons', as I call them. They are an absolute game changer when it comes to making a brew."
Others were quick to mock the man for the very specific approach, noting that cold milk from the fridge would have a similar effect to the cold spoon. One user deadpanned: "I don't put the tea bag in as it cools the tea down."
A fourth quipped, "You don't preheat your tea bags? Shocking," while a fifth added: "I personally put the tea bag in my mouth and sip the boiled water."
However, some agreed with the idea that the spoon may draw the heat away from the tea and noted that they follow a similar technique, with one noting that the spoon acts as a "heatsink" and absorbs the heat from the beverage.
"It's going to make sod all difference, but I still like it," another agreed.
"I fish the tea bag out with my fingers, usually burning the tip of my thumb when it won't float high enough to grab it," one weighed in, to which another replied: "I hope you put your fingers in a boiling kettle first. You don't want the tea to go cold."
In 2020, international tea giant Twinings - the official tea supplier to the royal family - had fans at boiling point when they claimed customers should be adding the milk first - even before the tea bag - and pouring the hot water in as the last step.
Brand director Stephen Twining also told Town & Country to pour the water over the tea bag as soon as it reaches boiling point, rather than letting the kettle boil to a stop. "Over-boiling will cause oxygen to be reduced, making the tea taste 'flat'," he explained.
No matter which weird and wonderful way you decide to make your brew, it should always be accompanied with a biscuit or other sweet treat - I don't make the rules.
