Brits may take pride in making a cracking brew, but apparently the majority have actually been getting it all wrong.
The experts over at Yorkshire Tea reckon you should leave your tea brewing for four to five minutes to 'unlock all its flavour'.
However, a new survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by Tic Watches, found the average person leaves their teabag in the mug for just one minute and 10 seconds before whipping it out.
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In fact, the research found that just one in 50 (two percent) of UK tea-drinkers brewed their tea for the recommended time, meaning most people are sadly drinking substandard cuppas.
It also showed that Brits are three times more likely to remove the teabag in under 10 seconds than they are to brew for the recommended length - which is, frankly, unforgiveable. Under 10 seconds?!!
The research also explored which areas of the country make the best - and worst - cups of tea, with Mancunians coming out on top, thanks to five percent listening to the experts and waiting for four minutes for the drink to steep.
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On the other end of the spectrum are Bristolians, who should be ashamed of themselves with an average brew time of just 47 seconds.
Tea brewing time by city:
1) Manchester - 1 minute, 26 seconds
2) Southampton - 1 minute, 20 seconds
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3) Nottingham - 1 minute, 14 seconds
4) London - 1 minute, 14 seconds
5) Norwich - 1 minute, 10 seconds
6) Leeds - 1 minute, 2 seconds
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7) Glasgow - 59 seconds / Newcastle - 59 seconds
8) Birmingham - 56 seconds
9) Bristol - 47 seconds
Age also plays a role in how good your brew is, with millennials (25-34s) tending to drink the strongest tea, brewing on average for 1 minute and 17 seconds.
Meanwhile, baby boomers (over 65s) prefer the weakest cuppa, with an average of 1 minute and 6 seconds.
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Danny Richmond, managing director at Tic Watches, said: "The length of time that someone brews their tea for is an incredibly personal thing and everyone is different, but our research showed a few patterns. With younger generations showing different habits to older Brits, tea times are changing!
"Our study showed that many people are not following the expert suggestions for brewing, but as long as it tastes good to you, that's the only thing that matters."
If you want to follow Yorkshire Tea's advice to make a cuppa the right way, find out how here.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Tea, UK News, News, Drink