An American woman living in the UK has settled the debate over the best way to make tea after a blind taste test proved that water boiled in a kettle produces a superior brew compared to microwaved water. Sarah, who shared the experiment on TikTok, admitted she was wrong to think there would be no difference between the two methods.
In the test, Sarah heated one cup of water in the microwave and another using an electric kettle, then added the same teabags to each. Despite her initial conviction, she immediately noticed a difference: the kettle water turned a vivid golden amber, while the microwaved water developed a white foam on top. She tried to skim the froth before presenting the cups to her British husband, but he could instantly tell which was which.
After tasting the microwaved tea, he said: 'Sarah, I don’t need to try the other one to know this has been microwaved.' He noted that the remaining foam gave it away, and the kettle-made tea was not only better-tasting but also warmer. Commenters on the video echoed his verdict, stating that water must be at 100°C for proper tea brewing, and that microwaved water often falls short.
Several commenters also warned of the dangers of microwaving water, as it can become superheated without bubbling and then erupt violently when disturbed, causing severe burns. To mitigate the risk, experts advise heating water in short intervals or adding a wooden stick or sugar before microwaving.
Sarah’s experiment concludes that for a perfect cuppa, the kettle remains the superior choice, reinforcing British tea traditions.
