Tea drinkers

[mefordis]

Can you please tell me why you can't just microwave the water? Why do I have to get my tea kettle out to heat the water?

I'd love to know the answer to this. I drink green tea and microwave the water for it. Two minutes and it's done!

Thank you!

 

[Belle0101]

Can you please tell me why you can't just microwave the water? Why do I have to get my tea kettle out to heat the water?

I'd love to know the answer to this. Thank you!

I don't know the science behind but I do know that when we use the microwave to heat or boil water it always taste like soap. Even after letting the tea bag steep extra long it still tastes like soap.

 

[minkydog]

I know a lot of people do use their microwave. Me, I'm a purist. I want my water heated in a kettle to -boiling. My tea bags are waiting in prewarmed tea pot, ready for that 212 degree splash to release their flavor. Steep 5 minutes, then pour into my bone china tea cup, with saucer. Add a splash of milk and some sweetner.

 

[marcyinPA]

I heat my water in the microwave most of the time. Tastes like tea to me

I think you do it however you enjoy it, and don't let anyone tell you your way is wrong!

 

[krcit]

I drink at least 3 cups of regular Lipton tea a day and always boil the water in the kettle. It just tastes much better to me than the microwave.

 

[disykat]

Obviously you don't have to and you clearly don't.

 

[mefordis]

I heat my water in the microwave most of the time. Tastes like tea to me

I think you do it however you enjoy it, and don't let anyone tell you your way is wrong!

Thank you. I just am puzzled because the tea drinkers who come to my house insist that I get my kettle out and heat their water that way. When I drink tea I just heat it in the microwave -- no biggie.

 

[Pikester]

I heat my water in the microwave for about 3 minutes in a pyrex measuring cup and then I pour the heated water into a mug that has my sweetner and teabag in it. I also add a little milk to cool it down.

 

[Becky2005]

You can't? I have been doing it for quite a while now!!! I put the tea bag in a mug of water and heat it up for 1:11 (just what I use on my microwave -- as I have found that works well & is easy to do -- I'm sure other microwaves vary).

I have never noticed the difference in taste. OOPS!! I guess I may have been doing something wrong. Oh well...it works for me.

 

[Pakey]

After going to China, I got an electric kettle. It's faster than a microwave too.

 

[pat fan]

I used a kettle and microwave equally until my DH got me an electric kettle for Christmas a few years ago. Just push a button, the water heats to boiling and shuts itself off. PERFECT!!!

Maybe your "friends" are British? I understand they are kind of tea snobs, so maybe that's it. I really don't have a problem with it either way.

 

[snykymom]

I heat my water in the microwave for about 3 minutes in a pyrex measuring cup and then I pour the heated water into a mug that has my sweetner and teabag in it. I also add a little milk to cool it down.

Be very careful about heating water in the microwave for so long unless you put a straw or something into it. Water "superheats" in the microwave, rather than boiling. If you heat it to superheated, and then jostle it, you can break the surface tension and the water basically "explodes" out of the cup. It can cause third-degree burns.

If you put something microwave safe in the cup, like a straw or plastic spoon, the surface tension is broken and the water cannot explode.

To the OP - I usually microwave the water for my tea. As noted, though, the water doesn't boil, so the taste of the tea is a bit different than if you use a kettle.

 

[kaytieeldr]

snkymom's response was my first thought as well - nothing to do with purists or taste, but safety,

 

[Pikester]

Be very careful about heating water in the microwave for so long unless you put a straw or something into it. Water "superheats" in the microwave, rather than boiling. If you heat it to superheated, and then jostle it, you can break the surface tension and the water basically "explodes" out of the cup. It can cause third-degree burns.

If you put something microwave safe in the cup, like a straw or plastic spoon, the surface tension is broken and the water cannot explode.

To the OP - I usually microwave the water for my tea. As noted, though, the water doesn't boil, so the taste of the tea is a bit different than if you use a kettle.

I actually get boilling bubbles when I nuke it in the microwave. But, there has been an occasion here and there where it looks like it isn't even warming up. Thanks for the advice.

I will share that there was one time that I put my measuring cup of water in to heat up and for some dumb reason I set the time for 5 minutes. I wasn't paying attention and heard this weird noise coming from the kitchen. I ran out to see what it was to find the door of my microwave open and hot water dripping down from the microwave onto the stove top!

 

[Art 1]

To me the tea taste better when the water comes to a complete boil. That's why I boil my water for my morning tea.

 

[livie1205]

I always used a kettle until today when my dh got me a keurig and I got boxes of earl gray and english breakfast...it makes tea sooo much easier! I LOVE it.

 

[hereyago]

Thank you. I just am puzzled because the tea drinkers who come to my house insist that I get my kettle out and heat their water that way. When I drink tea I just heat it in the microwave -- no biggie.

I think I would be "insisting" that said guest help themself to the kettle and boil it themselves as I have a "serve yourself" house.

 

[Gigi22]

I am one of the boil the water for tea in a kettle group. I also strongly believe that tea should be made in a teapot, not in a mug. I can tell the difference by the taste. A teabag in a mug with boiling water poured over it just doesn't taste right, science or not.

 

[bballmom56]

I drink 4-5 cups of tea a day and I microwave every one of them. Water, tea bag, sugar, nuke it for 1:15 and it's done. I can cope with anything as long as I have tea bags, water, sugar, milk and a heat source for the water .

 

[Bilberry]

I never really thought about it. I have a Braun quick hot water maker and use it over the microwave. I'm curious now, might have to try a taste test comparison tomorrow.