Adding milk to tea is a long-standing British tradition, especially with black teas like English Breakfast, Earl Grey, or Assam. It softens bitterness, balances the bold flavors, and adds a creamy, comforting finish.

But depending on when you add the milk, the experience changes — and science has something to say about it.

There’s something undeniably comforting about a classic cup of English tea. Whether it’s served with breakfast, enjoyed during a mid-afternoon break, or sipped while winding down in the evening, British tea is more than just a drink — it’s a ritual.

With all their tea drinking I got to wondering - how do you make a proper cup of English tea? While Fiona, Sue and Daisy usually put a kettle on to boil and then pour the water over tea - there is a fair amount of discussion in Death at the Dog Show about whether the kettle should be allowed to cool for a few minutes, or whether you should just pour the boiling water into cups straightaway.