Scientist claims microwaving your tea is best way to make a brew

If there's one thing the British are more keen on talking about than the weather, it's how best to make a cup of tea.

Weak or strong? Brew in a pot, or in a mug? Milk first, second, or not at all? Some tea drinkers are capable of spending hours debating each and every facet of the tea-making process, incapable of accepting that it all might just come down to a matter of personal taste.

One Australian scientist has now opened an enormous great can of worms with his claim that the best way to make tea is by using a microwave.

Dr Quan Vuong of the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, says you should be making your tea as follows:

1. Put your teabag in a cup with hot water.

2. Put it in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds on half power.

3. Let it sit for a minute

This method, he recently told ABC Radio, "activated 80 per cent of the caffeine, theanine and polyphenol compounds, and generated the best taste."

Polyphenols are antioxidants, and Theanine, as ABC notes, is an "essential amino acid that promotes relaxation."

Dr Vuong's research on tea was originally published in 2012, but has come under the spotlight more recently following, of all things, an episode of ITV drama Broadchurch, in which David Tennant's character was seen making tea in a microwave.

His suggested sparked a minor uproar on Twitter:

The Telegraph approached Tetley's master tea blender Sebastian Michaelis for his view on the issue. "It's not something I would ever do, but each to their own!" he said.

"I drink my tea pretty quickly so there's no need for reheating. I always recommend when you're making black tea, you pour as soon as it's boiled.

"Black tea tastes best when brewed in fresh water as close to boiling point as possible. As the temperature reduces slightly, the flavours will develop for a better quality taste. Whilst reheating if it goes cold would affect the flavour, maybe just this once we can forgive David Tennant's character!"

Tea expert Will Battle also tackled the issue for the Telegraph, saying: "Microwaving tea is actually an invasion from across the pond. To most of us born in the British Isles, the notion of a household without a kettle is unthinkable, but in the US households with electric kettles are in the minority.

"The microwave is a clumsy instrument with which to bring water to the boil. It heats water unevenly throughout the cup and is difficult to set to a perfect temperature for tea – but it is better than nothing."

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