Tradespeople reveal secret to the proper cup of tea – beginning with heat water
Britain’s tradespeople have shared their recipe for the perfect cup of tea, and it’s bound to stir up some debate
Vauxhall unveils the Vivaro Electrici-TEA
The secret to the perfect builder’s brew has been spilled by Britain’s tradespeople, and it might just leave tea purists horrified. A survey of 1,000 van-driving tradespeople revealed that the ideal cuppa isn’t made with boiling water, but rather ‘warm’ water which is ‘just cool enough to sip comfortably’.
The tea bag should only be left to steep for one minute and 53 seconds – a far cry from the 3-5 minutes recommended by tea aficionados. What’s more, a whopping 72% add sugar. Milk preferences are less contentious, with semi-skimmed being the top choice, and just enough added to achieve a balanced medium shade.
This research was commissioned by Vauxhall, who have launched the Vivaro Electrici-TEA, a van equipped with cutting-edge tea-making facilities, so tradespeople can enjoy the perfect builder’s brew on the go.
This unique vehicle, based on the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, comes kitted out with an electric kettle, teabag dispenser, a perfect brew tea timer, thermal mugs, a fridge for milk or dairy alternatives, and a sink with a 10-litre water supply – not forgetting a tin for biscuit storage.
Steve Catlin, managing director for the car manufacturer, said: “We wanted to create the ultimate tea-making solution for the thirsty tradespeople of Britain.
“The builder’s brew can mean a wide variety of things, but our research puts the uncertainty to bed to ensure those working on site get what they are looking for.”
The research revealed that tradespeople consume three to four cups of tea during each working day – yet only 10% will expect the homeowner to prepare one for them.
Nearly all participants believed that a quality cup of tea positively influences their day (90%) – with 49% stating that receiving a hot beverage can genuinely brighten their entire day.
As such, despite craving a hot drink from their clients, 49% admitted they favour tea brewed by themselves rather than by others.
The primary reason for this was because 60% know how they like it, and 48% said it tastes better when they make it.
The OnePoll.com survey discovered that 37% favour Yorkshire Tea, with chocolate digestives serving as the ideal accompaniment for 34%.
“A cup of tea”, “cuppa”, and “brew” emerged as the most popular expressions used by tradespeople when requesting tea – with 13% of those aged 18 to 24 even employing the cockney rhyming slang “a Rosie Lee.”
Steve Catlin commented: “Vauxhall is proud to be the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer and one of the top choices for British tradespeople, and we created the Vivaro Electrici-TEA concept with them in mind.
“It’s time we put an end to poorly made cuppas and give tradespeople the right tool for the job.”
