Does being a professor of food science and nutrition mean you get away with making a claim as bold as this one?
We’ll let you be the judge.
Professor Alan Mackie, from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at Leeds University, has come out on record to suggest that you may want to add the milk to your tea first if you’re looking to make the best cuppa.
Now, we know that talking to Brits about brews is a very delicate business, because simply put, Brits love a brew, and it was even found last year that we’ve been buying tea more than ever during lockdown – with an additional £24 million spent on the stuff in a four week period – but after what feels like a debate that’s been dragging on for a lifetime, with just about everyone from your Grandad and Auntie, to even a ‘professional tea taster’ chucking their opinion into the mix, has Professor Mackie finally cracked the code?
Is this really the way to make a perfect cup of tea?
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According to Professor Mackie, it’s all down to whether or not you live in a hard water area.
If you do live in an area that’s known for its hard water – which Greater Manchester doesn’t have to worry too much about – then you need to be putting the milk in before the water to get maximum taste from your tea.
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“Flavour by and large is produced by the different compounds in tea including tannins in particular,” Professor Mackie says.
“The more minerals present in water, the more difficult it is for these compounds to develop the flavour [which] results in the dull cuppas you get in hard water areas [so] making tea the traditional way results in the tannins turning into solids before they can develop the flavour properly.
“But, if the milk is added at the start of the steeping process then its proteins can bind to the tannins and other minerals in the water.
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“[This] prevents them from turning solid, which in turn gives you a far superior flavour.”
Professor Mackie – who has more than three decades of experience at the forefront of his field – made this revelation as part of research carried out by Chorley-based hot tap manufacturer INTU Boiling Water Taps, with Managing Director Kieran Taylor-Bradshaw adding that Professor Mackie has “unrivalled understanding of the complex interplay of compounds” that go into producing the flavour of tea.
INTU Boiling Water Taps
Kieran continued: “A decent cuppa brings joy and brightens the day,
“But for too many, it remains a distant dream with hard water to blame [so by] enlisting the services of the nation’s foremost food scientist, we’re delighted to be able to bring an end to the misery that blights millions of lives”.
Whether or not you’re outraged by this claim or just don’t fancy taking any of this information on board is completely up to you, but after all, with Greater Manchester known for its widespread soft water supply, maybe we can just crack on with our lives as usual?
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It’s your call.
Featured Image – INTU Boiling Water Taps
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Billie Eilish reveals the reason why chose Manchester to film her new movie
Danny Jones
Global superstar Billie Eilish has revealed the reason why she chose Manchester, of all places, to film her upcoming new movie.
The answer won’t surprise you, but we were buzzing with it nonetheless.
In case you were unaware, Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour is the new documentary and live concert film directed by Billie herself, along with some help from none other than James Cameron.
Being screened not only in cinemas but also in 3D (yes, that’s still a thing), the performance-based movie captures content taken from her run of gigs right here in Manchester. Here’s why she picked us:
Though it’s still no surprise, really, we always find it so surreal seeing some of the world’s most famous artists speaking so highly about our city.
As you can see, while she did quip that the schedule lined up production-wise, it was an easy decision to pick her four – yes, FOUR sold-out nights at Co-op Live, as the place to film the project based on the atmosphere alone.
“I fricking love Manchester”, said the 24-year-old, going on to add, “Honestly, Manchester is one of my favourite audiences ever.”
Manc fans simply couldn’t get enough of her, hence why she was able to book so many big dates at the massive arena.
Here’s the big surprise she brought out for the show we were lucky enough to be at:
We love Billie and, as it turns out, she feels the same about us.
The release date for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour movie is coming around early next month, with the film set to be screened in selected cinemas across the UK and beyond on May 8, 2026.
Speaking in the recent interview on the red carpet with the BBC, she also detailed how fellow Academy Award-winner Cameron contacted her first about the prospect of creating this immersive music project.
Imagine just picking up the phone to James Cameron – as you do…
Will you be watching? Better still, were you at one of the shows and plan to look out for yourself in the crowd, which is now soon to be splashed on the big screen?
Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 ‘leaked’ online in unboxing video
Danny Jones
Manchester United’s new home kit for the 2026/27 campaign has reportedly been leaked online in a YouTuber’s unboxing video ahead of next season.
We know fake shirts and dupes can be pretty accurate these days, but it looks very much like this could be the real deal.
Shared by dedicated football kit reviewer, ‘Retro Man‘, who has seemingly revealed the latest Man United jersey, this unveiling lines up with the previously rumoured designs circulated on social media.
A Red Devil himself, the creator has teased previous releases that turned out to be true in the past, so we’ll leave it up to all of you to decide how bona fide you think this supposed home strip is. Ever-reliable footy fashion peers, Footy Headlines, have also shared these images:
Uploaded to the channel on 25 April, Retro Man did a full overview of the United 26/27 home shirt, highlighting key features such as a red-forward collar with black and white accents.
That same trim is repeated on the ends of the sleeves – reminiscent of the 2011/12 iteration, only differing in the more crew neck style – and the back of the neck now simply reads “UNITED”.
It is worth noting that this is specifically the replica shirt that most fans will purchase.
Should it prove to be the genuine article, this will be the 11th Manchester United kit by adidas since they returned as manufacturers over a decade ago, a.k.a. the start of the Louis van Gaal era.
Retro Man has since posted another video showing off what he claims to be the ‘authentic’ version, too; you can check it out in more detail down below.
Looks pretty legit…
As you can see, the official player edition that will be worn on the pitch by actual United squad members (though they are still available to purchase by the public) appears to hold some key distinctions.
Besides some differences around the panelling and stitching, there is also a noticeable textured section along large sections of the interwoven fabric as part of the brand’s breathable and trademark ‘Climacool’ technology.
Elsewhere, the badge itself also looks to have a more embossed/raised finish. If this is the real deal, what do you make of it?
This isn’t the only United kit that’s caught some attention of late, either:
Emily Sergeant -
7th April 2021 
