There’s nothing quite like a brew, and arguably no one knows this more than the builders and construction workers out there.
No matter how you like it, whether it be black, green, with a dash or milk, or maybe even with three sugars, when you’ve got a big manual labour job to be cracking on with, then it’s pretty much crucial to know that you’ve got a steady supply of tea to sip to keep you going throughout the day.
But what exactly is it that makes the perfect ‘Builder’s Brew’?
To get to the bottom of this all-important question, Materials Market – a marketplace connecting DIY enthusiasts and the construction industry with materials suppliers – wants to recruit three lucky people to taste test lots of different types of tea in a mission to find out what makes the “ultimate Builder’s Brew” – and they’ll pay you £500 for your efforts.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea.
They’ll need to test out different tea brands, milks, the addition of sugar and sweeteners.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’s so many different ways to make a brew, and while it may be true that everyone has their own preference, the three successful candidates chosen from those who apply for the role will be paid to sample different types of tea and making methods, and essentially, make an executive decision as to which is the best.
Each ‘Builder’s Brewer’ will record their opinions on each one and report back their findings.
The brewers will also have to judge the tea’s optimal drinking temperature, the best type of drinkware to sip the tea out out, and even what type of biscuits are best for dunking.
ADVERTISEMENT
“How to make a cup of tea is something us Brits love to debate,” said Samuel Hunt, co-founder of Materials Market.
“There is no doubt we all have our methods and go-to tea brands, but at Materials Market, we want to discover which method and brand is best [and] we hope by hiring a range of people across the country, we will be able to discover the best tasting tea for everyone.”
There’s no previous qualifications or experience required for the role, you’ll just need to be over 18 years of age, love tea, and get your applications in before the cut-off date on Friday 18 February, so it can be judged internally by the leadership team, before the successful candidates are selected soon after.
ADVERTISEMENT
As well as being paid £500 for the role, the testers will also be given a free supply of different brands of English breakfast tea, and will also be sent sugars, biscuits, and a range of milks to try out too.
Half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner, new survey reveals
Emily Sergeant
Christmas dinner is one of the key parts of any festive celebration.
No matter whether you choose to tuck into a traditional roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy, or you prefer to go for something a little different like a curry or a Chinese instead, your Christmas dinner is a chance to gather round with your loved ones and enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll likely have all year.
However, some shocking new figures have revealed that half of Manchester residents have no clue how to even cook a Christmas dinner.
Through a major study by the UK’s leading electrical retailer, AO.com, it was revealed that the majority of our city’s residents are “losing confidence” in preparing even the simplest of British dishes – with a traditional roast or Christmas dinner being one of them.
As part of its new campaign to get Brits back into the kitchen, AO found that just 57% of respondents reckon they would be able to make a roast dinner, 52% could whip up a classic shepherd’s pie, 58% could cook bangers and mash, merely 61% could prepare a full English breakfast, and again, only 57% could tackle fish and chips.
Classic desserts are clearly a struggle for us Mancs too, according to the survey, as only 19% of respondents said they’d feel confident cooking a Christmas pudding.
The survey also found that nationwide, it was Gen Z – those between the age of 16 and 27 – that are the least confident in their ability to cook great British classics, while on the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are the most capable, proving that culinary confidence increases with age.
Our region’s residents are apparently ‘losing confidence’ at cooking simple British classics / Credit: Freepik
Commenting on the results, Jay Lockton, oven expert at AO.com, said: “Kitchens should be a place of creativity and joy, but our data shows that a lot of people in Manchester are losing confidence in preparing even the simplest of British dishes.
“Based on our findings, many younger people may be opting for convenience foods or takeaways due to their busy schedules and the perception that cooking from scratch is time-consuming or difficult.
“But with simple guidance and the right tools, we believe everyone can rediscover the joy and simplicity of homemade meals.”
Featured Image – gpointstudio (via Freepik)
Trending
New Hairy Bikers documentary to take viewers on ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers
Emily Sergeant
A new documentary paying an emotional tribute to late Hairy Biker Dave Myers is set to air on the BBC in the run up to Christmas.
Dave Myers – who was most well-known for being one half of the famous Hairy Bikers duo that starred in the BBC cookery and travel show of the same name, alongside Si King – died earlier this year (28 February 2024) after revealing back in May 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
The final Hairy Bikers episode aired on 19 March following Dave’s passing, and viewers tuned in in their tens of thousands to watch the beloved show that had been entertaining the masses for close to two decades.
🏍️ Si King celebrates the life of fellow Hairy Biker and best friend Dave Myers in a special one-off BBC documentary
Si picks out key moments from the past 25 years of the pair's TV careers in The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone
But despite that being the final episode with Dave involved, there’s still one last chapter left to tell.
Set to air on BBC Two on Monday 23 December, viewers will be invited on an “emotional journey” through the Hairy Bikers story with Si King, as he celebrates the life of his best mate and former TV partner.
The documentary follows Si as he leads a motorcycle convoy to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, while archive material, new interviews, and previously-unseen footage is shown to help celebrate Dave’s life.
A new Hairy Bikers documentary will take viewers on an ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers / Credit: BBC / South Shore Productions
You can relive the journey that took Dave around the world while cooking up a storm as one of television’s greatest-ever double acts.
“I’m incredibly proud of the programme because it’s a tribute to my best mate,” Si King said.
“It was an amazing experience, I didn’t quite know what to expect. That was the whole thing, none of us did. We thought at the most we’d get 10,000 bikes, we didn’t dream it would be 46,000 motorcycles and a 30-mile tail, it was just insane. I just felt enormously privileged.”