Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Better Life

The colour of a mug can affect how your tea tastes

A tea expert reveals his secrets. - by Livia Gamble
  • 14 Sep 2021

From adding milk to brew times, how to make the perfect cup of tea has long been a hotly debated topic for many years.

WATCH: Earl grey and pistachio tea cake

While these factors are likely to pose an eternal debate, interestingly, one tea expert has thrown a new element into the mix: the colour of your teacup.

In an episode of UK series, Inside the Factory, tea expert Dr Stuart Farrimond revealed the secret to brewing the perfect cup of tea.

First of all, according to Farrimond, you have to brew the tea bag for five minutes (that settles that, then!). This ensures the tea is fully caffeinated but also ensure more antioxidants are naturally released. But when it comes to the cup colour, that's where psychology comes into play.

tea-mug
Unsplash

According to The Independent, Farrimond explained: “If you have a sweet tooth, opt for red or pink as these colours will accentuate the tea’s natural sweetness whilst white or blue mugs can bring out the saltiness of your tea bag."

Similarly, a paper published in the Journal of Sensory Studies explained how hot chocolate served in an orange mug reportedly tasted sweeter. Turns out, there's more to taste than just one or two of our six senses!

As one of the scientists behind the paper wrote: “An anecdotal example of this can be the favourite mug from which so many of us prefer to drink our tea or coffee."

"Perhaps that drink, which is always prepared in more or less the same manner, does not really taste better from our preferred mug, but the mug itself simply improves our overall multisensory experience.”

Give it a go – change up your coffee or tea mug and see what happens!

You might also like

The $1.80 Bunnings hack that will change your life

Why you should put coffee grounds on your plants

  • Health
  • Better Life

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

The best electric, stove and temperature variable kettles for making a cup of tea

The best electric, stove and temperature variable kettles for making a cup of tea

10 teas and infusions to keep you healthy

10 teas and infusions to keep you healthy

How to make the perfect cup of tea, according to experts

How to make the perfect cup of tea, according to experts

How to make tea correctly when using a teapot

How to make tea correctly when using a teapot

{headline}

{headline}

The best Instagram food trends of the decade

The best Instagram food trends of the decade

A psychologist’s guide on what to say after the R U OK? question

A psychologist’s guide on what to say after the R U OK? question

Drinking tea can keep your brain healthy

Drinking tea can keep your brain healthy

{headline}

{headline}

6 ways to reuse old teabags and tea leaves

6 ways to reuse old teabags and tea leaves

Tea or wine? Now, you don't need to choose

Tea or wine? Now, you don't need to choose

Is cacao husk tea the new superfood?

Is cacao husk tea the new superfood?

The boozy tea festival you need to visit this weekend

The boozy tea festival you need to visit this weekend

It turns out your preference for tea or coffee is genetic

It turns out your preference for tea or coffee is genetic

6 Reasons why you should be brewing loose leaf tea

6 Reasons why you should be brewing loose leaf tea

How to use colour psychology in your home

How to use colour psychology in your home

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription