The study was commissioned ahead of tea Science Week . Researchers asked 1,000 people about their tea - drinking habits . They found English Breakfast tea without sugar is the most popular tea . Only 16 % of households let the water brew for the recommended time of between two and three minutes . And 47 % remove the bag but leave their tea to cool for five minutes . It included reports from the tea Standard Institute that boiled tea should be steeped for six minutes and the milk should be added first .
The study was commissioned ahead of British Science Week . Researchers asked 1,000 people about their tea-drinking habits . They found English Breakfast made without sugar is the most popular tea . Only 16 % of people let the water brew for the recommended time of between two and five minutes . And 47 % remove the bag but leave their tea to cool for five minutes . It follows reports from the British Standard Institute that said tea should be steeped for six minutes and the milk should be added first .