We all love a good cup of tea, but are you stirring your sugar correctly? Etiquette expert William Hanson recently shared the common stirring mistake you are probably making.
Who does not enjoy a cuppa after a tough day? Brewing tea seems straightforward enough – you boil the kettle, pour the hot water into your mug and leave the teabag to work its magic. You will likely add a dash of milk too – and if you have a sweet tooth – mix in a couple of spoonfuls of sugar. However, did you realise you are probably stirring your sugar incorrectly? An etiquette expert has exposed the common blunder most of us are likely committing. William Hanson, author and podcast presenter, recently disclosed this information to his 3.1 million followers on TikTok.
He said: "I have added my sugar into the tea, white sugar of course, and when it comes to stirring, I am not going to go round and round creating a whirlpool because that poor little sugar cube is just going to sit at the bottom and not dissolve. And also if the cup is overfull, it is going to splash into the saucer."
William did offer a technique to follow to guarantee your sugar is mixed in correctly. He added: "Instead I am going to go back and forth in a delicate 6-12 motion much more elegant and oh the sugar has dissolved." The expert has previously demonstrated how to stir your tea appropriately.
Essential tips for stirring your cuppa
- The movement: Ensure you employ a gentle, quiet, vertical motion (12 to 6 o'clock) to fold the liquid.
- Avoid noise: Try to prevent your spoon from clinking or banging against the sides of the cup.
- Remove the spoon: After you have stirred your tea 2-3 times, take out the teaspoon and rest it on the saucer behind the cup with the handle aligned in the same direction as the cup handle.
- Prevent splashing: Steer clear of circular movements as William cautions this generates a "whirlpool" which leaves the sugar undissolved at the bottom.
To observe proper etiquette while drinking tea, make sure the spoon is not left in the mug while you are enjoying your brew. Simply ensure that when you are stirring in the milk and incorporating the sugar, you must move your teaspoon up and down from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock, then 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock. Gently repeat this motion no more than 2-3 times in a backwards and forwards movement.
William is a British etiquette coach, author and podcast presenter. He is most recognised for his podcasts Help I Sexted My Boss, which he co-hosts with Jordan North, and The Luxury Podcast, featuring Jonathan Vernon-Smith.
