It’s only fair that we preface this story with a warning to tea drinkers. This article contains imagery that will disturb those who have strict ideas about the correct way to make a proper British cuppa.
It all began on August 17th 2019, when Holly Harley uploaded a video to Twitter showing her boyfriend Mac’s approach to making tea. (If you can call it that.) She rightly captioned it: “My boyfriend has made the worst video in the world,” and frankly, we agree.
Here’s what went down.
The scene of the crime against decency is a cheerful-looking rainbow striped mug. The criminal remains out of shot, although it is presumably Harley’s boyfriend, known to Twitter only as Mac. The offender spoons in two heaped teaspoons of sugar, then adds water from a kettle. Yes, really, but it gets worse. This is followed by more than a dash of milk, and then — AND THEN — a teabag.
Looking at the play bar, we see that the teabag is only allowed to infiltrate this highly inappropriate mixture for around six seconds, before being dragged out. Finally, his evil work complete, we see the faceless hand pick up the mug, which is followed by a loud slurp offscreen.
Brace yourself.
For those who dare, here is the offending video.
My boyfriend has made the worst video in the world pic.twitter.com/FAsacuW86R
— Holly Harley (@hollharl) August 17, 2019
Harley’s video prompted outrage.
So far, it’s been liked 47.4K times, and passed on to other unsuspecting tea drinkers via 8.6K retweets.
Enjoying my morning #tea. I admit, I'm a tea purist: watching tea made this way is, for me, equivalent to nails on a chalkboard.
— Jean-Anne Bauman (@jeanannecarmen) August 20, 2019
About the only thing more surprising to me is heating water and/tea in the #microwave. https://t.co/iaYPehLsfv
It made national news in the U.K.
These presenters can’t quite comprehend what’s going on.
A viral video of a man making a cup of tea has caused quite a stir. ☕️
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) August 20, 2019
Should milk go in a cup of tea first or last? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ZoNIACaxzl
Celebrities weighed in.
Actress Mara Wilson couldn’t believe her Twitter feed.
This is a joke, right
— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) August 18, 2019
This kind of betrayal could kill a relationship.
Twitter had advice for Harley.
They aren’t the only couple letting tea come between them.
My wife @DowdAnnadowd67 puts teabag, milk and sugar in the mug while the kettle boils and then adds the water. Been married 17 years and this video has emboldened me to speak out
— Andrew Dowd (@andrew_dowd) August 18, 2019
There have even been copycats.
This one might actually be worse than the original.
Enjoy my tea making process. pic.twitter.com/tyUAggYaFh
— Ω (@Worthless_Bums) August 19, 2019
Brits are proudly weird about tea.
Look, it’s not just a drink, it’s a way of life. There are many sub-arguments to be had over tea-making best practices, but the main one revolves around milk.
Sensible people realize that you have to boil the water — in a kettle — and add the teabag to the water before mixing in the milk. Otherwise, the teabag doesn’t get hot enough to brew properly.
Also, you can only tell how much milk is required by looking at the color of the tea, so if you add it first, you might put too much in.
Milk first is a risky stratagy IMO- unless you know exactly how strong the tea is when your pour it.
— S R Jones (@AegisImmemorial) August 20, 2019
But I actually can't tell the difference beyond that, so.... pic.twitter.com/4tvwFcDin4
And sugar goes in last. Don’t @ us.
Mac’s way of doing things is totally off.
Mac somehow found new ways to mess with this ritual. Not only did they introduce the milk before the teabag, they mixed the hot water with the milk, and then added sugar?
Did no one tell him?
Literally so many levels of cringe. Everyone knows the teabag has to go in first, let it brew, then it’s sugar and then milk! #howtomaketea #tea #correctway https://t.co/PxQEBbJI0X
— Laura Plumite (@LauraPlumite) August 20, 2019
It might be closer to how people make tea in India, where people use loose leaf tea instead of Brit-preferred teabags — although this is only one person’s take.
In India... tea is made with milk. First... water on stove... add a spoon tea powder (loose)... let it boil... add sugar and milk... boil a little more... strain and drink. We love our tea! So... this isn't too shocking! 🙂
— LuckyK 🍁 (@KcluckyK) August 20, 2019
Americans, in particular, get into hot water with their tea-making practices.
Microwaving the water instead of using a kettle is a major mistake.
They don’t?
— bee (@over_exciteduwu) August 20, 2019
It’s affecting tourism.
But there is hope, America! If you live in Britain for a while, it becomes second nature.
Me, all my life: “coffee.”
— Mia K. (@miakhalifa) August 20, 2019
Me, the second I step foot in London: “how dare you heat my tea water in the microwave.”
Fortunately, Harley is the forgiving type.
While Mac has been added to tea-drinking Brits’ Most Wanted list, Harley is standing by her man.
We’ve been together for more than a decade so I’m mostly immune to this sort of troll... He is the living embodiment of ‘the devil makes work for idle hands’ 😂
— Holly Harley (@hollharl) August 18, 2019
Good for her. But this sort of delinquent behavior is just not our cup of tea.
