July 17th 2024.
Last November, a surprising discovery was made by scientists at Reading University that may have affected the quality of tea consumed by millions of Britons. It turns out that the water temperature in the south-east of the UK, including London, had dropped due to the low pressure caused by Storm Ciarán. This meant that the boiling point of water was no longer at the usual 100 degrees Celsius, but instead fell to a record-breaking low on November 2, 2023.
In fact, in Reading, the water was only boiling at 98 degrees. This may not seem like a huge difference, but the researchers believe it could have had a noticeable impact on the taste of tea for those who brewed a cuppa around breakfast time. This is because tea leaves are highly sensitive to the temperature of the water used, which can affect the extraction of tannins that give tea its bitterness or astringency.
Previous studies have shown that the optimal temperature for brewing tea is between 98 to 100 degrees Celsius. However, during the passage of Storm Ciarán, the boiling point of water in the south-east was lower than this range. As a result, it is likely that many people in London and the surrounding areas unknowingly made their tea with water that was too cool.
The study estimates that up to 20 million people could have been impacted by this less-than-ideal brewing situation. To accurately measure the boiling point of water during the storm, study co-author and PhD student Caleb Miller set up equipment in the Meteorology Department's laboratories. Despite the chaos of the storm outside, Miller saw an opportunity to gather valuable data and took advantage of it.
Reflecting on the events, Miller said, "As an experimentalist, I saw the perfect chance to make some measurements of the properties of boiling water during low atmospheric pressure. While others were focused on the wind and rain, I was able to gather important data that sheds light on the impact of Storm Ciarán on our daily lives."
This discovery serves as a reminder of the delicate balance of nature and how even the smallest changes can have unexpected consequences. So next time you make a cup of tea, take a moment to appreciate the perfect balance of water temperature and tea leaves that go into creating that perfect brew. And if a storm happens to be passing through, you may want to double-check the water temperature before taking a sip.
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