To say something to the waitress about my tea not having boiling water poured on the teabag?

[MirandaGoshawk]

In a cafe mid-morning with a friend. I ordered tea and when she brought it over it was a mug of hot water with a wrapped teabag on the side. I was so surprised that I said "Oh no, that's not the way to make tea!" (I mean you get used to it like that abroad, but not in the UK!) The waitress was young and said, "Am I supposed to put the teabag in the cup and then pour on boiling water?" When I said yes, she said that she'd remember that next time I came in.

But my friend said it doesn't matter and I shouldn't have said anything - to mention it was rude. What do you think? My instinct is that they serve it like that so that you can see the teabag wrapped, so you know what you're getting.

I'm not sure I see the problem. Don't tea packets usually say to use boiled, but not boiling, water?

YANBU! That is just bizarre!

I wouldn't have even thought of telling her that it's wrong! Everywhere does things differently. Loads of places give you hot water with tea bag on the side. It still tastes the same, just put the tea bag straight in. the water is still very hot at that point!

Sorry but I think YABU to have said something.

Doesn't really matter though does it?

It worries me that there are people in the UK that don't know how to make tea...

It's crap. It's not the right way to serve tea.

Frankie and Bennys serve it that way and have to apparently. So now I just order juice from there.

That is the best way to get tea. I hate strong tea so i like to be able to dunk my tea bag to my own taste.

Oh she'll remember you alright...as the crazy teabag lady!

napqueen that's where it rung a bell! I was at frankie and bennys at the weekend and had a tea.

This annoys me no end - the water goes cold, and you are paying for service.

I once bought a takeaway cuppa from a young shop assistant who insisted on putting the milk on the teabag before the boiling water ("My Mum always does it that way, so you're wrong.") Some days it's just a mistake getting out of bed.

Yanbu. They do this in our Costa. Instead of the tea bag merrily brewing while I walk back to my table and get settled, it's just existing on the side of the teapot, not doing anything. And I always forget because we only go once in a blue moon.

I'm becoming a dreadful tea obsessive in my middle age. Got a teapot and everything.

I prefer tea bag on the side as then I know how long the tea bag has been in the water.

So long as it makes the water go brown and taste like tea I'm not that bothered tbh

Frank Skinner does a good gag about "Having to fooking make it myself" re: the situation in question.

Was it one of the big chains? I queried this with one once and apparently that's the way they are told to make some kinds of fancy tea, but not builders' brew. Their line was 'tell the staff if you want it done your way' which I thought was a bit weird.

Also, I have green tea at home and the water for it is supposed to be only 80C, not boiling.

I was so surprised that I said "Oh no, that's not the way to make tea!"

Mum, is that you??

I like my tea ridiculously weak so I prefer it if they don't put the teabag in. If they do I usually end up asking for a pot of hot water to dilute it.

I hate this too. Debenhams cafe put the tea bag in after the water so it sort of sits on top rather than mixing as it brews.

YANBU, water must go onto the bag while it's stil boiling, by the time it's been carried to the table it's not hot enough to brew properly. I'd have sent it back to be made properly, nothing has been wasted apart from a bit of hot water.

Good lord you have too much time on your hands if you are worried about this!

It gets served like that so it doesn't stew. the amount of times I've made tea how you've suggested, and then been asked for another one as they literally like it 'dipped'
It's so you can do it yourself!
The water won't have gone cold, it's from a coffee machine and is boiling!

Water has to be poured on teabag after it has just boiled, OP I would have said something too. x

yanbu
in addition the water from the water dispenser of the coffee maker is never quite hot enough as well.
bleurgh

this is why I have coffe when out and about.

Just order coffee or hot chocolate. I never order tea when I'm out as it's normally undrinkable.