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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU? Husband won't use previously boiled water for his tea

188 replies

Frazzlefrazle · 14/01/2021 18:03

Petty light hearted discussion here however I have just boiled the kettle which had already had water in from earlier in the day so not fresh and made a herbal tea. 2 seconds later my husband tips out the hot water and fills it with fresh water and reboils for his Earl grey as apparently it makes the tea taste 'off if it's not completely fresh water! To me this just seemed very wasteful and maybe I have terrible taste but I haven't ever tasted my tea being 'off' so who is right?

YABU - I'm clearly a heathen all these years who drinks terrible tea
YANBU- He's a weirdo

OP posts:
CasperGutman · 14/01/2021 18:57

@ElspethFlashman

Well apparently this is a scientific thing and some people swear blind they can taste the difference.

I do not, and couldn't be arsed changing the water each time. I do however change it probably about 2 times a day as I live in a hard water area. I have about 5 cups of tea a day.

My parents only changed it when it was empty. Didn't seem to make any difference tbh.

Why are so many people routinely reboiling water? Let alone producing so much unnecessary boiled water that they need to "change" it periodically?

I boil a mugful of water when I want a cup of tea, maybe a fraction more to be sure there's enough.

If you're filling the kettle every time then that seems like a massive waste of water and electricity, not to mention you'll have to wait much longer for your cuppa!

EggyPegg · 14/01/2021 19:01

@Ithinkhedidit

Nah yanbu. Next time don't tell him it's re-boiled. He won't know. I know people like this and the only time they ever make a fuss if if they know/see it being re-boiled. It's fanciful bollocks and utterly wasteful.
He will know. And then it's a waste of a cup of tea.
AIBU? Husband won't use previously boiled water for his tea
Original poster
Frazzlefrazle · 14/01/2021 19:01

@EggyPegg

You're right Earl grey is grim Envy
Maybe the problem is that I don't drink tea as in standard builders tea? I'm a massive coffee drinkier and will hold my hands up and say I can be fussy about that. I do enjoy a herbal tea and our kettle is even one of those that boils at the right temp for different teas. Maybe it's just not as noticeable with green teas or the other blended flavors?

I feel a bit bad that before covid times I've been offering rank tea to visitors

OP posts:
Charliecatpaws · 14/01/2021 19:01

How did I reach 50 years of age and not know this.?? And i’ve got a grade A in O level home economics 🤔 learn something new every day

flibbertygibb · 14/01/2021 19:02

Fresh water every time! It tasted horrible if you reboil it!

garlictwist · 14/01/2021 19:02

I do actually pour glasses of water and leave them on the side. I think the water comes out of the tap too cold so I prepare them in advance and drink them when they're room temperature!

Housebuyer2021 · 14/01/2021 19:03

I don’t double boil either!

I think it started when I was making up bottles and just became a habit.

RosaBaby2 · 14/01/2021 19:03

I'm with him, it doesn't taste funny all the time but some times it does so I always use fresh water. Just only put in enough for what you're making.

MrsGrindah · 14/01/2021 19:05

Why is pouring water back into the water supply a waste of water? Genuine question I’ve never understood that.

Gingaaarghpussy · 14/01/2021 19:05

My straight from the tap, water, tastes disgusting. Tastes fine however many times I boil my kettle. Although I only have a litre kettle because I'm on my own.
I have a limescale line that I fill my kettle up to, which is the equivalent of 2 standard mugs because I have a large cup for my coffee and use a 2 cup teapot for my tea.
I keep debating whether to get a travel kettle.

Fridget · 14/01/2021 19:05

Sometimes I find my tea tastes rank, it had never occurred to me it could be to do with reboiling water! Going to do an experiment to see if this is the cause.

EssentialHummus · 14/01/2021 19:06

I'm married to the man who makes his tea with bottled water from Waitrose and swears he can taste alternative brands of water, leave alone (shudder) tap water.

Thank goodness he gives great head and does his fair share of childcare, otherwise I'd have LTB years ago from sheer rage.

OccultGnuAsWell · 14/01/2021 19:07

Does anyone think it might be something to do with where we are in the country as to whether the water tastes acceptable or not when it's been reboiled?

SarahBellam · 14/01/2021 19:10

I’d boil fresh for coffee, but only enough for the number of cups I’m making. Uses less water and less electricity.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 14/01/2021 19:10

Someone is going to have to explain the chemistry of how boiled water “loses oxygen”? Either it’s H2O or it isn’t, surely?

marmitecake · 14/01/2021 19:11

Went to stay with a friend years ago who boiled the kettle in the morning, filled a flask and then I had to make my tea from that throughout the day. It was grim. Think it was for environmental reasons.

I always re-boil, apart from the first tea of the morning when I empty previous day's water away but will try with fresh from now on to see if the flavour of my Earl Grey drinker improves.

Interestingly, saw a programme recently about tea and the 'expert' said never pour boiling water straight onto tea bags as it ruins the taste, always hot, leave boiled water to settle.

Housebuyer2021 · 14/01/2021 19:13

@marmitecake and your kettle will boil quicker with less water in it too!

LST · 14/01/2021 19:14

Yanbu. What shocking waste of water

WrinklesShminkles · 14/01/2021 19:19

Time for a blind test taste - challenge him to prove he can tell the difference!

londonbrick · 14/01/2021 19:19

Fresh water every time but only enough to make the number of cups needed.

Slightly off topic - why are kettles made so large in the first place? Confused

Original poster
Frazzlefrazle · 14/01/2021 19:20

@EssentialHummus

I'm married to the man who makes his tea with bottled water from Waitrose and swears he can taste alternative brands of water, leave alone (shudder) tap water.

Thank goodness he gives great head and does his fair share of childcare, otherwise I'd have LTB years ago from sheer rage.

Brilliant!!

I just showed him this comment and he said he's going to try bottled water now as there won't be any limescale hence a better tea Confused I can see myself joining your predicament too Grin You can let your husband know there is another soul in the world who thinks his madness of bottled water for the kettle makes sense!

OP posts:
marmitecake · 14/01/2021 19:21

Tend to put 2-3 cups worth in each time so don't over fill Housebuyer but I'm going to try the one cup method and refill each time, definitely!

YoniAndGuy · 14/01/2021 19:21

Yes absolutely it makes a difference.

peak2021 · 14/01/2021 19:22

Filter the water. I get re-boiling if more than a couple of minutes old, but not from cold.

OchonAgusOchonO · 14/01/2021 19:22

I did that embarrassing thing of saying think of people who go without fresh water whist he was pouring it down the sink

Assuming you're the person who put the water in previously, I'm afraid it makes you even more unreasonable. Even if he had reboiled, you wasted energy by boiling too much water in the first place.

That, coupled with the fact he is completely right about re-boiled water and tea (although you can get away with it if you put milk in and/or use crappy tea), means you really need to go and hang your head in shame as he had no choice but to bin the water.

I've only read the first page so you may already be hanging you head in shame but it's important that how wrong you are is really, really emphasised so I'm posting anyway.

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