Posted by Iain on June 14, 2006 at 16:21:57 from 194.66.208.11 user Bulldozerman.
In Reply to: Re: Milk In Tea posted by Peter Roche on June 14, 2006 at 13:56:44:
The answer is obvious when you think about it. Rich people used expensive thin china for their teacups. If hot boiling liquid was poured straight in, it would crack the cups. The answer being to put milk in first to reduce the thermal shock and save your cups.
Poor people could only afford cheaper and thicker made porcelain so the cups didn't crack and the milk was therefore only to cool down the tea and give a bit of flavour.
So that is why when you put the milk in the cup is a class distinction.