Weird Tea

[Scarlett]

whenever I make tea, I kind of nasty brown film ends up coating the sides of my mug. this is embarrassing if I have visitors. Any idea what this is caused by? Is it the water or the kettle?

[naomi24]

Probably fine powdery bits of tea from the teabag.  I use a teapot.

[bhg481]

I guess it's the tannin from the tea being absorbed into the scum from hard water. We get it when we go camping where there is hard water but not at home where we have a water softener.

[Scarlett]

Interesting, thank you.I'm going to experiment by using bottled water in the kettle and seeing if that changes it!

[calmck]

Try using bottled water

[naomi24]

Buy a teapot.

[douglas9401]

Buy brown mugs

[piggynose]

https://www.brita.co.uk/water-filter-jug?adffus=0&;apla=&h_ext=0:0:1368021116:57384151409:kwd-312442690496:jug%20water%20filter&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9Km3BhDjARIsAGUb4nwoNBvfsdZ6cweU4gMc6KVU7Oo_iEfRF9GDFvU7zDPxgZKMCfQxTPYaAntJEALw_wcB

Get one of these.

[ubasses]

We have very hard water here, limescale is a terrible problem to keep on top of but never had a problem with brown film on the mugs.  Could it be the tea you are using.

[bhg481]

I'm not sure that bottled water will fix the problem as that can be hard, depending on its source. As far I know water filters only remove particles from water, not the dissolved chemicals which make the water hard but I've no experience of using one so I could be wrong.

I think naomi's suggestion of a teapot is the best option.

[bhg481]

Incidentally, I heard the argument many years ago that putting the milk in the cup first stopped the cups going brown. The argument against this was the brown remained in the tea and then settled on your stomach lining instead.

[Giggsie]

I think it depends on the cups I have some that stain when tea is without milk but tea with milk do not stain. 

[Hopkirk]

Piggy's suggestion is good. Get a Brita filter jug.