HOW long do you leave your teabag in the cup?

According to professional food and drink taster Martin Isark, it is exactly 25 seconds. “Any less and there’s not enough flavour, any longer and there’s too much tannin”, he insists.

Actually, I’m convinced that tea strength is a very personal thing. I like my teabag dipped for no more than 10 seconds so the drink becomes a pale khaki when milk is added, while my daughter Lucy wants it left there for a minute or so to make a rich mud coloured drink.

I’m afraid that just because Mr Isark drank 400 cups of all the best-known brands in 48 hours to come to his conclusion doesn’t make it so. I admire his tenacity, but not his tea-nacity.