For generations, putting the kettle on has been the first step to making the perfect cup of tea.
But not for Gen-Z, who are using the microwave to make their cuppas.
Almost two-thirds of under-30s admitted to making a brew in this way.
In a poll of 2,000 Britons, 60 per cent of Gen-Z respondents said they blast cups of cold water and teabags in the microwave.
‘Heating a mug of water in a microwave takes about 2 minutes 40 seconds – significantly longer than the 48 seconds required to boil the same volume in a kettle,’ said Dr Tim Bond from the Tea Advisory Panel.
‘Microwave heating can produce uneven temperature and inconsistent extraction of tea bio-actives, which are packed with health and wellness benefits.
‘The brew is flat with a stewed flavour.’
Experts say the best way to make a cup of tea is to pour boiling water over a teabag and leave it to steep for three to five minutes without stirring and then adding a splash of milk.
The poll by price comparison service USwitch found the worst culprits for abandoning the kettle were southerners, with 28 per cent of London and the South East using the microwave method.
Those from the East Midlands were least likely to microwave a brew, at 12 per cent.
Natalie Mathie, of USwitch, said: ‘It’s possible that some younger people use a microwave because kettles are banned in student accommodation, but this is a trend that is growing with each passing generation.’
She added it ‘seems like an affront to basic tea-making traditions’.
Separate research earlier this month found that 22 per cent of Britons pour cold milk into their cup before the boiling water when making a cup of tea.