Salt in Tea? The Latest Transatlantic Tea Debate Explained

Transcript

00:00 And finally, just a pinch of salt.

00:03 I imagine some of you are screaming at your phones in horror,

00:09 but don't worry, this method is scientifically recommended.

00:13 American professor Michelle Frankel recently advised

00:16 adding a pinch of salt to your cup of tea.

00:18 And as you can imagine, Brits were not happy about it.

00:21 So much so, the US embassy has had to get involved.

00:24 The chemistry expert has been researching into how to make

00:27 the perfect cup of tea for years.

00:29 She writes that the sodium helps to block a chemical reaction

00:32 that makes the tea taste bitter.

00:34 She also claims steeping tea quickly and squeezing the tea bags

00:38 reduces sour tasting tannins.

00:40 The uproar amongst angry Britons was so huge that the US embassy

00:44 issued a serious but heavily punned statement

00:47 to distance itself from the research.

00:49 It read, "Today's media reports of an American professor's recipe

00:53 for the perfect cup of tea has landed our special bond

00:56 with the United Kingdom in hot water."

00:58 After describing tea as the elixir of camaraderie

01:01 and batting away this notion of adding salt as unthinkable,

01:04 the US embassy proved it wasn't taking itself too seriously

01:07 by quipping that tea is best made by microwaving it.

01:10 People were quick to comment on the embassy's statement.

01:12 One ex-user wrote, "Microwave faints in English."

01:15 Another wrote that, "The last line is an act of war."

01:18 It's safe to say Brits are feeling very attacked

01:20 by the whole situation.

01:22 And it didn't stop there.

01:24 The UK government decided to chime in to the debate.

01:27 It disputed the embassy's concluding statement by saying,

01:29 "Tea can only be made in a kettle."

01:31 I'm pleased our governments are having a lovely little time

01:33 and a good chuckle.

01:34 It's not like they have anything more pressing

01:36 to be getting on with.

01:37 Anyway, let's see if Professor Michelle's onto something.

01:40 No, I don't think she was.