Salt in Tea? The Latest Transatlantic Tea Debate Explained
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.