9 mo. ago • 92%

US scientist recommends adding salt to make perfect cup of tea - BBC News

www.bbc.co.uk US scientist recommends adding salt to make perfect cup of tea

The US Embassy describes Prof Michelle Francl's suggested tea recipe as an "unthinkable notion".

77 comments

As an American (and filthy microwaver of tea, though I do have a kettle now) I just stopped scrolling in the hopes of witnessing some rage at the idea, but everyone's being really reasonable. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.

46
- Dude, I've been experimenting with different mixes of ginger and cinnamon. People obsess about water temperatures. Tea drinkers like nothing but ideas for more posh things to do to their drinks. "Pinch of salt" is just snobby enough that I can't wait to try it and tell it to all my friends next time I'm complaining about a lackluster café order.
  
  The big issue I see, and it's a PR thing, is it coming from the US. That alone may disqualify it. We'll have to see.
  
  20
  
  As a Brit this is genuinely the exact opposite of how most tea drinkers are here. The less shit you do to it the better is the general view.
  
  11
  
  "Pinch of salt" is just snobby enough that I can't wait to try it and tell it to all my friends next time I'm complaining about a lackluster café order.
  
  See, this is why I love the internet, it allows me to find my kin. I relish in learning enough about a niche thing that I have enough discernment that I can be a bit of a snob, if I wish.
  
  1
- Temperature is a state function. It is completely irrelevant if you boil or microwave you water.
  
  We will continue to microwave because science
  
  16
  
  Does your microwave have an in-built thermometer which stops the heating at the right temperature like a kettle?
  
  4
  
  I've read that water oxygenation is affected by microwaving water, so there is some difference to standard boiling. Whether this matters for tea or not is a different question, and I can't find anything decisive on the matter.
  
  2
- To be honest, the microwave thing outrages me far more than the salt thing.
  
  6
  
  But why? The water will be hot either way. Who cares how it gets that way?
  
  8
- Microwaves don't hurt the water any.
  
  4
- Microwave tea?!?!?!?!?
  
  3
  
  No, microwave water to make tea.
  
  8
The world is in a bad place - war, famine, climate change and now this fucker is trying to start WWIII.

33
Scientifically it makes sense.

But I'd rather take a walking holiday in Milton Keynes than do it.

22
- "rather take a walking holiday in Milton Keynes"
  
  Nice, I'm stealing this one
  
  5
I can imagine living in a world where this is the top point of conflict across the globe. No wars, no famine, no climate change, no oppression... Just, "can you believe this twat saying we should put salt in tea!?!"

21
- And once we've solved that conflict and everyone is on the right side of history, the true conflict can begin between the virgin Tea Salters and the chad Salted Tea Enjoyers.
  
  2
Well if nobody else is brave enough to try it, I'll give it a go in the morning and report back. Never let it be said that I shy away from a good bit of sciencing!

20
- I'll be trying too. Bare in mind that they are suggesting it removes bitterness in particularly stewed tea
  
  5
- Please report back
  
  3
  
  Radio silence, they may have died
  
  2
  
  See below!
  
  2
"I have had better cups of tea at service stations in Ireland than I have had at fancy restaurants in the US."

Ha, burn.

20
...Okay tomorrow at work I will give it a go. If salt makes tea taste better I will be so mad!

Edit: Well that ruined it. It does get rid of that slight bitterness. I liked that bitterness

17
- literally couldn't make it taste worse, amirite?
  
  8
  
  Well it did. Its just a regular crap cup of tea now instead of a nice cup of crap tea.
  
  1
Why would you want to take away the tiny bit of bitterness that tea has?

13
- Right. Tea is supposed to be bitter.
  
  Try adding sugar to your gin and tonic to remove the lemon flavour...
  
  4
  
  Hey you guys. I heard that liking bitter stuff means you're much more likely to be a sociopath.
  
  6
  
  Ooh boy do I have some news for you about the ingredients of tonic water...
  
  5
That article was actually more amusing and informative than I was expecting!

7
I tried it. It did seem to work. I will try a few more times and record whether I detect bitterness or not. Ideally I would conduct a blind taste test but I don't want to change my ritual too much.

7
"We want to ensure the good people of the UK that the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain's national drink is not official United States policy. And never will be," the embassy said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Getting ahead of a diplomatic crisis. Good idea.

6
Damnit. Now the Royal Navy in on the way to dump our tea in Boston Harbor.

Funny enough, a pinch a salt in coffee is a US Navy thing. Tried it, but must have overdone it.

6
and coffee

4
- I don't drink much tea, but a lil pinch of salt DEFINITELY makes coffee better. It makes shitty coffee less shitty and good coffee even better.
  
  2
Mans getting bare rude yeah? Whos endz you think ur in bruv? The disrespec. We gonna make 1812 look like a fuckin' joke, you know what I'm sayin fam?

4
- This comment gave me the ick
  
  0
Ha ha ha ha. No.

3
and coconut milk, a little curry, some stir fried veggies, a soft boiled egg, and ramen noodles. Perfect cup of tea. Just ask Gordon Ramsey.

3
https://nitter.net/usainuk/status/1750136728034169147

2
I heard in Boston they not only add salt but also some molasses. Wonder what that might taste like

2
- Historically, in Boston, they add the salt by chucking the tea in the harbour.
  
  11
  
  But only after they get told they can’t genocide westwards.
  
  2
- Salty and sweet
  
  1
Also why does the thumbnail show someone touching the teabag with their finger...

2
- Gotta squeeze all the tea out!
  
  11
  
  So that it's bitter? So that you have a reason to put salt in it?
  
  4
  
  Squidge against the side of the mug
  
  2
Absofuckinglutely not.

2
I put a pinch of salt in my coffee.

https://www.thekitchn.com/alton-brown-coffee-tip-salt-267757

Alton Brown FTW

1

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