SALT for the perfect cup of TEA?

[AviatorTom]

A transatlantic kerfuffle erupted yesterday (25 January 2024) after the Royal Society of Chemistry published a US chemistry professor’s guidance that a pinch of salt helps brew the perfect cup of tea. Brits got so steamed up shouting on social media about the audacious American advice that even London’s US Embassy got involved, assuring UK citizens that “the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain’s national drink is not official United States policy.” [courtesy Morning Brew]

Here is the story

A US scientist has brewed up a storm by offering Britain advice on making tea

What do you think? Do you add a pinch of salt when brewing tea?

[purplepoppy]

Apparently, the Japanese did it centuries ago. But I confess I tried it today and couldn't detect any difference, for better or worse. Perhaps I didn't add enough.

The real secret is to pick a blend designed for your local water and make it with freshly boiled water. A friend told me she ordered tea in America and they brought her a tea bag in a cup and a jug of warm water.

Fun fact. Gun crime is lower in the UK because it's difficult to shoot and not spill your tea.

[RedInnocent68]

Giving your body to science, I see…

[butterly248]

@purplepoppy couldn't have explained it better myself lol

[Phoenix98]

Could have also been the kind of salt you used to. Table salt may have a different effect from say sea salt or something else.

[DJB72]

As a marksman - an English one - I'd have to disagree. You just have to practice more so you don't waste your precious nectar when the rifle recoils...

[Anonymous]

Use Real Salt and you'll get your trace minerals also.

www.vitacost.com/.../...-Sea-Salt-018788101093.jpg

[OlderAndWiser]

I almost never use salt when cooking and I almost never put salt on food before I eat it (except for Freedom fries, of course, which I rarely eat.) I drink hot tea rarely. I guess I would try salt just to see how it affects the flavor. It might be like adding salt to grits; a little bit of salt makes grits taste sweeter.

I drink iced tea routinely at home but it is always puerh tea. Best ever!

[DJB72]

As a lifelong tea drinking Brit, I've yet to meet a Yankee that can make a better cup of tea than I can...

[AviatorTom]

@DJB72 Nothing personal... The best cup this Yankee has ever had was in Shanghai China, brewed by a little old Chinese lady, and served in a cup with a lid on it to keep it warm.

[DJB72]

No offense taken. I prefer Indian teas like Assam but I've had some excellent Chinese teas as well.

A few years ago we were gifted a traditional Chinese tea set by a friend from Beijing. I use it occasionally and it does brew most excellent tea. Especially Green tea with ginger and mint

[FreyaRed]

Yes, a very small pinch of salt improves lot of hot drinks.

[mandyfire98]

Better keep that shit out of my coffee. I wanted to die when I heard people were putting butter in their coffee.

[RebelinSteel]

Tbf the US Embassy did quickly release an apology…

[butterly248]

This made me laugh :)

[Demonatrix]

To each their own. If you want to add salt, it's not much different from the other things that can be added.

[AngryCarl]

The only way I would drink tea is if there was a catastrophic failure of the coffee harvest. But putting salt in your drinks is a bad idea, salt hardens your arteries, which is bad for some reason.

[Phoenix98]

O my it's the beginning of the Boston tea party all over again except now we're putting salt in tea instead of boxes of tea in the ocean lol.

[butterly248]

😂😂😂

[Sparkie460]

I never use salt ever

[LRSJame]

no thanks