Taking tea with a pinch of salt - 12th February 2024

USA and UK relations have been strained after American chemistry professor Michelle Francl published her book, “Steeped: The chemistry of tea”, insisting that the British national drink should be taken with a pinch of salt. Francl cites research on chemical taste suggesting that sodium balances out the naturally bitter flavour of tea leaves, but to tea lovers in the UK, this took the biscuit.

Steeped in history itself, the British tradition of making tea’s adhered to with simple devotion. After pouring boiling hot water onto black tea, the brew is left to steep for three minutes, following which each cup receives a dash of milk. Some then sweeten their cuppa with one or two teaspoons of sugar as a matter of personal taste.

Eager not to leave the public stewing, the US Embassy in London acted quickly to avoid staining the Anglo-American special relationship, issuing a statement saying “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.”

However, concluding that “The US Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way - by microwaving it,” left a bitter taste. The UK government poured scorn on this idea, responding that the only way to brew a cuppa was by using a kettle.

Online personalities quickly stirred the pot, comparing this affront to the 1773 Boston Tea Party, where American colonists had protested at the imposition of the Tea Tax without political consultation. Dumping 340 chests of tea - with a value of $1.7 million today – into Boston harbour, the event and slogan “no taxation without representation” buoyed the revolutionary movement, with independence being declared in 1776.

However, the British habit of putting the kettle on came from Portuguese royalty when Queen Catherine of Braganza married King Charles II and imported the tradition, learned through Portugal’s trading with China. And though the practice of adding salt may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s long been common in Central Asia and scientists claim it assists with sodium and potassium uptake. The question is, how do you take your tea?