Tea with salt sparks controversy in UK

 In a move that caused outrage, American scientist Michelle Francl asserted that the most popular drink in Britain, tea, could benefit from a little salt. This claim by Francl drew an “unprecedented” uproar from the British public, leading to diplomatic intervention from the American embassy.

The embassy took to its official social media account to declare that the idea of adding salt to the British national drink is not an official policy of the United States and will never become one. The statement aimed to let it be known to the people of the United Kingdom that the contentious suggestion did not reflect the views of the American government.

Tea has been a source of controversy between the two nations before. In 1733, demonstrators in Boston carried out the infamous Boston Tea Party, tossing 300 chests of tea into the harbor to protest against British taxes, an event that later played a significant role in sparking the American Revolution.

It seems that the idea of adding salt to tea is not entirely new. Professor Francl researched ancient Chinese manuscripts from the eighth century, which referenced the practice. According to her findings, salt acts as a barrier to the receptors that make the tea taste bitter, particularly when it is boiled.

France defended her research, urging British tea lovers to examine the scientific facts before passing judgment. She documented her findings in a new book titled “Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea.”