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.
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.
Yeah we’re not exactly known for our tea here, unless it’s in a harbor or so full of sugar it’s not even really tea anymore, so I can see it not going over that well. I just made a cup but it’s one of my favorite kinds and I’m too afraid to try the salt in case it ruins it.
“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.
Hah. This is me respectfully nodding in your general direction.
Although I’ll admit that in my case this mostly manifests as me buying literally any food I haven’t eaten before and putting super gross stuff in my mouth, no matter how transparent of a marketing scheme it is. I bought that coke they asked ChatGPT to formulate. This is a real problem.
Also, if anybody is curious I put a pinch of salt in my tea today. It was fine, not noticeable. I’ll try a bigger pinch next time.
Temperature is a state function. It is completely irrelevant if you boil or microwave you water.
We will continue to microwave because science
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.
Temperature affects dissolved oxygen.
Microwaves don’t hurt the water any.
The world is in a bad place - war, famine, climate change and now this fucker is trying to start WWIII.
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!
I’ll be trying too. Bare in mind that they are suggesting it removes bitterness in particularly stewed tea
My attempt was underwhelming, how about yours?
Well that’s embarrassing. I forgot, and I’m sitting here with a cup of tea.
…
2 minutes later… as you say … ‘meh’
Please report back
See below!
Scientifically it makes sense.
But I’d rather take a walking holiday in Milton Keynes than do it.
“rather take a walking holiday in Milton Keynes”
Nice, I’m stealing this one
“I have had better cups of tea at service stations in Ireland than I have had at fancy restaurants in the US.”
Ha, burn.
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.
That article was actually more amusing and informative than I was expecting!
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.
and coffee
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.
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?
“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.
This actually makes sense. I might be able to enjoy tea with this trick, rather than just feeling like I am drinking the remnants of some other drink.
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.
I heard in Boston they not only add salt but also some molasses. Wonder what that might taste like
I put a pinch of salt in my coffee.
https://www.thekitchn.com/alton-brown-coffee-tip-salt-267757
Alton Brown FTW
