An American chemistry professor, inspired by “The Classic of Tea” written by China’s “Tea Sage” Lu Yu, proposed a scientific viewpoint of adding salt to tea, unexpectedly sparking dissatisfaction among the British. Currently, a "dispute" has arisen between the UK and the USA over this issue.
The protagonist of the event is Michelle Francl, a chemistry professor at Bryn Mawr College in the USA. She suggested that adding a pinch of salt to tea might be the secret to brewing the perfect cup of tea.
Unexpectedly, Francl's suggestion has generated widespread attention on social media and has even led to comparisons with the "Boston Tea Party"—after all, the start of the American-British disagreement was attributed to "brewing tea with sea water". Following this, both the American embassy and the UK Cabinet Office couldn't resist joining in to tease the matter.
At present, this amusing "dispute" has spread from official to popular culture.
"Salt-Tea Battle" Details
The origin of the "Salt-Tea Battle" can be traced back to Francl's scientific publication “Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea”. In her book, she referenced the 8th-century Chinese tea master Lu Yu’s manuscript "The Classic of Tea"—which first recommended adding a type of salt to the tea for a better flavor.In the book, she delved into the chemical principles behind this, suggesting that the sodium ions in salt can block the taste of bitterness, thereby improving the taste of tea and assisting with the production of more antioxidants when the tea is over-brewed. Eventually, she concluded that "the perfect way to brew tea should include the addition of a small amount of salt."
However, this suggestion caused an uproar in the UK. The Daily Mail exclaimed: "American scientist reveals the secret to brewing the perfect cup of tea... but adding hot milk and salt might make Britons 'boil'." Meanwhile, The Guardian also questioned this "maddening" tea recipe. In the UK, drinking tea is a serious matter. The British have long revered the ritual of tea drinking, establishing specific rules and customs associated with it. By contrast, the American approach to making tea, which is sometimes seen as more casual, at times is regarded as disrespectful or lacking elegance. As the "Salt-Tea Battle" escalated, the US Embassy in London tried to defuse tension with humor, tweeting: "The outlandish idea of adding salt to the British 'national drink' is definitely not a US official policy, and never will be." However, the statement included a twist at the end: "But we will always stand by brewing tea in the correct way—with a microwave." In response, the UK Cabinet Office also replied, retweeting the embassy's post and commenting: "We cherish our special relationship, but we heartily disagree... Tea should solely be made with a kettle." The US Embassy in London and the UK Cabinet Office Officials Join the "Salt-Tea Battle" This exchange between US and UK officials has caused a burst of laughter on social media, creating an interesting contrast to the tense situation of the 1773 Boston Tea Party.
"Nevermind science, I know how to brew tea"
In March 2020, Michelle Francl published a paper titled “A chemist’s cup of tea” in Nature Chemistry. The paper underscores the chemical aspects of tea and how the chemical sciences can help us understand and improve everyday practices.
Michelle Francl's paper published in Nature Chemistry At the opening of the paper, Francl remarks, "When I first read Chemical News at the Philadelphia Library, I was also sipping my favorite tea", showing her profound passion for tea culture. After writing this paper, Professor Francl has spent three years reading 500 articles, meticulously trying 400 cups of tea, eventually resulting in the book "Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea". What she didn't expect was, "I wrote this 240-page book about the chemistry of tea and people are very interested in just one page: the suggestion to add salt." And it is this page that has sparked the current "Salt-Tea Battle". In an interview with PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), Professor Francl expressed helplessly, "I understand I've caused a stir; I did not intend to instigate a diplomatic incident." "But I woke up yesterday morning to find the US embassy weighing in on my science," she added. Besides Francl herself, PBS also interviewed several Britons to understand why they've had such a strong reaction. Among them, Quentin Letts, a British subject, said bluntly he loathed the thought of adding salt: "I'm just a 'mouldy' old Englishman and even the thought of a few grains of salt is contrary to intuition, it only causes me annoyance." Another Briton, under the camera's gaze, tried adding a pinch of salt to his freshly brewed tea. After trying it, he pursed his lips towards the camera and said, "It's not bad to taste, but this makes me feel like a traitor." Some British tea ceremony masters have also stood up against Francl's view. They believe that adding salt to tea may make the classic tea-tasting experience lose its solemnity and mystique. In their opinion, a tea ceremony is not just a science, it also embodies rich historical traditions, profound philosophical thoughts, and a unique aesthetic pursuit. As the "dispute" unfolds, social media has also seen a surge of meme images and humorous clips related to adding salt to tea. Memes circulating on social media Despite the ongoing controversy, many have started to actively try the new tea recipe and are quietly accepting the possibility of adding salt to tea. Tea lovers from around the world have also expressed their stance on this suggestion, with netizens jokingly claiming, "It's a revolution for tea; we need a bit of salty change." "I try to build all this on a foundation of science, yet people keep showing the attitude of 'nevermind the science, I know how I make my tea'," said Francl.
Read More: About China’s "Tea Sage" and "The Classic of Tea"
The tea culture cherished by the British is somewhat bland at the historical level.
As recorded, Chinese tea culture originated during the era of Shennong, with a history spanning thousands of years. As an important part of Chinese life and culture, tea culture integrates life aesthetics, philosophical thought, and social etiquette. At the same time, Chinese tea culture also represents family, friendship, and the decorum and respect between host and guest. Moreover, tea culture is manifested not only in the tea itself but also in various aspects such as the tea ceremony, tea ware, and tea art. In many areas of China, tea-making is not just a daily routine but also an affair of artistry, aesthetic appeal, and culture. The initial cause of this event was "The Classic of Tea" by the "Tea Sage" Lu Yu. As the original text describes: "At first boil, adjust the taste of the water with a measure of salt flavoring…" Lu Yu, a literatus, poet, herbologist, and founder of the tea ceremony in the Tang Dynasty, wrote "The Classic of Tea", which is the first comprehensive treaty on tea in the world. "The Classic of Tea" mainly consists of three volumes covering the origin of tea leaves, cultivation of the tea plant, harvesting process, and the tea ceremony, among other aspects. Until this day, Lu Yu’s "The Classic of Tea" continues to influence research and practice in tea ceremony and tea making—as Francl did. Furthermore, due to its seminal position in the history of world tea culture, it is also acclaimed as the groundbreaking work of Chinese tea studies. Additionally, the practice of adding salt to tea today is still a common custom for many in China—Tibetan people are accustomed to adding salt to butter tea. A folk saying goes, "A promise without wording is hard to keep, tea without salt is hard to drink." Moreover, people also equate intimate affection with tea and salt.
Related publication information:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2024/01/26/professors-salty-suggestion-tea-triggers-trans-atlantic-tremors
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-020-0445-0
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/american-chemist-causes-stir-in-britain-by-suggesting-salt-can-improve-cup-of-tea
Note: The Boston Tea Party: In 1773, the British government passed the Tea Act, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on the tea market in the American colonies. Dozens of American protesters, disguised as Indians, boarded ships loaded with tea and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. This event became a significant prelude to the American War of Independence.
