American Professor's Suggestion to Add Salt to Tea Sparks Outrage. US Embassy Responds With Sarcasm

The importance of tea in British society is clearly reflected in George Orwell's "A Nice Cup Of Tea" in which he wrote, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are excited, it will calm you.” Therefore, when Michelle Francl, a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College argued that adding salt in tea would enhance the beverage's taste, sentiments were hurt. Francl's assertion was based on science, according to NBC News, and he believes that the sodium in salt counteracts the chemical process that makes tea taste bitter. But, this wasn't enough to prevent the English from going berserk on social media since there are some things on which a compromise is just not possible. Seeing the hysterical reactions on social media, the U.S. Embassy in London (@USAinUK) came out with a statement.

The recipe of tea has been experimented with a lot, leading to variants like green tea, Macha tea, and Rooibos tea, but replacing sugar with salt, is just going too far. The post starts with the acknowledgment of how an American professor's "perfect recipe" of tea has caused a rift in the relationship between both countries. They made their thoughts very clear on the matter- "Tea is the elixir of camaraderie, a sacred bond that unites our nations. We cannot stand idly by as such an outrageous proposal threatens the very foundation of our special relationship." Their stand on the issue was very clear, they have and always will adhere to the British way of making tea. Their hope is that this hysterical suggestion does not cause a breakdown between both countries. 

For them the "notion of adding salt to Britain's national drink" is unthinkable, and this bizarre recipe will never become part of America's national policy, no matter how many scientific principles back it to be correct. Their message to their English friends was simple, "Let us unite in our steeped solidarity and show the world that when it comes to tea, we stand as one." They ended the statement with a sarcastic gut punch- "The U.S. Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way- by microwaving it." This was a reference to the microwave controversy which came before the current outrage over salt in tea. The English were shocked beyond belief, when they got to know how Americans use microwaves to heat their tea, rather than boiling it.

People in the comment section were left in splits reading the statement. @angadc gave his recipe for tea that brought the American and British way together, "Everyone knows that the best way to make tea is to microwave milk, then teabag, then hot water." @HomoSapien2pt0 gave the British perspective on the situation and wrote,  "Anyone puts salt in my tea and I'll assume they trying to kill me and call the police. I'll let the microwave slide if it's under 10 seconds and it's just to warm it a little after it's already been made."