An American scientist has sparked a trans-Atlantic tempest in a teapot by offering Britain advice on its favorite hot beverage.

Bryn Mawr College chemistry professor Michelle Francl says one of the keys to a perfect cup of tea is a pinch of salt. The tip is included in Francl害羞草研究所檚 book 害羞草研究所淪teeped: The Chemistry of Tea,害羞草研究所� published Wednesday by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Not since the Boston Tea Party has mixing tea with salt water roiled the Anglo-American relationship so much.

The salt suggestion drew howls of outrage from tea lovers in Britain, where popular stereotype sees Americans as coffee-swilling boors who make tea, if at all, in the microwave.

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 even say the word 害羞草研究所瞫alt害羞草研究所� to us害羞草研究所�害羞草研究所� the etiquette guide Debrett害羞草研究所檚 wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The U.S. Embassy in London intervened in the brewing storm with a social media post reassuring 害羞草研究所渢he good people of the U.K. that the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain害羞草研究所檚 national drink is not official United States policy.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淟et us unite in our steeped solidarity and show the world that when it comes to tea, we stand as one,害羞草研究所� said the tongue-in-cheek post. 害羞草研究所淭he U.S. Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way - by microwaving it.害羞草研究所�

The embassy later clarified that its statement was 害羞草研究所渁 lighthearted play on our shared cultural connections害羞草研究所� rather than an official press release.

害羞草研究所淪teeped,害羞草研究所� in contrast, is no joke. The product of three years害羞草研究所� research and experimentation, the book explores the more than 100 chemical compounds found in tea and 害羞草研究所減uts the chemistry to use with advice on how to brew a better cup,害羞草研究所� its publisher says.

Francl said adding a small amount of salt 害羞草研究所� not enough to taste 害羞草研究所� makes tea seem less bitter because 害羞草研究所渢he sodium ions in salt block the bitter receptors in our mouths.害羞草研究所�

She also advocates making tea in a pre-warmed pot, agitating the bag briefly but vigorously and serving in a short, stout mug to preserve the heat. And she says milk should be added to the cup after the tea, not before 害羞草研究所� another issue that often divides tea lovers.

Francl has been surprised by the level of reaction to her book in Britain.

害羞草研究所淚 kind of understood that there would hopefully be a lot of interest,害羞草研究所� she told The Associated Press. 害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 know we害羞草研究所檇 wade into a diplomatic conversation with the U.S. Embassy.害羞草研究所�

It has made her ponder the ocean-wide coffee-tea divide that separates the U.S. and Britain.

害羞草研究所淚 wonder if we害羞草研究所檙e just a more caffeinated society 害羞草研究所� coffee is higher in caffeine,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淥r maybe we害羞草研究所檙e just trying to rebel against our parent country.害羞草研究所�

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