Tea Making Method Requires a Pinch of Salt.

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mawnansmiff

Lifer
Oct 14, 2015
7,641
8,131
Sunny Cornwall, UK.
Apparently some boffin in the US says we've been making tea the wrong way as she says a pinch of salt is required to make the perfect cuppa :oops:

I've heard some yarns in my time but this one really tickles me.

And as for microwaving tea, surely that's a story for April 1st?


Jay.
 

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
4,960
14,305
Humansville Missouri
I’ve not done it myself, for years, but my parents and grandparents invariably added a tiny pinch of salt to every boiling pot, for tea, coffee, whatever.

They claimed it helped keep the pot or kettle from boiling over, by raising the boiling temperature.

I always took that idea with a grain of salt.:)

But it’s a widely used practice.

 
Last edited:

Sigmund

Lifer
Sep 17, 2023
2,859
27,083
France
American microwaves are as powerful or moreso than eu models. 220 volts doesnt indicate cooking power. Wattage is the issue. Most all microwave brands use the same primary machinery built bu one or two companies. They are different wattage but voltage varies. I’m sure we have electricians here who can explain it technically.

But back to tea…Americans will trend towards microwave tea because for most tea is not important. A good kettle costs money and most dont bother.
 
Our microwave is only ever used for popcorn and reheating coffee that was left too long on the counter.
I put salt on pretty much everything, but I'm sorry, even putting salt in it, I can't bring myself to drink hot or even warm tea. It's just un-American. We throw that shit in the ocean and get cranked up on coffee in the mornings. puffy
 
I have not tried to put salt in my tea ever yet.

Having said that … there are hundreds (If not thousands) of varieties of tea in the world and when combined with the brewing method it will possibly create millions of recipes, some of them with salt.

I do think a pungent earthy Pu Err may benefit with addition of salt. Or a sweet tea can have some complexity added with salt (Like a salted caramel)

I rarely drink my tea with milk and sugar but may add salt next time I do.
 

King Bulldog

Starting to Get Obsessed
Apparently some boffin in the US says we've been making tea the wrong way as she says a pinch of salt is required to make the perfect cuppa :oops:

I've heard some yarns in my time but this one really tickles me.

And as for microwaving tea, surely that's a story for April 1st?


Jay.
Bloody nutters here in the US lad. I do have to say, iced sweet tea is good. Give me a cuppa irish tea in the morning and I'm content.
 

SBC

Lifer
Oct 6, 2021
1,591
7,527
NE Wisconsin
We're tea drinking Americans in this home, but then we're Anglican, so maybe that's it...

My wife typically brings me a cup at some point during my work day (I work from home), and then I typically have another at night.

We do boil water in an electric kettle, but then steep leaves in a proper pot (actually a Brown Betty from Stoke-on-Trent), and pour through a strainer.

I don't feel especially motivated to try salt in it.
 

Hillcrest

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
3,638
18,416
Connecticut, USA
I drink columbian coffee in the morning and black tea the rest of the day and evening. I don't put salt on anything and if a recipe calls for it I reduce the amount. Just not my preference in flavor. You might be surprised to learn that there was a tea drinking thread awhile ago and a great majority of forums members are tea drinkers ... even from the U.S. ! I have heard salt reduces the acidity of coffee especially percolated coffee. You might try a pinch of ground chicory root to boost flavor and remove acidity but be forewarned it is a diuretic. Its popular in the south and southwest U.S. and Mexico.
 

burleybreath

Lifer
Aug 29, 2019
1,081
3,821
Finger Lakes area, New York, USA
How much is a "tiny pinch?" I'd give it a shot just to see how it tastes. Couldn't be any worse than milk, sugar, lemon, or honey, etc. Those additives completely kill any tea taste--which I really like--at least for my palate.