A US scientist has left Brits outraged after saying the perfect cup of tea requires one weird ingredient.
Michelle Francl, a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, analysed hundreds of research papers and pored over historic texts to create the recipe.
She suggests people use a short, stout mug that has been preheated to keep tea hotter and increase the amount of caffeine and antioxidants released during brewing.
Then, she recommends making tea with loose leaves rather than bags, as it gives the leaves more room to circulate, extracting more fragrant compounds.
Also, leaves should only be used once, with virtually all caffeine and antioxidants gone within a minute of steeping.
Professor Francl also said to slightly warm milk before adding it, to reduce the risk of it curdling and reduce how much the tea cools.
But her oddest suggestion is to lastly add a pinch of salt to reduce the bitterness of the tea.
The scientist, who has written Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea about her findings, told the Mail: “You get some awful cups of tea in the US. People here often use lukewarm water straight from a tap. It’s horrific.
“I grew up in the Midwest, which is deep coffee-drinking country, but tea has always been my preferred drink – and I have invested a lot of time into studying it.”
“Tea is a cultural touchstone in Britain, but is enjoyed all over the world.
“Even after all these years of drinking tea and researching chemistry, I learned new things about what is in my cup and how to make the very best cup of tea.”
But some Brits were outraged by her suggestions with one person saying: “Salt!! Heresy!”
Another said: “And to think for 66 years I’ve been drinking tea that I find perfect and suits my taste exactly only to find a woman from a nation of coffee drinkers says I’m wrong.”
Others suggested their favourite way to make tea. One said: “No, just a good pot of strong Yorkshire tea splash of semi-skimmed milk lovely.”
Another added: “For the perfect cup of tea go to a church fete, made by an old dear in a huge metal teapot. Best you will get.”
