British tea experts hit back at wild American claims - with proper recipe

25 January 2024 , 15:32

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Tea experts have chimed in with their thoughts of salt in tea (Image: Getty Images)

As bizarre claims that we should be putting our salt in our tea have shocked the nation this week, tea experts Whittard's of Chelsea have now chimed in with how to properly make a British brew.

Everyone has their own tea preference. Some like a proper builders brew, while others opt for something a little milkier, and there are lots of varieties - but one thing we're all in agreement with is no salt, right?

The quintessentially British drink has been around forever and we drink millions of cups of the stuff. But now American reasearchers are claiming you need to put salt in your brew for the perfect cuppa, and it's caused quite the transatlantic tension.

And if we Brits are not offended enough, the US Embassy then got involved and claimed microwaving the tea is the "proper" way to do it.

Thankfully expert tea makers at Whittard of Chelsea, have mastered the art of a British cup of tea and they've curated a guide to tip-top brewing below. Americans should take note. The pros at Whittard's of Chelsea stated: "While we encourage you to explore ways of enjoying your tea, no one brews quite like the British".

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Angela Pryce, Senior Tea Buyer, insisted that adding salt and said it "shouldn't be necessary". She revealed: "While Tibetan butter tea has been drunk with 1/2 teaspoon salt in it for centuries, adding salt to reduce the bitterness of your regular cup shouldn't be necessary. If brewing methods are correct, then the tea will never taste bitter."

Angela then added: "It's key to always use water freshly drawn from the tap or a filter jug: the higher levels of oxygen in freshwater give your cup of tea a cleaner, brighter taste. Ensure you're brewing with water that's the correct temperature for your blend and for the correct time."

After spending 135 years honing their technique, Whittards of Chelsea share their step-by-step below.

1. First of all, they urge tea makers to use fresh water. This is because the "higher levels of oxygen in freshwater give you cup of tea a cleaner, brighter taste."
2. Next, they instruct people to "watch the temperature" as they claim: "Using water that's too hot can scorch the tea leaves or water that's too cool won't allow the full flavour to be released. Black teas are commonly brewed at 90°C, while Matcha Green Tea should be made at a cooler 70°C."
3. Using loose-leaf is just as easy as a tea bag and Whittard's experts share: "Loose leaf can seem fiddly, but the truth is it's as easy as teabags. Just remember: use one teaspoon (around 2g) per cup of tea, or two per cup if you're brewing white tea, yellow tea or a fruit and herbal infusion."
4. Finally, they suggest brewing for your preferred taste and the type of tea you are infusing. They said: "Each of our teas tells you how many minutes to brew, but it all depends on your taste. As a general rule, more robust teas reach the best strength between 3–5 minutes' infusing, while delicate teas like Darjeeling, white and green teas should only be infused for around 2–3 minutes."

Niamh Kirk