US Embassy in UK issues cheeky statement on brewing drama: Adding salt to tea 'never will be' our policy

The U.S. Embassy in London is attempting to pour cold water on a brewing controversy about the best way to prepare a cup of tea.

In a new book released Wednesday, “Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea,” Bryn Mawr College chemistry professor Michelle Francl advised tea lovers to add a pinch of salt to their drinks.

“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,” Francl said, according to The Guardian.

Following news reports about the book, the American Embassy in London took to social media to practice a bit of teatime diplomacy. Without naming Francl, the message said that “an American professor’s recipe for the ‘perfect’ cup of tea has landed our special bond with the United Kingdom in hot water.”

“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,” said a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Therefore we want to ensure the good people of the U.K. that the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain’s national drink is not official United States policy. And never will be,” the U.S. Embassy contended.

“Let us unite in our steeped solidarity and show the world that when it comes to tea, we stand as one,” the tongue-in-cheek statement said, before potentially unleashing a tempest in a teapot with its final line.

“The U.S. Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way — by microwaving it."