US professor stirs 'tea controversy' with UK after salt-lemon remark. US embassy issues hilarious clarification

A professor and chemist in the US recently published a book suggesting that the perfect cup of tea requires "a pinch of salt" and "a small squeeze of lemon juice". In doing so, she stirred a controversy between the two tea-loving countries -- the UK and the US. Tea or rather making tea has already been a bone of contention between the two nations with the UK using a kettle to make the brew and the US preferring to "microwave" it.

Therefore, fearing that Michelle Francl's suggestion might add further salt to the wound (or tea?),  the US embassy in London issued a mock clarification which had citizens of both the countries and others on X in splits.

"Today's media reports of an American professor's recipe for the "perfect" cup of tea has landed our special bond with the United Kingdom in hot water," the embassy stated. "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."

They were referring to an article on Michelle Francl's experiments with tea published by The Guardian.

"Therefore we want to ensure the good people of the UK that the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain's national drink is not the official United States policy. And never will be... The US embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way -- by microwaving it," the clarification read.