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As Mary Poppins wisely said, 'A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.' It also makes tea easier to drink. But sugar may not be the best way to reduce bitterness in your tea.
If you're aiming for a less bitter cup of tea, consider reaching for the salt instead. Michelle Francl, a chemist at Bryn Mawr College, recommended this surprising—and to some Brits, unthinkable—tip in her book Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea.
To understand why salt might help with bitterness, it's key to first know why tea tastes bitter. Tea contains tannins, naturally occurring compounds in the leaves. These tannins are astringent and contribute to the bitter taste. The longer you steep the tea, the more tannins are released, which is why over-steeping often results in an unpleasant taste. Black tea, with its higher tannin content, is especially prone to this bitterness, which is why people often add milk and sugar.
It might seem odd to add savory salt to a bitter drink, but salt works to counteract the tannins, reducing the unpleasant taste by blocking the bitterness receptors on your tongue. Since salt enhances flavors naturally, it can also bring out the other notes in the tea, making it smoother and more enjoyable.
Just don't go overboard—avoid salting your tea like it's pasta water. A tiny, and we mean tiny, pinch of salt is all it takes to improve the flavor of your next cup.
The idea of adding salt to tea sparked some lighthearted ribbing between the U.S. Embassy in London and the British government. Traditionally, milk and sugar accompany tea. But this wasn't always the case.
Sugar was once considered a luxury in Europe, a symbol of wealth. As concerns about its health impact grew, sugar lost favor—until tea became popular in the 1600s as a 'healthy' beverage. Figures like Thomas Tryon championed sugar in tea as a moderate way to enjoy sweetness. This shift helped solidify tea as Britain’s drink of choice and fueled global sugar demand, shaping economies for centuries.
However, other cultures were sipping tea long before it reached the UK and the Americas—and many were even adding a little salt to their brew.
