Bernard O'Shea: I tried putting salt in my tea — here's what happened

Bernard O'Shea on a journey through the comforting rituals of his youth and the online trend of adding unusual extras to your daily cuppa

Bernard O'Shea adds salt to his tea this week

Let me take you back to my youth, where mornings were marked by the comforting ritual of my mother making me a cuppa.

Like clockwork, she would brew that familiar elixir that kickstarted my day every morning. However, one particular morning, my youthful curiosity got the better of me.

With a puzzled expression, I took a sip of my tea and told my dear mother: “You never put any sugar into my tea.”

To which she confidently replied: “Yes, I did.” I retorted: “Well, you never stirred it!”

It’s a story my mother delights in sharing at opportune moments, much to my embarrassment, especially when I catch myself lamenting that my kids treat me like a slave.

Ah, the joys of parenthood and the inevitable turn of the tables!

Tea consumption is a habit and a way of life in Ireland and Britain. So ingrained is this love for tea that it has even lent its name to a specific time of day — teatime, that sacred hour between 6pm to 7 pm in Ireland and Britain.

Black tea reigns supreme in these parts, but the variations in its consumption are as diverse as the individuals who partake.

Some prefer it with a generous splash of milk, others without, some like it strong enough to stand a spoon upright, while others prefer a gentler brew.

And don’t get me started on the sugar debate — it’s a contentious issue that divides households. Tea bag v loose tea is another battleground in the realm of tea aficionados, with staunch supporters on both sides extolling the virtues of their chosen method.

But tea culture extends far beyond the shores of Britain and Ireland. In China, tea is not just a beverage; it’s a cornerstone of social interaction and hospitality.

From the elaborate tea ceremonies of Japan to the vibrant chai wallahs of India, each culture brings its unique flavour to the world of tea. With its vibrant green hue and earthy taste, matcha tea has gained a cult following in recent years, while chai tea, with its heady blend of spices, offers a comforting embrace on chilly days.

And then there’s the latest trend that’s been making waves in the online sphere: Adding salt to tea.

Don’t be afraid to experiment the next time you reach for your teapot.

Yes, you read that right — salt. It might sound strange at first, but proponents of this unconventional practice swear by it.

But where did this trend originate, and why has it gained traction?

Some attribute it to a desire for a more balanced flavour profile, while others point to the culinary trend of salted caramel as inspiration.

Salt has a remarkable ability to amplify the flavours in a dish or beverage, acting as a natural enhancer. It stimulates our taste buds, making food and drink taste more vibrant. So, adding a pinch of salt to your tea could elevate it to new heights.

Furthermore, salt has been used historically in certain tea traditions, albeit in different forms.

In Tibet, for example, butter tea, a staple in Tibetan culture, often includes salt as a key ingredient.

This savoury twist adds depth and complexity to the drink, balancing out the richness of the butter and tea.

The practice of adding salt to tea has sparked debate among tea enthusiasts, with some embracing it as a bold new experience and others dismissing it as sacrilege.

Yet, isn’t experimentation and innovation what keeps our culinary traditions alive and evolving?

After all, who would have thought that the humble avocado would become a ubiquitous toast topper or that kale would dethrone lettuce as the king of salads?

So what does it taste like?

Brace yourself for the most obvious statement ever printed in the illustrious history of this newspaper.

Are you ready? Putting salt into your tea will taste like (drumroll please) salty tea! It’s not bad; it is reminiscent of chai if made without 99% of the “chai”. It’s not something I’ll be returning to soon as I value my cuppa way too much to pollute it with anything other than tea and a small drop of milk (I don’t take sugar any more, Mum)

So, don’t be afraid to experiment the next time you reach for your teapot.

Who knows, in years to come, one of my kids might scream to me in the morning: “Hey, Dad, you never put salt in my tea!”