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I'm in a hotel in America with no kettle in my room, if I want tea I have to microwave it. (sopuli.xyz)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/britishproblems@feddit.uk
23 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://piefed.blahaj.zone/c/casualuk/p/425035/i-m-in-a-hotel-in-america-with-no-kettle-in-my-room-if-i-want-tea-i-have-to-microw

Wtf do I do? I'm only here for one night thank fuck but it's still very hard.

all 23 comments

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[–] 17 points 11 months ago (8 children)

Sure, it feels a bit odd ... but what's the issue? It will boil the water.

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (7 children)

    If you want your tea to actually be drinkable and not taste like just bitter water, you don't use boiling water. A proper electric kettle allows you to set the water temperature to 85, 90 or 95°C.

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  • [–] 12 points 11 months ago* (4 children)

    Never heard of that. All the electric kettles I've ever seen just turn off once the water is boiling.

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  • [–] 6 points 11 months ago* (2 children)

    More to the point. Most kettles intentionally do not use temperature to do so. But instead use water pressure from the boil to turn it off.

    Because water boils at different tempraturs at different altertudes etc. iE at higher altitudes the kettle will turn off at lower temperatures but the water is still boiling,

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)
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  • [–] 3 points 11 months ago

    Yeah it matter way more to folks who like darker tea.

    Water that is boiled allows the tanning to release more effectively. Hence tea made without boiling water thens to look whiter and even when colour is forced out with a spoon. Lacks the same flavour.

    Tanning is also why tea has a calming effect. Mached with caffeine. It places the mind in a good state for problem solving. Hence the UK reputation of turning to it for all problems.

    Well that and both tanning and caffeine are addictive.

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  • [–] 6 points 11 months ago

    I can confirm they exist, as one of the places I sometimes work has one - the base unit has a button for 70°/80°/90°/100°.

    However, despite probably drinking in excess of 50,000 cups of tea in my life, I've only ever seen one of these kettles. The others have all been either "normal electric kettles" as you described, those always-on-water-boiler things you get in offices, or very occasionally, a traditional "put it on the hob or camping stove" kettle.

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  • [–] 6 points 11 months ago* (1 child)

    True for coffee and green tea.

    UK taste insist black tea must be boiled. And that dose not mean 100c but diff temps at different altitude. Hence most of our kettles use the physics of boiling water. Rather then temp to turn off.

    The effect of boiled water releases certain flavours in the tea. Those who like darker tea (more tanning released) tend to be the most fussy about this.

    Tanning is also the chemical in tea that calms the mind. Hence why Brits have a tradition of turning to tea in stress etc. the tanning and caffeine work well together to clear allow a relaxed but active mind.

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    • [–] 14 points 11 months ago* (1 child)

    If you ask the front desk, they may supply you with an electric kettle.

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    • [–] 8 points 11 months ago

    Enjoy another British past time.... Getting wankered and streaking through the hotel lobby. Wahey!

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    [–] 6 points 11 months ago (5 children)

    There's no tiny coffee machine in there? Put water in with no filter/grounds and it should heat up just right

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Coffee machines do not boil water. Just heat it to below boiling.

    This has a significant effect on the brewing of tea. And means the flavour will be very unpleasant to many Brits.

    It is also the issue Brits find with the vaste majority of tea sold in American restaurants etc.

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    • [–] 4 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    I honestly don't understand the preference for how the molecules in your water start moving.

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    • [–] 8 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Yup, welcome to the US.

    (I'm Danish, we have kettles, obviously - I just watched a YT video about how Americans don't just days ago - the poor bastards)

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    • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    It's rare but some hotels have these in their rooms in the US. I wish they were more common here though. Not enough people use them.

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