As you travel to other countries, or even just speak to people who live in different parts of the world, you begin to realize that there are so many things people do and eat in other places that seem super weird to us Americans. For example, it may seem strange to some that in Japan, a popular breakfast is fish and tofu with soy sauce. Or that in Australia, a breakfast staple is Vegemite and/or Marmite — a spread that might seem quite odd to us. And just as you’re realizing that people in other countries do things that are strange to us, you’ll also realize that we do some things in the United States that are totally weird to them.
For example, people in other countries cannot believe that we, as Americans, consume so much soft, sweet bread, which is totally normal to us. They also don’t understand why we put so much ice in our drinks, which… why not? Another weird thing they don’t get: why we sometimes make tea in the microwave. Apparently, everyone thinks Americans are gross for how we boil water. They don’t understand what we’re doing, and why we’re doing it, and it’s actually pretty interesting.
According to a Buzzfeed article and many posts on social media, people in other countries simply cannot wrap their heads around the fact that many Americans use the microwave to boil water for a cup of tea.
Can’t believe Americans actually boil water by putting a cup of it in a microwave.
— OLONI BABY 🍒 (@Oloni) October 12, 2018
I saw this article and I am genuinely shocked. Do Americans REALLY use microwaves to boil their water for tea and stuff??? Please tell me.... pic.twitter.com/8rLXAbEguG
— 🌻 (@khaleesaxx) January 11, 2019
Like, they literally cannot believe anyone would do such a thing. For many Brits, it’s basically sacrilege!
How are people still just discovering that Americans boil water in the microwave? I found out like 100 years ago when the mum did it on 7th Heaven.
— Lib (@liabzann) January 10, 2019
people who boil water in the microwave will die of natural selection
— ✿ (@brynswife) January 6, 2019
And yes, okay, it’s true! Some Americans do fill a mug with water, stick a teabag in it, and put it in the microwave! It happens!
Apparently, many people think the proper way to make tea is to boil water in a tea kettle.
And they have legit reasons for this:
Still, many Americans are defending their choice to microwave their water instead. Many agree it is the faster and more efficient way:
They also think it’s much easier if you’re just making one cup of tea.
We only boil a mug of water in the microwave, we aren’t boiling a whole pot or anything, if that helps?
— Highland Hussy (@laurahunsaker) January 10, 2019
Doesn't it depend on how much you're making? Like a cup of tea, put that water in the microwave in a mug, sure: a pot, you may as well boil it on the stove.
— Lucy Kemnitzer (@lucykemnitzer) January 10, 2019
And some say boiling water in a kettle or on the stove makes the tea unbearably hot.
How do people drink their tea without waiting at least 20 minutes for it to cool down? That is boiling water from a kettle?! How do you not burn your mouth?!
— Han (@hanmwill) January 9, 2019
But just as many Americans are making sure everyone knows that not everyone boils their water in the microwave!
Just going on the record and stating that I, an American, use a tea kettle to boil my water, and NOT a microwave. This microwave water to boil trend is wrong and I can’t wrap my head around it. ☕️
— rachel mclee (@McRachms) January 11, 2019
Never made tea in the microwave. Never seen an american I know make tea in the microwave. It's called a pot on the stove BUT I don't have an electric stove and those take forever to boil water so.....
— Social Pyro (@SocialPyro) January 4, 2019
On the rare occasion I drink tea, I boil my water on the stove. In a small pot.
— Las (@ReaderLas) January 10, 2019
I'll heat milk in the microwave but for some reason it's never occurred to me to microwave water?
At the end of the day, it seems to just come down to personal preference.
So, which side are you on? Is there really a huge difference? We don’t even know anymore!
