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"Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have our tea first?"

So goes a famous line from the book Peter Pan. Today, more than 100 years on, Britons love tea as much as ever.

Now, one American scientist has angered many in the UK: by suggesting that the perfect cup of tea would have salt and lemon in it.

The British drink more than 60 billion cups of tea a year - that is more than 900 cups a year for every person.

After the American scientist made headlines, even the USShort for United States (of America). embassyThe workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country. in London stepped in. As a joke, they released a statement saying that adding salt "is not official United States policySet of ideas or plan of action.".

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Tea did not actually start out in Britain. In fact, the oldest tea we know about was made in China thousands of years ago.

According to legendA traditional story told over years and years, but which cannot be proved. , in 2737BC the Chinese EmperorRuler of an empire. Shen Nung was thinking under a tree when a leaf fell from the sky into his servantSomebody who works serving others - especially people who work looking after others houses. 's cup of hot water. Shen Nung decided to taste the mixture, found he rather liked it, and the rest is history.

Today, Britons spend less time making their tea than in the past. A survey found that some people only put their teabag into the cup for less than 30 seconds. So do Brits still have the right to complain about bad tea?

Yes! A good cup of tea is a British national treasure. It must be defended from salt and lemons.

No! The US embassy was just taking part in a light-hearted joke. It is always good to have something to laugh at - and maybe a bit of salt does make tea better.