Ask a foreigner

[somerandomguy]

is there fluoride in the water that comes out of your taps in the States?

That was the first big public health initiative after World War II and it was a resounding success. Pretty much every place started to fluoridate their water. The incidence of cavities in children were cut by like 75%, although I just pulled that number out of my ass because I'm too lazy to look it up.

And as others have pointed out, many municipalities are now unfluoridating their water supply, even though it costs literal pennies to do. We have the tinfoil hat brigade to thank for this, and the objectivists who think poor people should be punished who have taken over local governments everywhere.

 

[Teasel]

Enjoying the conversation ?

British or Gay?
Because both are actually well dressed.

That's interesting (and to me surprising :D). I can only think you get particularly stylish or maybe particularly middle class Brits. As I can attest we've more than our fair share of unstylish people here.

Still doesn't taste the same as actual boiling water from a kettle or pot.

For sure! Though as a nation of tea drinkers a kettle is more important than it would be for coffee drinkers. Tea needs water that really is boiling not hot.

I've seen lately adverts on TV for taps you can put in that deliver "boiling"(really?) Water so you don't need a kettle any more but I always find myself thinking how pointless is that! I'm sure it makes a lot of sense for those that don't drink so much tea.

So, in the UK at least, a kettle isn't outdated but a part of everyone's kitchen. I should think kettles and toasters are two of the most common and basic kitchen electricals here.

Why is distilled water so hard to get and expensive in the UK?

Curious to know what gadgets you use that require it?

The only time I've ever bought any was when brewing wine. Actually no I bought a small bottle of it for my car, not knowing that tap water would suffice.

His kid uses a humidifier at night.

I thought that dehumidifiers were more common here. Though I'm sure I am out of touch regarding this. Never having had either.

@Sideways the UN indeed :D

 

[Friday]

Still doesn't taste the same as actual boiling water from a kettle or pot. Better than microwave though by a million miles.

there are Japanese kettles that are over $1,000 ... pure iron, artisan crafted, heirloom pieces. Although most can be gotten for as little as $100. This site Goes into some pretty serious depth on the subject / how the iron changes the chemical structure of the water as it heats. Japanese Cast Iron Kettle: Nanbu Tetsubin : HOJO TEA

Of course, one can also just drop a $20 lucky iron kettle fish into any kettle for similar results. Although purists get all uptight about water flow, and heat differentials and stuff... That’s just what purists do, isn’t it? Can’t just like it better ;) ... Why an iron fish can make you stronger

My parents JUST got an electric kettle. Between the microwave and stop top kettle? They couldn’t see any need for one. Until my dad retired and got all go-go-gadget!!!

 

[Teasel]

That’s just what purists do, isn’t it?

Yeah :)

I'm no purist and most in the UK pour boiling water on teabags as I do I think.

I did once look into buying a japanese teapot - though because of their beauty rather than anything else. But quite quickly realised they were out of my budget.

I've noticed though that I hate the taste of tea if I store it in a steel thermos - has to be glass for me but I haven't bought one as I'm happy not to drink tea on the move.

 

[Mee]

True, canada is better .... water cooler with the option for hot.... much faster than electric kettle.... mmm

Those are available in UK too. I haven’t used one anywhere.

I wonder which system is most environmentally friendly?

I am thinking of installing one but I am really concerned because of a. Environmental impact ( I Don’t know, it might be better) but also water quality. Very little is worse than reboiled water in a delicate tissane. But it’s frightful in all teas and I think I taste it even in coffee. I really like the idea of the tap, but the kettle is incredibly simple technology, more ‘green’ than heating water on a hob. I don’t use microwaves very often.

 

[barefoot]

Brits looking smart

Really?? Am very surprised by this - I don’t think us Brits are usually considered a particularly stylish nation! Though, yeah, we are used to dressing for wet weather, so there is that...

Why is distilled water so hard to get and expensive in the UK?

I don’t know the answer but can confirm that it is. I tried a CPAP machine for a while for mild sleep apnoea and had to put water in its humidifier every night, which created a load of limescale. I asked on a US forum what the best way of rescaling the unit was and everyone basically called me an idiot for not using distilled water and told me that’s what I HAD to do and that it said so in the instruction manual. It didn’t actually say that in the UK version of the instruction manual - presumably because they know it’s not that easy to get and costs a fortune here. Decided against spending a fortune on distilled water and couldn’t be bothered to distill it myself, so I just had to lemon juice it pretty regularly so I wasn’t breathing in a load of chalkiness every night! No idea why it’s so expensive here...

Kettles...it would be very rare to find a kitchen without a kettle here, I think. It’s a staple! I use it to boil water to cook in as it boils more quickly than boiling water in a saucepan...so I boil in the kettle first then transfer to the pan.

Had a zip tap at work. Delivers instant hot water but it isn’t boiling - so tea traditionalists weren’t happy. I thought it was ok...was more bothered by the cheap tea bags they provided, which produced grey tea...

Making hot drinks in the microwave...just, no...!

 

[blackemerald1]

It’s a staple! I use it to boil water to cook in as it boils more quickly than boiling water in a saucepan...so I boil in the kettle first then transfer to the pan.

^Me too. Speeds up anything where you start with boiling the water.

Making hot drinks in the microwave...just, no...!

^Agreed. That's just not right. I'm seriously considering donating my microwave to someone. I never use it and it takes up so much space. Might put it out in the shed.

Had a zip tap at work. Delivers instant hot water but it isn’t boiling -

^Yes. And the water doesn't taste right either.

I had some cast iron cookware for about 20 years. Never had an issue with iron then. Gave the whole set away because it was all too heavy. That cast iron fish is a really good idea.

 

[Mee]

The taps aren’t as good as kettles ? :(. That’s so disappointing. I know there is something to do with oxygen in boiling that makes reboiled water bad, but might make once boiled important? Chemistry was far too long ago and my food books are too far away right now?.

 

[siniang]

ETA This is almost a human rights issue. Not only do they not have TimTams, but they can't even knock up a decent instant hot chocolate to do TimTam Slams. Someone should write to the UN.

TimTams are a god-sent and I still can't comprehend why they hardly made it outside Australia/New Zealand. I actually squeaked out in joy when I discovered them at my local Target.

 

[barefoot]

The taps aren’t as good as kettles ? :(. That’s so disappointing

I thought it was fine. Some serious tea connoisseurs found the not quite boiling temperature unacceptable!

 

[Mee]

TimTams are a god-sent and I still can't comprehend why they hardly made it outside Australia/New Zealand. I actually squeaked out in joy when I discovered them at my local Target.

I can get pineapple chunks via the Internet but marshmallow fish don’t taste at all like they did when I was small :( . I also don’t know why lammingtons are so confined to Australasia.

 

[Freida]

My friend in France is addicted to peanut butter m&ms which she cant get. So when we went to visit we took her 5 pounds of them! :laugh:

I like water boiled in kettle on the stove-- the electric one always taste kind of funny

When I was living in Germany a friend told me that she could always spot Americans and Australians because they laughed loudly in public which most Europeans dont do. Weird huh? :)