Green Tea Forum

Hushfield · Brown Belt Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 49

Hi all,
I was talking with a friend about this newly acquired hobby of tea, and suddenly he asked me what kind of tea the 'standard' lipton earl grey was. (funny that after only a few weeks I got kind of uneasy at the notion that people think of the lipton earl grey teabags as standard....)
I know the mentioning of this might stir up a flame war similar to those arising on a computer hardware forum upon asking the magic question: "what is better: pc's or macs?", so if this is one of those everybody-asks-this-question-and-regrets-it-later-on kind of questions, feel free to ignore this. However, I would like to know what is in those bags exactly. Is it camelia sinensis? Is it a blend and if so, what other ingredients do they add?
cheers
H

FataliTEA · Posted: Jun 20, 2008 2:48 am Post subject:

It's tea, but it's usually the lowest grade possible. Fannings or dust from the factory floor.

Hushfield · Brown Belt Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 49

When reading through a tea glossary on another website I found an answer to my question. I thought I'd post it here should anyone else happen to have the same question. What is sold as 'Earl Grey Tea' in teabags is camelia sinensis processed through a Cut, Tear and Curl (CTC) method producing small uniform particles and facilitating a complete oxidation. The black tea that is created in this way is then scented with bergamot oil to create a blend known as Earl Grey.

Could anyone who is a little more experienced with tea than I am confirm or correct this?

Thank you,
a tea-newbie

okimasa · Posted: Aug 02, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject:

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 213

CTC it is, but, but, but, observe closer... it has little white stuff in it, very little white balls, those are the artificial flavouring balls, well talking about E-s and playing ditry, Pickwick, Lipton, Twinings, these are the teas for the masses, just like table wines made artificially with little or no amount of grapes, and I am writing this after enjoying a Shuppincha HG and gyokuro Fuuki from saemidori breed, think of it, as if I was writing about artificial table wines after drinking a good Burgundy.

Hushfield · Brown Belt Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 49

Thanks for the feedback. I was rather surprised at how much tea one can find in a single teabag, and thanks for pointing out the existence of the little white flavouring balls. I don't have any earl grey teabags to dissect at the moment, but I will surely do so the next time I get my hands on one.

The comparison with wine appreciation is spot on. I do feel like someone who doesn't taste the difference between red and white wine, and gets to hang out with the red-faced, big bellied connoiseurs. Not that I imagine any of you to fit that description. Except for the connoiseurs part. Ah, nevermind. As okimasa pointed out: oops

okimasa · Posted: Aug 03, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

WARNING: The following image is very graphic and should not be viewed by anyone with heart conditions or a fondness of tea.

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Earl Grey by Tetley.

Hushfield · Brown Belt Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 49

Hehe, thank you okimasa, now I don't have to waste any more money on earl grey teabags, just for the sake of dissecting them.

Having some kukicha right now.
cheers
H

sleepyredmoo · Posted: Aug 03, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject:

nooooooooooooooo!!!! you're sick!!!!