any tea drinkers? organic or not?

[Locrian]

Looking to cut down on the coffee and have been enjoying tea.
Specifically I like Oolong - just drinking the cheap stuff from Amazon in the bags

Since I'm starting to drink it regularly - a little worried about it. Even the whole "organic" thing may not be so great. Or am I overthinking this? Every time I try to research this it seems I get nowhere.

Anyone have recommendations? Looking for some loose leaf oolong - daily drinking don't need or want gourmet type expensive tea. Just good /safe quality stuff.

[Shermann]

1. As far as I know, brewed teas are inherently organic

Maybe there are additives, but I don't see why any would be necessary.

I'm an Earl Grey man myself, and Plantation Mint is good too.

[Blues Heron]

3. why would they be inherently organic?

I think pesticide use in the tea industry is widespread. Not sure if its a big health issue or not to the tea drinker though.

[Shermann]

10. I have examples of both

The first is Begelow Earl Grey, a standard at supermarkets. The ingredients listed are black tea and natural oil of bergamot.

The second is Whole Foods organic blueberry chamomile. The ingredients listed are organic chamomile, organic licorice, organic natural flavor, natural flavor, and organic dried blueberry.

It's odd that both "organic natural flavor" and "natural flavor" are listed in the Whole Foods tea. Read into that what you will.

I'm calling this a draw.

[Blues Heron]

13. I think the issue is with the growing of the tea itself

not flavorings or additives. Organic is a method of agriculture in this context if I read the OP correctly.

[Shermann]

15. Fair enough, if in doubt go with Whole Foods

I am a Whole Foods fan at the end of the day.

The OP wasn't clear if this is an environmental or health concern.

[marble falls]

27. Earl Grey has Bergemot added to it.

[Shermann]

33. Bigelow Earl Grey tea is made with black tea and natural oil of bergamot.

The bergamot oil is sourced from Calabria, Italy. Bigelow emphasizes that they use 100% real bergamot oil.

[marble falls]

39. And some claim Bergamot is a stimulant. Even if it's not a stimulant, it is an additive, is it not?

[Shermann]

40. I think the organic tea thing is mostly about pesticides and fertilizers.

Bigelow Steep teas meet the USDA Organic standards.

[piddyprints]

2. My favorite is

Equal Exchange Organic Herbal Tea Caffeine Free Vanilla Rooibos. I know, not oolong. But you might like it! It's good with or without sweetening and you don't have to fish out the tea bag. I find Oolong too strong, and I don't want the caffeine.

If I liked oolong, I'd probably be more helpful.

[demigoddess]

4. I love the Marketspice Roobios tea. herbal. no caffeine and soooooo tasty.

[hlthe2b]

5. Nonsense. Tea is good for you--all kinds of tea

If you are worried about insecticides or the like, most tea-producing areas of the world are among the most protected areas because they are generational growers. BTW, most pesticides used in tea are likewise used for those supposedly organic but that is not a major concern because most of them are not highly water-soluble, so there is not a lot of chemical transfer.

Not sure what you've been hearing or reading, but if you are going to worry about something, rice is a much bigger issue because it is grown in areas that can have naturally occurring high levels of Arsenic--especially Texas. Rice that is grown in India, Pakistan, and California has far less, yet most Americans assume the opposite for imported rice safety. Go figure...

But, no, I'm not worried about tea in the slightest. I drink all kinds of tea, including the "cheap oolong" as you describe it--which can be economical and reasonably good quality--and I also buy whole leaf teas of all kinds. I especially like to buy from a local Boulder seller with a really good online presence, TheTeaspot.com. While I used to only drink black tea iced, I've switched to a good green with spearmint (Moroccan mint) for the past several years and drink it throughout the day.

You've got lots of options and it IS healthy sans a lot of sweeteners. Tea is one thing I like without anything added and you might find the same.

[Locrian]

9. thanks!

Very helpful sanity check. I did read enough to know that "organic" doesnt fix everything and I suspect that I'm just overthinking it!

[Mr.Bill]

21. I drink Iced Tea all day long.

Nothing fancy, just Lipton Cold Brew tea bags. Makes a pitcher of tea in cold water in less than an hour. Easy, cheap and convenient.

[tblue37]

6. I drink peppermint tea to settle my stomach.

[Ohio Joe]

7. We drink a lot of iced tea...

We'll make 2 liters (our biggest size refridge container) at a time in a pot on the stove. Pop it into the container and toss in some of whatever fruit we have on hand.

[Harker]

8. I'd recommend this shop...

https://yunnansourcing.us/

I've been buying much of the tea we drink (and we drink a lot of tea) from Scott for well over a decade.

His original Kunming location has better deals on larger quantities, a larger selection, and the shipping is fast and inexpensive.


https://yunnansourcing.com/

[Locrian]

11. looks interesting thanks

but holy crap! Some of those look like they're ounce per ounce as $$ as the more "medicinal" types of green leaves

[Harker]

14. Sure thing!

It's something I don't stint on, but I still go for value for the price.

[FakeNoose]

12. If I drink tea it's almost always at night

So for that reason I prefer the non-caffeine teas such as mint or chamomile.
In the morning I'm a coffee drinker, and that's how I get my regular caffeine.

[Big Blue Marble]

16. I drink black tea.

Prefer Scottish, Irish, or Assam. Drink lots everyday. Love it.

[Squeaky41]

17. Favorite Tea

I drink Celestial Seasonings Morning Thunder Black tea.

[AllaN01Bear]

18. non organic. computer , bleep, earl grey black. also like constant commons and some other flavors

i just get the standard store brand of tea and or liptons .

[Wicked Blue]

19. Red Rose tea (black tea)

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation tested 10 brands of tea and found that Red Rose was the only one tested that
"that contained zero pesticides. The tea brand has made many efforts in recent years to be more ecofriendly and ethical. It has now received Rainforest Alliance Certification and Fair Trade Certified."

Link to second page of the CBC article:

https://dailyhealthpost.com/pesticides-tea/2/

I've liked Red Rose tea for many years and was pleased to read about the CBC's findings.

[Locrian]

20. wow

geez if you read that article it seems like most of the tea sold is toxic.


But this do go on to say: Moreover, a person would have to consume approximately 75 cups of tea per day over their entire lifetime to elicit an adverse health effect,” a spokesperson wrote to the CBC in a statement.

[Goodman Leung]

23. Is this ads ?

Are you sending Ads ?

[Wicked Blue]

24. I'm not sure what you mean

Are you claiming I'm posting an advertisement?

Not that I am aware of. I am a long time fan of this tea. I came across an article that says this brand's growers reportedly use fewer pesticides that some other tea growers. I thought it deserved a mention.

[marble falls]

41. I think that's a spammer figuring out how close he can get to spam and still keep his ad up.

[marble falls]

26. No, that was not an ad. We do not allow ads here.

[Goodman Leung]

22. Yes, As a chinese, Tea is my life.

Yes, As a chinese, Tea is my life. So do you guys drink any chines tea ?

[marble falls]

25. Lapshong oolong.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

38. Welcome to DU

[SheltieLover]

28. My gs loves tea, I've recently learned!

He's lived with me 11 yrs...

So I now have a kitchen filled with it.

Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time Vanilla, and Lavender

Peppermint

Triple mint with probiotics

Hibiscus

And several he had not tried yet

Twinings tea sucks. No flavor.

Enjoy!

[bucolic_frolic]

29. I'd be more worried about plastic tea bags than the organic contents

Buy in bulk and use a tea infuser.

Matcha green tea!

[bamagal62]

30. My husband drinks tea.

He likes Trader Joe’s Irish breakfast tea for his daily tea drinking.

[dhol82]

31. My body can't take caffeine of any kind

I switched to Twinings Lemon/Ginger herbal tea. I love it because of its refreshing qualities.
And, by the way, I am one of the few people who is allergic to Bergamot. Makes me break out in a rash. Cannot drink Earl Grey.

[waterwatcher123]

32. Bancha (green) tea is very good.

I looked up the price of Japanese Bancha green tea from Frontier Co-op and it was selling for $15.49 a pound.

[ILikePie92]

35. Yes

I think you just awoke the entire portion of DU that lives in a southern state!

[greatauntoftriplets]

36. My preference is for Bewley's Irish Breakfast tea.

I drink it hot with milk or cream, and as iced tea with no additives. It's good.

[WhiteTara]

37. be sure not to use tea bags

they are filled with micro plastics.