White powder package in Japanese tea.

Dearest friends -

I have a question that was asked of me but I was unable to answer it. A friend from Siberia was given by a guy from Japan a can of Japanese tea (I do not know what kind of tea yet) and inside the can was a foil package with a strange white substance and a measuring spoon. Dissolved in water it tasted salty. This is the picture of this substance on teatips.ru

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(never mind the Russian text) Anyone have any idea what this is? Do Japanese now add MSG to tea ???!!! I asked the guy to post more photoes but may be someone knows what this is right away? Anthrax theory is proven to be wrong, so don't bother the FBI.

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky
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Reply to
bamboo

That what I would think if not the presence of the measuring spoon inside the foil pack. Thanks for trying, though :))

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

Not trying to be Mr. Obvious but, if it was a can of Matcha the measuring spoon is common and is for measuring the tea. Then the white powder/pack may still have been a chemical/dessicant. Just a thought.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

Why would the measuring spoon be inside the foil (i.e. sealed) packet with dessicant?

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

I kinda figured I was missing something, but just threw it out there... I didn't realize the spoon came *in* the packet. There are many tins of matcha that do come with a small measuring spoon in the tin.

I'm truly stumped, could you maybe offer any more info like the brand or type of Japanese tea this was? (matcha, sencha, bancha, gyokuro, gen mai, etc.) And any additional info would help. I've drank and bought a ton of japanese tea of all quality and make over the years and can surely say I've never had any white powder thrown into the deal that didn;t say "Don't Eat" all over it :)

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

I asked the guy to take pics of this animal. We'll see.

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

cocaine. the little "measuring" spoon is actually a coke spoon

Reply to
Zarky Zork

If the tea was vacumm sealed. Then the packet would be for use after the tea was opened. Or maybe it was to keep the spoon fresh:->

Reply to
taopants

That's the wrong kind of "tea" you're talking about.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

Actually, I believe, it is somethhing like Kombucha.

More can be found here

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hope it helped

Tomas

Reply to
Balt

Did the Jap dude have a Colombian accent?

Reply to
BoobleyBoobley

Hi Sasha,

These granules are meant to absorb the moisture in the product surrounding the little sachet. Not meant for consumption. Best Kalle

Alex Chaihorsky schrieb:

Reply to
KALLE GRIEGER

I am grateful for your answer, but I wish you read the thread before you post. Same points -

  1. What is the point in putting desiccant in a SEALED foil pack (which prevents it from absorbing the moisture)?
  2. Have you ever seen a desiccant pack with a SPOON inside?
  3. If you ever tried to dissolve the desiccant you would discover that it does not dissolve at all. This one does dissolve (as was clearly stated in the original post).

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

So... If I'm reading you right, your saying it is probably not desiccant ;) ;) ;) Cuz I was going to say that it might be.

Heh, even when I first posted in reply I didn't want to even ask and insult your intelligence. It just seems so odd. You certainly have me stumped and intrigued... I'm looking forward to hearing the answer so please post when/if you ever find out. (although I have seen desiccant that is edible and does dissolve that is put in with food items sometimes... just not with the accompanyment of a little spoon to eat it with)

...but if it turns out to be desiccant feel free to lie and make something up. :)

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

He can tell by whether he feels thirsty after eating it, right?

N
Reply to
Natarajan Krishnaswami

Exactly! :) Seriously though the normal desiccant packages are like a papery/cloth material and say DO NOT EAT all over them... these ones are in a shiny plastic type package that say SAFE TO EAT on them... not that I tried it to find out, but I guess you could... and a little spoon would make it easier :)

Reply to
Dominic T.

The guy promised to post the pics as soon as someone with a digital camera walks by. These things are still a luxury item for average folks in Russia, expecially outside SPB-Moscow zone.

My preliminary guess is that our Japanese friends are marketing some sort of a flavor enhancer, may be even natural MSG based (the one that is derived from seaweed). It can also be a " free sample bag" of this firm "new and improved" flavoring for other type of foods. And my last theory is that it can just be a packaging error. If human thumbs find occasionally their way into soda cans why not one foil pack accidentally thrown in a wrong box instead of another foil pack?

..." lying and making things up ..." I yield the honor to those who find it neccesary. My experience in life taught me that no lie can match truth when it comes to bizzarre and weird.

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

Finally here is the link to the Russian site with all the pics of that enigmatic tea.

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Please, comment.

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

The package reads "kombucha" in hiragana

Alex Chaihorsky wrote:

Reply to
sweetpersimmon

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