Lipton's Tea

Leif snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com2/2/04

Let me clarify this once and for all: There is *no* problem with Lipton's tea and you are *not* a Philistine, unless you want to be. Relax. Enjoy.

Why do we disparage the people known as Philistines in this unkind, and inappropriate way, BTW?

Michael

There's nothing wrong with enjoying them. The other night I was eating prok rinds and Dr. Pepper, and enjoyed them very much. However, I don't confuse pork rinds with foie gras, which I enjoy much more, and which is of a much higher quality. Lipton and Red Rose are inexpensive teas. They are not high quality, or even medium-quality. I use Lipton for iced tea, though, and if I'm sick, I'll sometimes make a cup for nostalgia's sake. Enjoy your tea. You might however want to try higher quality teas on occasion.

TeaGOuTb.170977$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.nyc.rr.com2/2/04

Personally, I much prefer pork rinds. They are less fatty, and they do not involve the torture of animals by force feeding. So, what does that make me? As for Dr. Pepper, we'll just let it go.

And I drink it when I'm out, in a pinch, and why not?

Ditto.

Michael

One caveat. Yes, Lipton tea bags are a high volume bulk tea, designed for fast color release during brewing, of middling quality. However, Lipton does have some premium labels. Their Yellow Label and Green Label (100% Darjeeling) are very good - in the upper half in terms of quality.

Side notes:

Brooke Bond is considered to have better positioning in India than Lipton. Recently the Hindustan Lever made Brooke Bond its mother brand in India, with Taj Mahal, Taaza, Red Label, and 3 Roses under it. Lipton is also part of the Brooke Bond portfolio, just with separate branding.

My preference for strong, bagged tea is PG Tips.

Unfortunately in the US, Lipton usually has only one kind of tea on the shelves. I use the loose tea for iced tea. I sometimes forget that this is an international list.

Mine too- I can actually get PG Tips at a store called Myers of Kswick, and another, called Carry On Tea and Sympathy. Both are brick and mortar stores in Manhattan. I'm sure that if I went up to the heavily-Irish neighborhoods in the Bronx (the ones that see fantastic Irish sausage) I'd be able to get it there, too.

But I tend to stay away from bagged tea, or I make up my own bags. I also like Typhoo.

Hi Leif, the problem we English have is that despite not having as wide range of single teas easily available to us, most of the Tea blends we usually use are of a good quality. Liptons isn't one I see regularly or remember as particularly good.

-- Dave Croft Warrington England We do not regard Englishmen as foreigners. We look on them only as rather mad Norwegians. Halvard Lange Norwegian politician. 1957

I have in the past enjoyed Liptons tea. Now I find it to be a little on the bitter side. I even consume 10 oz or more of a cup with the tea bag in it to find it this way. I have had regular Red Rose & regular Salada & regular Tetley & have no problem with those. What I am now enjoying is the Lipton flavored collection in regular with 6 flavors & black tea with 6 flavors. They are very good... Mindy

I am in the US, on the left coast. I buy most of my loose tea at the local Indian grocery store - there are lots here in Silicon Valley. The rest I buy on trips to India.

At home I use loose tea. I use a bodum tea strainer to make life easy. For the office, I use the bags. Again, to make life easy.

My answer to questions like those is usually, "Who cares?"

There's the proper answer!

No. On the other hand, are you from Philistia?

I'm on the East Coast. I see the teas you mention in Indo/Pak groceries and sometimes British groceries, but that's pretty much it- and I've never been to India. I suspect most of the US does not have access to these teas unless there is an Indo/Pak community nearby.

Understandable. I bought some bags at my local Japanese grocery and now I can take tea to work with me. It's nice to have a hot cuppa after being on a sales floor for hours.

No, I am not from Philistia. Born in NY actually, perhaps that is the next worse thing? I guess the tea question overall comes down to the same judgment as in Art and Music: "I know what I like."

Thanks all for playing! *G*

Leif

Leif snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com2/2/04

Lief,

Born in NY???? Could it be Brookyn??????

....and as in Art and Music, "I know what I like" from an open mind can expand like the universe: Future adventures abound.

My great grandfather's grave is in Philistia. I'm not 100% sure of the relevance. We'll figure it out later.

Michael

Hey! Us Noo Yawkuhs are sensitive about our home town! An' we ain't from Philistia, eithah!

I know and love good food, but sometimes what I want is 'comfort food'- the kinds of things my mother once made, or dishes that make me feel homey. It's raining in NYC, so I'm going to heat up soome home-made French onion soup- but a part of me really wants Campbell's cream of tomato and a toasted slice of Wonder Bread. Earlier I scarfed down an ice cream sundae- hardly the height of foodie chic, but I could care less.

On some days, we're all from Philistia. As my neighbors would have said, 'so, nu?'

My preferred bag tea is Taylors Yorkshire Red, though PG Tips is a close second. Taylors Yorkshire Gold I don't like nearly as well despite its being a 'higher quality' tea. I do not like Typhoo, find Liptons tolerable, but prefer loose teas if possible. I don't really have a favorite loose tea, I keep trying different ones. Currently I have Taj Majal. There is a tea shop at the mall in town and occassionally I buy something there which is usually heavenly, but way to pricey for my everyday consumption. Its fun though, smelling the teas in the different bins trying to decide what to buy and then asking them to brew me a cup of my just purchased tea for the trip home.