I recently came across an article in a local newspaper about people adding chemicals to their TieGuanYin to improve the appearance. I'm not exactly sure which chemicals (pigments, perhaps) they are putting in, but they did specify that TGY from the Xiping area contains a large amount of additives which could be hazardous to your health.
Anyway, buyer beware.
The practice of adding adulterants to tea to improve it's appearance is at least two centuries old. In the 19th century most teas available in the US contained additives - mostly coloring agents, and to add weight.
Oh, I'm quite aware of that. But, in the US, we at least have the FDA to regulate whether the agents will cause disease or cancer. China has recently had a huge problem with additives in food and other things. First it was pork...then it was fish...now it's chickens....tea.
I read an article in a newspaper here the other day about the containers they use with fast food here...they contain more than 6 times the accepted level of lead heavy metals.
Scary thinking....am I living in the right country? heh.
Does TieGuanYin from Gande have additives?
Ummm....no, we don't.
Probably, but within "safe levels" or whatever that means. The stuff from Xiping was said to have 6 times above the safe level. Apparently, someone had afternoon tea and died after whatever was added into the tea complicated an existing medical condition.
Ourania Zabuhu:
You should check it out sometime.
Hey Midnight,
Could you let us know what is your Chinese source about the Xi Ping TGY/additive, and that death due to the additive, we would very much like to check it out.
Thanks!
SEb
Mydnight wrote:
Surely, it was in one of the newspapers from GZ a few weeks ago, I think. I have it around here somewhere and when I find it, I'll send you the edition details.
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