Sunday, October 26, 2008

Fruit Flavored Tea

Brittiny posted this on her blog, My Steeped IdentiTEA, yesterday, and I'm reposting it here 'cause it also expresses my feelings towards tea that doesn't taste like tea. And its just fucking funny.

George Carlin on Fruit-flavored Teas:

I would like to talk to you about fruit-flavored teas. These would be teas that are flavored like fruit. Fruit-flavored teas. You need to understand that. These are not fruits. They’re teas. But they taste like fruit. All right? They have names like strawberry kiwi, lemon berry, orange mango, wild cherry, blackberry and cranberry. They taste like fruit. And they sound like fruits, too, don’t they? They’re not. They’re teas. Fruit-flavored teas. And frankly, I don’t understand this.

Personally, I’ve always been of a mind that if you’re looking for fruit flavor, if you’re genuinely interested in something that tastes like fruit, and you find yourself in the tea section, you’re probably in the wrong aisle. My advice is, if it’s fruit flavor you’re after, play if safe, go ahead and get some fruit. I have found in my experience that fruit almost always turns out to be reliable source of fruit flavor.

Another good place you may wish to look for fruit flavor would be in fruit juice. Fruit juice is made by squeezing the juice out of the fruit. Apparently, the juice that runs out of the fruit has fruit flavor. Perhaps that’s why they call if fruit juice. It doesn’t taste like tea. For tea taste, you would need to get some tea.

So let’s sum this up: If it’s fruit flavor you want, you can’t go wrong with fruit. Or, as I’ve pointed out, fruit juice. Don’t be ordering tea. Tea has tea flavor. It’s not like fruit. It’s more like tea. If you want tea, I say order tea. That’s a different experience. It’s known as “having tea.”

Have you noticed, by the way, there are no tea-flavored fruits? Take a clue from nature.

Brittany, reading that made my whole night better, so thanks for sharing it.

45 comments:

  1. Glad you liked the post!

    George Carlin rocks! I miss that guy!

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  2. Pretty much says it all huh? I agree, and couldn't have said it better myself. But on the other hand if you really think about it some of the worlds most prized teas are so because of their ability to mimic fruits or flowers. Like Darjeeling,s comparison to Muscat or Dan Cong Oolongs comparison to say peaches or various flowers or whatever. While I couldnt agree with George more, I say "live and let live" I dont like flavored teas but if somebody else does "who cares"

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  3. Too funny! I feel the exact same way.

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  4. I'm enjoying a nice "pear flavored" fruit right now.

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  5. May that hillarious man rest in peace, this is just one of many gems.

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  6. Absolutely brilliant that Carlin!

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  7. Hi Alex,
    Just stumbled upon your blog and I'm glad I did! I like the way you write about tea and your photos are really creative.
    Cheers,
    -Karen

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  8. You're right in general, but if you get the opportunity you should try some tea that actually has tea leaves in as well as fruit. I have a lychee black tea and a green tea with cloudberries at the moment, and I've had a good mango black tea too.
    Tea without tea leaves does not deserve to be given the good name of tea, but there's nothing wrong with adding a different flavour to something that already has leaves like they do in Earl Grey.

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  9. I love the above comment... "You're right, but have you tried fruit flavored tea?"

    Dude, I think everyone should drink whatever brings them joy, but I think you kind of missed the point that there are those of us who just do not like fruit flavored tea, even if it has real tea leaves in it.

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  10. I believe that it is a sad soul that can enjoy derision, snobbery and elitism.

    shameful

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  11. Anon, I don't know who you are, but I am sorry you think I am being snobbish or elitist. Let me repeat what I said in my comment.

    "I think everyone should drink whatever brings them joy."

    If you or anyone else likes fruit flavor teas, I think you should enjoy them. Flavored teas simply have never had any appeal to me, I don't like the taste of them and I don't think they are interesting.

    So, I don't blog about flavored tea, and when I came across a humorous article that held the same opinion as I do, I posted it here, on my blog.

    If that's being snobbish, I am sorry. Its my blog so I post what I like. People who like the same things as me read it, people who don't find other things to read.

    That being said, perhaps the tone of my previous comment was unfriendly. If it was, I sincerely apologize to Grinnyguy.

    I do think his post was funny, as he was suggesting I drink something that I was very clearly saying I didn't like.

    I don't think having an opinion makes me a snob, but again, if that's how I came across, I apolgize, to Grinnyguy, cos that wasn't really my intent.

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  12. Hi Space Samurai,

    I'm not offended at all, so don't worry. I thought the post was hilarious as well.

    Yours,
    Grinnyguy (enjoying a pot of darjeeling)

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  13. Earl Grey is fruit flavored, but I guess it doesn't count?

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  14. Seems a bit harsh, some fruits mixed with teas taste really good. I'm a fan of lemon green tea. It also a question of quality I agree that fruit smelling water that you get from tea bags is really poor but some of the loose leaf teas are really good.

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  15. Hey great blog!!

    there's so much more to tea, just makes you wanna keep discovering :)

    Ive posted some other tea flvours on this blog hope you guys like it

    staysharpwithtea.blogspot.com

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  16. I would love to have fruit flavored tea.
    Goods Bookmarks

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  17. great blog. Have you tried these teas? http://www.hampsteadtea.com/

    Very special!

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  18. I really love fruity teas. But I cant stand it when the fruit is flavored as opposed to real fruit being used. Its so against being truthful to pure tea drinking and robs you from the healthy experience of cleansing your inner self.

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  19. Hilarious! So true... Echoes my sentiments exactly. Great Post.
    --------------------------
    visit me at the The Ancient Art of Tea

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  20. Hilarious! So true... Echoes my sentiments exactly. Great Post.
    --------------------------
    visit me at the The Ancient Art of Tea

    ReplyDelete
  21. Tea seems like a good source of energy in the body. It relaxes your mind and you can concentrate well. More tea information can be found here http://www.bloomingteasite.com/

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  22. I was all set to make fun of fruit flavored teas until I read the suggestion by Grinnyguy to use real fruit in my tea. That sounds delicious! After all, lemon tastes great in tea. Peaches too.

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  24. Hilarious! I was genuinely laughing out loud at this.

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  25. While I can see the logic I still love fruit flavored teas. Especially the quality blends that actually use real fruit and not just flavoring to get the taste.

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  26. Break free from the everyday routine with Passion Fruit flavored tea. Fruit flavored tea is made by blending fruit peels and dried pieces together.

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  27. TRy www.yumtrade.com and www.yumclick.com

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  28. Try www.yumtrade.com and www.yumclick.com for Sri Lanka tea and korean tea

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  29. Try www.yumtrade.com or www.yumclik.com for tea's.

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  30. Thank you for your blog, which is enjoyable, informative, and delicious!

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  31. If you want the benefits of tea but like the the taste of fruits, Fruit Tea is always a good choice.

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  32. If you'd ever like to try babaocha, feel free to email your mailing address for free samples, at teabling.com :)

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  33. You need to get this blog up and running again.

    Adam

    www.charbrew.com

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  34. That's it !
    a little bit of common sense would never hurt :)

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  35. I like your post. It’s very informative to me.
    Varieties of fruit flavored tea like Apple spice, Black current, Banana, Lemon Ginger, Raspberry, Strawberry, Pineapple, Plum Pear, Cranberry, Cherry Almond, Passion fruit, Mango, Orange, Lichee black tea, Decaf, Cherry rose, Berry berry and more are available online at: EnjoyingTea.com

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  36. I really love fruity teas. But I cant stand it when the fruit is flavored as opposed to real fruit being used. Its so against being truthful to pure tea drinking and robs you from the healthy experience of cleansing your inner self.!Laptop service center in adyar

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  37. I like your post. It’s very informative to me

    ReplyDelete