Tetley Tea FAQ

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Tetley Tea FAQ

Does Tetley® tea have flavonoids?

Yes. All black, green, white and red teas all contain flavonoids. The type of flavonoids in each type of tea depends on how it is manufactured. A group of flavonoids called catechins, also known as epigallocatechin gallatem (EGCG), are the main flavonoids in green and white teas. During black tea processing, these green tea catechins form other flavonoids, called theaflavins and thearubigins. Only black tea will contain these flavonoids.

Tetley had our hot teas analyzed, and our British Blend contains 200 mg of flavonoids per cup; our British Blend Decaffeinated has 115 mg, our Classic Blend has 156 mg and the Classic Blend Decaffeinated has 90 mg per cup. Our Pure Green blend has 160 mg per cup, and the decaffeinated version has 48 mg. We have not had the flavonoid levels for our Iced Tea products analyzed yet.

How does Tetley® decaffeinate its tea?

Tetley's Decaffeinated Teas are decaffeinated using ethyl acetate. The solvent used, ethyl acetate, is a combination of vinegar acid and the ethyl alcohol that comes from the fermentation of sugar cane (Reinhold Zenger—Plant Extract). The tea leaf goes through a process in which it is moistened with water and/or steam. The moistened tea then comes into contact with ethyl acetate, which selectively absorbs caffeine and removes it from the tea. Any excess ethyl acetate is eliminated from the tea as it dries. The use of ethyl acetate as a decaffeinating agent has the full approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Tea Association of the USA, which represents all tea companies, has agreed to a voluntary level of caffeine in decaffeinated tea that is 0.4% by dry weight. In general terms, because decaffeinated tea has a caffeine content of 0.4% and regular tea has a caffeine content of 4.0%, we can state that decaffeinated tea is 99.6% caffeine-free. The amount of caffeine in a cup of decaffeinated tea is approximately 4 to 6 milligrams. The amount of caffeine in a cup of regular tea is approximately 45 milligrams.

How much caffeine is in a cup of tea?

Caffeine is inherent in the tea leaf. There are between 40 and 50 milligrams of caffeine in a typical eight-ounce cup of brewed black tea or green tea steeped for three to five minutes.

No decaffeinated tea or coffee is completely caffeine-free. The Tea Association of the USA, which represents all tea companies, has agreed to a voluntary level of caffeine in decaffeinated tea that is 0.4% by dry weight. In general terms, because decaffeinated tea has a caffeine content of 0.4% and regular tea has a caffeine content of 4.0%, we can state that decaffeinated tea is 99.6% caffeine-free. The amount of caffeine in a cup of decaffeinated tea is approximately 4 to 6 milligrams. The amount of caffeine in a cup of similarly brewed regular tea is approximately 45 milligrams.

 

Do Specialty teas contain caffeine?

If the specialty tea contains real tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant (typically black, green, oolong or white tea), then yes, it would contain caffeine. You can tell by reading the ingredient listing on the package.

Do Herbal teas contain caffeine?

Herbal tea is not derived from the Camellia sinensis plant; it typically consists of a blend of herbs, fruits and spices, which are naturally caffeine-free. You can see the contents by viewing the ingredient listing on the package.

Do Tetley® teas contain MSG?

None of our teas contain MSG. The flavors we use do not typically contain MSG, and we have processes in place to review any new ingredients.

How many calories are in a cup of brewed tea?

There are no calories in tea unless one adds sweetener or milk.

Where are Tetley's teas manufactured?

Our Classic Blends, British Blends, Green Blends and Iced Tea Blends, regular and decaf, have been manufactured in Georgia for over 50 years.

Does Tetley® buy any teas from China?

None of our Black tea blends contain any tea from China. These teas are sourced from many different countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, India, Vietnam, Argentina, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Our Green and White tea blends contain tea sourced from China, and we have an extensive testing and tasting regime to ensure they meet our very high quality and safety standards.

Why does Tetley® blend its teas?

We blend our tea to produce the flavor of “Tetley.” When people select a brand of tea, they are selecting a taste they enjoy. Tea is an agricultural product and is influenced by the climate, soil conditions, etc., and will vary from crop to crop. Therefore, we must blend our tea to consistently give our consumers the great Tetley tea taste we are so proud to serve.

What is the difference between Black, Green/White and Red teas?

Black, green and white tea all come from the same plant, the Camillia sinensis. It is how the leaves are processed after picking that result in black, green or white tea in your tea bag. White tea is when the tea leaves are allowed to sun-dry—this is the only process they go through. The Green tea leaves are picked, withered, rolled and dried—they are not allowed to oxidize/ferment—which prevents the leaves from becoming black tea. Black tea leaves are picked, withered and gently rolled to bruise the tea leaves and break down the leave's cellular structure, liberating the juices. They are then allowed to oxidize for one to four hours before being fired/dried by hot air to stop the fermenting.

Red tea (Rooibos) is a caffeine-free herbal tea that comes from a South African plant called Aspalathus linearis. The rooibos, or “red bush,” plant is actually green, and the tea turns the signature red color when it is at the fermentation stage of processing.

Are Tetley® Classic Blend, British Blend and Iced Teas “black teas”?

Yes. British Blend, Classic Blend and Tetley Iced Tea brewed from tea bags are all black teas. Our Classic and British Blends are two different black tea blends. The Classic Blend is more of an “everyday” black tea, while British Blend is made from premium Kenyan and Assam teas and delivers a richer tea flavor. While Classic Blend comes in square, string and tag tea bags, British Blend uses Tetley's unique round tea bag, which is made with premium Perflo paper. This paper has 2,000 perforations, which allows for faster tea infusion and better flavor release.
Tetley's Iced Tea is also a blend of black teas made specifically for iced tea, to give you the perfect combination of color, clarity and taste in every glass.

What is Orange Pekoe?

Contrary to its name, Orange Pekoe (pronounced “peck-o”) is not a flavor, color or even a type of tea, as one might assume. The term “Orange Pekoe” refers to a leaf grade of made tea—it is a whole-leaf tea. The term is not an indicator of quality, nor does it contain oranges or orange flavoring. The myth of Orange Pekoe as an indicator of quality has led many U.S. manufacturers to use the term on their packaging as a descriptor of the tea, but that is not accurate, as the whole leaf would not fit into a tea bag.

There has been much confusion over the use of the term “Orange Pekoe.” Due to this confusion, we have begun to remove the term “Orange Pekoe” from our tea packages. Rest assured that no change has been made to our blends, only to the terminology used on our packages. We still use the finest tea leaves from plantations around the world.

Does Tetley do any testing on animals?

Tetley does not do any testing on animals.

How is a proper cup of tea prepared?

How to make a perfect cup of hot Tetley® Tea

  • Start with fresh, cold water. (The better the water quality, the better the tea will taste.)
  • Place a tea bag in your favorite cup or mug.
  • Bring water to a rolling boil and immediately pour over your tea bag.
  • Steep for a good 3 to 5 minutes. (Great taste can't be rushed—it really does take the full time to release the tea's entire flavor.)
  • Remove the tea bag, relax and enjoy! (Serve it “clear” or try it with milk and sugar.)
  • Green Tea Variation
  • Start with fresh, cold water. (The better the water quality, the better the tea will taste.)
  • Place a tea bag in your favorite cup or mug.
  • Bring water to a rolling boil, remove from heat to cool for a moment and pour over your tea bag. (Green tea leaves are delicate—boiling water will bruise the leaves, causing a bitter taste.)
  • With green tea, steep for only a minute or two. (Oversteeping green tea will result in a harsh flavor.)
  • Remove the tea bag, relax and enjoy! (Serve it “clear” or sweeten with honey or sugar.)
  • How to make a perfect pitcher of Tetley® Iced Tea:

    Family Size Iced Tea: For a half-gallon pitcher (2 quarts)

  • Bring 4 cups of fresh water to a rolling boil.
  • Gently pour water over 2 tea bags.
  • Steep 3 to 5 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor. Stir before removing tea bags.
  • Add your favorite sweetener, if desired.
  • Pour brewed tea into pitcher and add 4 more cups of cold water and/or ice cubes. Chill and enjoy!
  • Single Serve Iced Tea (for a Single Glass):
  • Bring one cup of fresh water to a rolling boil.
  • Add 1 or 2 tea bags and steep 3 to 5 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor. Stir before removing tea bag(s).
  • Add your favorite sweetener, if desired
  • Let cool.
  • Pour brewed tea into a large glass filled with ice. Enjoy!
  • Here's a coldwater method for clear, cloudless iced tea:
  • Fill a quart pitcher or container with cold tap water. Cover. Let stand at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
  • Add 4 to 6 tea bags or 1 Family Size tea bag (remove tags).
  • After at least 6 hours (or overnight), remove tea bags, squeezing against side of container.
  • When ready to serve, pour into ice-filled glasses. Makes 1 quart. Recipe may be doubled.
Can I use the Tetley® Classic Iced Tea Blend tea bags to make hot tea?

Our iced teas are specially formulated for iced tea to give you the perfect combination of iced tea color, clarity and taste in every glass. If you cannot find it locally, you may order it via our website.

If you do use our hot teas to make iced tea, they may cloud in the refrigerator. Should this happen, pour a little bit of boiling or very hot water into the pitcher. Give it a stir, and that will clear up the cloudiness.

Why is my iced tea cloudy?
The cloudiness is caused by tea solids. However, Tetley® Classic Iced Tea Blend tea bags are specially blended not to cloud when refrigerated. Should you encounter a bit of clouding, just pour a little boiling (or very hot) water into the pitcher, and it will clear right up! A bit of lemon juice will also clear up the tea.

Here's a coldwater method for clear, cloudless iced tea:

  • Fill a quart pitcher or container with cold tap water. Cover. Let stand at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
  • Add 4 to 6 tea bags or 1 Family Size tea bag (remove tags).
  • After at least 6 hours (or overnight), remove tea bags, squeezing against side of container.
  • When ready to serve, pour into ice-filled glasses. Makes 1 quart. Recipe may be doubled.
Is Tetley® tea Kosher?

If the OU symbol or the K symbol is on the tea package, then it is certified Kosher. Most of our products are Kosher.

Why are the bags round, and why don't they have any strings?

Tetley's round tea bags are made with unique, premium Perflo paper. This paper has 2,000 perforations, which allows for faster tea infusion and better flavor release. The round bags were designed to fit snugly at the bottom of one's cup or mug. This tea-bag form also allowed us to put more tea in each tea bag, enabling a fuller, stronger brew per cup.

How many small bags equal a Tetley® Family Size Tea Bag?

Four single serve bags equal one Family Size bag. We have made the Family Size tea bags for the convenience of our consumers who like to prepare large quantities of fresh-brewed iced tea.

Is the tea in my cabinet still good? What is the shelf life of Tetley® tea?

Tea does not “go bad” like a container of milk. We recommend a shelf life of 2 years from production, and our cartons are marked with a “Best Buy” date. Tea may still be fine to drink after two years—it just may lose some of its flavor. If you brew up a cup of tea and it tastes okay, then it is safe to drink. Remember, boiling water poured over the tea bag that steeps for 5 minutes will extract the most flavor.

What is the best way to store tea?

Tea should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to retain the best flavor possible. It is not recommended that tea be kept in the refrigerator or in the freezer, as condensation may be created by taking the tea out of the cold unit and may affect the flavor of the blend. Once your tea has been opened, you may want to place it in a canister or airtight plastic storage bag.

Is the Tetley® tea I buy in the USA the same as the Tetley® Tea in Canada or the UK?

The tea in Canada and the UK is not the same as the tea offered in the USA. The Canadian consumer has a different tea palate than the US consumer, and our tea reflects the choice of the Americans. Our British Blend tea is the closest blend to what is enjoyed in Canada and the UK. It comes in a round, stringless tea bag with a special paper that allows for fuller infusion, but it is not an identical blend to the Canadian/UK blends.

Can I use a coupon on a web order?

No, a coupon cannot be used on a web order; coupons are for use in retail outlets only.