Toxins in Chinese teas

<windswallm> wrote:
>How can anyone find out, with any certainty, what nasty substances may
>be contained in the Chinese tea that is purchased from both Chinese
>and American vendors?

Laboratory assay.

>It was implied that one would not be able to get this information from
>the vendors. Is that true? Has anyone been able to get this
>information from any vendors? Which ones?

The vendors don't know. If they asked the farmers, hell, the farmers may
have no idea what they are putting on their crops, or what was on the
ground they are using. And they might not tell the truth anyway even if
they did know.

>With the amount of tea that we all drink, this should be a concern for
>everyone.

It is another reason to practice moderation. Don't just drink one kind of
tea all the time.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
news:eq7tma$qbb$1@panix2.panix.com...
> <windswallm> wrote:
>>How can anyone find out, with any certainty, what nasty substances may
>>be contained in the Chinese tea that is purchased from both Chinese
>>and American vendors?
>
> Laboratory assay.
>
>>It was implied that one would not be able to get this information from
>>the vendors. Is that true? Has anyone been able to get this
>>information from any vendors? Which ones?
>
> The vendors don't know. If they asked the farmers, hell, the farmers may
> have no idea what they are putting on their crops, or what was on the
> ground they are using. And they might not tell the truth anyway even if
> they did know.
>
>>With the amount of tea that we all drink, this should be a concern for
>>everyone.
>
> It is another reason to practice moderation. Don't just drink one kind of
> tea all the time.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Pretty scary stuff. I think I will throw out all the cheap chinese green
tea bags I have. I think I'll stick to Japanese tea......surely they must
practice more ethical farming methods. China sounds pretty much like a
free-for-all.

Pete

On Feb 5, 1:34 pm, "Dominic T." wrote:
> On Feb 5, 3:16 pm, "ostaz" wrote:
>
> > Pretty scary stuff. I think I will throw out all the cheap chinese green
> > tea bags I have. I think I'll stick to Japanese tea......surely they must
> > practice more ethical farming methods. China sounds pretty much like a
> > free-for-all.
>
> Do Hiroshima and Nagasaki ring any bells? Japan is most certainly not
> any safer than anywhere else even without taking nukes into account.

It is possible you are correct, Dominic, but this statement is
contrary
to my knowlege of the subject, which while reasonable, is not
extensive. I have been to Japan and did a lot of reading/research
before I went. It was my understanding from this that standards of
food and water sanitation in Japan were extremely high, and that
food and beverages served for public consumption were safe to
eat anywhere. I have not been to China personally, but everything
I hear from visitors as well as the things I read lead me to believe
that this is definitely not the case there.

Thus, my default conclusion would be that tea from Japan would
be generally safer than that from China. But I've got an open mind
on the subject, and would gladly listen to arguments for why this
is not the case.

Randy

"RJP" <pals@ipact.com> wrote in message
news:1170707296.151675.260370@h3g2000cwc. ...
> On Feb 5, 1:34 pm, "Dominic T." wrote:
>> On Feb 5, 3:16 pm, "ostaz" wrote:
>>
>> > Pretty scary stuff. I think I will throw out all the cheap chinese
>> > green
>> > tea bags I have. I think I'll stick to Japanese tea......surely they
>> > must
>> > practice more ethical farming methods. China sounds pretty much like a
>> > free-for-all.
>>
>> Do Hiroshima and Nagasaki ring any bells? Japan is most certainly not
>> any safer than anywhere else even without taking nukes into account.
>
> It is possible you are correct, Dominic, but this statement is
> contrary
> to my knowlege of the subject, which while reasonable, is not
> extensive. I have been to Japan and did a lot of reading/research
> before I went. It was my understanding from this that standards of
> food and water sanitation in Japan were extremely high, and that
> food and beverages served for public consumption were safe to
> eat anywhere. I have not been to China personally, but everything
> I hear from visitors as well as the things I read lead me to believe
> that this is definitely not the case there.
>
> Thus, my default conclusion would be that tea from Japan would
> be generally safer than that from China. But I've got an open mind
> on the subject, and would gladly listen to arguments for why this
> is not the case.
>
>
> Randy

this is what my mind-set was. I know that Japan leads the world in
enviromnental issues (lile Kyoto) so I assumed that thier food safety
standards must also be fairly high at least compared to China, whose
business practices are often far from ethical.

Pete

On Feb 5, 8:28 pm, "Dominic T." wrote:

> I understand the notion that Japan is very clean and environmentally
> sound but it isn't entirely true. Japan is the #4 energy consumer in
> the world, and has had a number of bouts with air pollution, water
> contamination, and a number of other issues. They have a very high
> concentration of automobiles as well. Osaka (near Uji where a lot of
> tea comes from) is listed as moderate for air pollution, and second
> only to the lower portions of the country which are considered high.
>
> They have had a number of major infections and pollution related
> health issues... a lot of this is what caused them to begin to even
> worry about being environmentally conscious. And while things may be
> getting better, a lot of damage has been done which will take time to
> filter out.
>
> I'm not saying they are like China, but it isn't all pristine, lush,
> green and roses in Japan. I was just trying to point out that Japan
> isn't scott-free in all of this either.

OK, I understand this point. It seems we were on slightly different
wavelengths. You were thinking more of pollution, which I agree is
a real concern in Japan.

My concern with China was more adulteration. Reading about lead
in Long Jing makes me very nervous.

Randy

"RJP" <pals@ipact.com> wrote in message
news:1170773092.453482.319690@m58g2000cwm. o...
> On Feb 5, 8:28 pm, "Dominic T." wrote:
>
>> I understand the notion that Japan is very clean and environmentally
>> sound but it isn't entirely true. Japan is the #4 energy consumer in
>> the world, and has had a number of bouts with air pollution, water
>> contamination, and a number of other issues. They have a very high
>> concentration of automobiles as well. Osaka (near Uji where a lot of
>> tea comes from) is listed as moderate for air pollution, and second
>> only to the lower portions of the country which are considered high.
>>
>> They have had a number of major infections and pollution related
>> health issues... a lot of this is what caused them to begin to even
>> worry about being environmentally conscious. And while things may be
>> getting better, a lot of damage has been done which will take time to
>> filter out.
>>
>> I'm not saying they are like China, but it isn't all pristine, lush,
>> green and roses in Japan. I was just trying to point out that Japan
>> isn't scott-free in all of this either.
>
> OK, I understand this point. It seems we were on slightly different
> wavelengths. You were thinking more of pollution, which I agree is
> a real concern in Japan.
>
> My concern with China was more adulteration. Reading about lead
> in Long Jing makes me very nervous.
>
>
> Randy
True, pollution is one thing...but spraying pesticides,DDT, green paint, or
whatever on the tea leaves is unethical farming.

On Feb 6, 9:44 am, "RJP" <p...@ipact.com> wrote:
> On Feb 5, 8:28 pm, "Dominic T." wrote:
>
>
>
> > I understand the notion that Japan is very clean and environmentally
> > sound but it isn't entirely true. Japan is the #4 energy consumer in
> > the world, and has had a number of bouts with air pollution, water
> > contamination, and a number of other issues. They have a very high
> > concentration of automobiles as well. Osaka (near Uji where a lot of
> > tea comes from) is listed as moderate for air pollution, and second
> > only to the lower portions of the country which are considered high.
>
> > They have had a number of major infections and pollution related
> > health issues... a lot of this is what caused them to begin to even
> > worry about being environmentally conscious. And while things may be
> > getting better, a lot of damage has been done which will take time to
> > filter out.
>
> > I'm not saying they are like China, but it isn't all pristine, lush,
> > green and roses in Japan. I was just trying to point out that Japan
> > isn't scott-free in all of this either.
>
> OK, I understand this point. It seems we were on slightly different
> wavelengths. You were thinking more of pollution, which I agree is
> a real concern in Japan.
>
> My concern with China was more adulteration. Reading about lead
> in Long Jing makes me very nervous.
>
> Randy

Or lead painted "herbal" mushrooms, or lead in damn near anything in
China that is sold by weight. China can be a cesspool for sure, and in
no way is Japan analagous... but that air and water and soil is what
feeds the tea and plants retain and concentrate these types of things
quite well. And then we brew and rebrew and brew some more to extract
every last bit out of the tea... it is hard to believe even the
"purest" tea is truly all that pure.

Thats why I look at it as a wash with the pros/cons as far as health
and just enjoy my tea. If it shortens my life, I enjoyed it that
little bit more because of tea. If it lengthens it, then I get to
enjoy some more tea. It all is perspective and just realizing all the
"organic" "healthy" "safe" foods/countries are no more or less in
reality when all is said and done... and sometimes it is the reverse
where they are found to be even more harmful than an iradiated semi-
meat patty from McBurgers.

- Dominic