Green44 Posted January 14, 2011 Report Posted January 14, 2011 Hey guys! I pretty much made an account for this one question. My friend goes to the Church of LDS and he stays away from a lot of honorable things (cursing, rated R movies, sex before marriage, etc), but I was drinking tea the other day because I am a tea fanatic and offered him some, he respectfully declined and said it was something that he tries to stay away from. He says he can drink herbal tea (which I thought was all tea), so I believe I can offer him chamomile, chrysanthemum, etc.So I want to clarify why people who follow LDS do not drink 'warm/hot' drinks as I have searched. He did not know the reason and said it was because of caffeine, but he loves soda, red bull, and chocolate. Looking online I read caffeine was not the problem but that the Word of Wisdom talks about not drinking warm drinks meaning coffee and tea. Yet Herbal tea and hot chocolate is ok?He also drinks this herbal tea called Calli Tea ( Sunrider Calli Tea )Yet, there is green tea within Calli tea, as well as other herbal teas.I want to understand why tea is not ok. As a health factor it contains a lot of antioxidants, is completely natural, and is said to heal many different things.Its not a big deal, I just want to understand why he strays away from something that I regard as very healthy and beneficial. -Have a great day guys! Quote
pam Posted January 14, 2011 Report Posted January 14, 2011 I recommend going here as this has been discussed numerous times. Quote
Wingnut Posted January 14, 2011 Report Posted January 14, 2011 I want to understand why tea is not ok.The most basic and accurate answer is: because we've been commanded not to drink it. Quote
Backroads Posted January 14, 2011 Report Posted January 14, 2011 There is tea, and then there is tea. The tea I think we're against is from the plant Camellia sinensis. Then again, you can brew anything in hot water and call it tea. Quote
Captain_Curmudgeon Posted January 14, 2011 Report Posted January 14, 2011 There is tea, and then there is tea. The tea I think we're against is from the plant Camellia sinensis. Then again, you can brew anything in hot water and call it tea.Like Brigham tea. Quote
sodapop Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 is green tea and earl grey okay? Quote
Suzie Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 is green tea and earl grey okay?Both of them contain caffeine. Quote
Just_A_Guy Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) "Green tea is tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis . . . "Ditto for black tea, which I think is usually a component in Earl Grey. Edited January 15, 2011 by Just_A_Guy Quote
Backroads Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 Both of them contain caffeine.It's not just caffeine; otherwise, dark chocolate would be banned and I would cry. I had this conversation on the mormon.org facebook page just the other week, I swear. The caffeine is a big negative because of the amount it contains, and some other things in it slow the absorption of iron. A lot of people say tea is much healthier than coffee, and I think I agree. But I can stick to my herbals quite happily. Quote
slamjet Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 I know a guy who refuses to have soup. It's a "hot drink." But he's a total turd in other ways. But a lovable turd. I drink Argentine Mate. I have since I was a babe. Seriously. I have a picture of me at 2.5 years old enjoying a nice yerba with my mate and bombilla. It's a hot drink and I've been scolded about it by others. I asked my dad about it, and in his usual way of annoyance with ignorant "do-gooders" he proceeded to tell me in quite an elevated voice: "As soon as the prophet goes down to Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Chile and tell them to not drink it as they have with coffee, then I'll stop!!!!!" Point of all this: we need to take the words of the Prophets, past and present, and mix them with our own convictions to come up with what's appropriate for us, personally. I won't berate a person for not drinking soup, but it's clear when, I believe we've been told, that herbal tea's are the only tea's acceptable that there is a clear line being drawn. Beyond that clear line is personal preference and conviction not to be confused with universal gospel dogma. Quote
Suzie Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 It's not just caffeine; otherwise, dark chocolate would be banned and I would cry.Oh no, I did not intent to make a statement that it is within the "forbidden" list, I just wanted to say it contains caffeine. As a matter of fact, decaff coffee still coffee. Some people think it's okay and some others don't. Quote
Suzie Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 I drink Argentine Mate. I have since I was a babe. Seriously. I have a picture of me at 2.5 years old enjoying a nice yerba with my mate and bombilla. It's a hot drink and I've been scolded about it by others. I asked my dad about it, and in his usual way of annoyance with ignorant "do-gooders" he proceeded to tell me in quite an elevated voice: "As soon as the prophet goes down to Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Chile and tell them to not drink it as they have with coffee, then I'll stop!!!!!"Scolded by others for what? Quote
Backroads Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 Oh no, I did not intent to make a statement that it is within the "forbidden" list, I just wanted to say it contains caffeine. As a matter of fact, decaff coffee still coffee. Some people think it's okay and some others don't.Gotcha. I think the WoW is truly open to quite a bit of personal interpretation. I drink caffeine, I even have an energy drink on a bad day, and I love the idea of tea and coffee. Probably more likely to drink tea than coffee.I have a very churchy co-worker who drinks a bit of coffee every now and then. She blames her daughters for tempting her with their coffee pot, but sometimes she needs the caffeine. She figures that she gave up smoking and alchohol and abstains from those, she can manage a sip of coffee when it's needed. I also knew the sweetest little widow in the ward who confessed to drinking all sorts of fun drinks when she and her husband went on vacation. It made her all the more adorable.My opinion of the WoW is most things banned are just fine... but only in moderation; they're just too addictive to risk it. Quote
slamjet Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 Scolded by others for what?Drinking a "hot" tea. Quote
slamjet Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 I drink caffeine, I even have an energy drink on a bad day, and I love the idea of tea and coffee. Probably more likely to drink tea than coffee.You evil, evil person Quote
Backroads Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 You evil, evil person But the Sobe energy drinks and the Amp Lemonade are so tasty! When I was teaching, some kids knew "teacher was tired" if I had an energy drink on my desk. My excuse is that I suffer mild insomnia... not enough to require medication, but every now and then I just can't sleep all night and need something to get me through the day. Quote
slamjet Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 But the Sobe energy drinks and the Amp Lemonade are so tasty! When I was teaching, some kids knew "teacher was tired" if I had an energy drink on my desk. My excuse is that I suffer mild insomnia... not enough to require medication, but every now and then I just can't sleep all night and need something to get me through the day.Excuses, excuses. You are still evil Quote
hordak Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 The most basic and accurate answer is: because we've been commanded not to drink it.Seconded. It's like asking why Jews don't eat bacon, the most delicious food God has given man? Quote
Wingnut Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 Both of them contain caffeine.So?I drink Argentine Mate.Yuck! I had that once on my mission -- so gross! Quote
slamjet Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 Yuck! I had that once on my mission -- so gross!YOU BLASPHEMER!!!!Ok, yea, it's an acquired taste, to some. There's something about grinding up a bush and using it as a drink. Quote
Nathan6329 Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 I think we all should become vegetarian. Back in the times of the Bible they sacrificed animals so they could eat but today it is just slaughtering so we can have food that we don't need just because it tastes good. Quote
JThimm88 Posted January 15, 2011 Report Posted January 15, 2011 From my understanding, for a tea to really be classified as such, it must come from the the Camellia Sinensis. Black, green, and oolong teas do come from this plant, so I don't drink them. However, herbal tea (white tea) is something I do drink due to the fact it does not come from this plant and can't technically be classified as tea, but rather as an infusion of fruits, herbs, spices, parts of other plants. So chances are, if your friend is drinking herbal tea, he's not really breaking the Word of Wisdom... Quote
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