Revan Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 So I looked through all the WoW links in this forum, and didn't find the answer to this question. However, it is of course possible I missed something, so if this is a repeat I apologize. I've often heard that herbal tea is okay under the word of wisdom. However, I've never been able to actually find an official source saying that - on lds.org and in every talk I've ever heard, it just simply says "tea", which to me suggests any and all tea is against the word of wisdom. Anyway, just wondering if anyone had a source for why it is that herbal tea is considered okay - was it mentioned in a conference talk or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estradling75 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Because drinking tea means to drink something made from the Tea Plant. Just like coffee is made from the Coffee plant. Wikipedia reference to Tea plant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis In common use the name tea has expanded to cover any kind of herbal infusion that is made like Tea is made. But for the Word of Wisdom it is the Tea plant that is not allowed. If your herbal infusion does not have parts of the Tea plant in it then it is not Tea according to the Word of Wisdom even if we give it names like Herbal 'Tea' applepansy, Crypto, talisyn and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsifer42 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Just to expand on what Estradling said: There are some things spelled out in the WoW, and some things that are not. In turn, there are some things people say go against it and some things people say don't. Follow the spirit of the law. How do you feel when you drink herbal tea? Do you think God wants you to drink it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrShorty Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 I realize that fairmormon is not quite "official", but you might find this discussion interesting: http://en.fairmormon.org/Word_of_Wisdom/Hot_drinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Folk Prophet Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 I realize that fairmormon is not quite "official", but you might find this discussion interesting: http://en.fairmormon.org/Word_of_Wisdom/Hot_drinks fairmormon may not be official, but it sources everything pretty well from official sources, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordorbund Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 I have yet to find anything official on herbal teas. This is the only official statement I have seen on the subject: The only official interpretation of “hot drinks” (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early Church leaders that the term “hot drinks” means tea and coffee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Here's some information from the "official" newspaper. :) http://www.deseretnews.com/top/1236/3/Herbal-tea-5-healthy-alternatives-to-coffee-Postum-back-on-the-shelves.html M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 It's chilly today. Mint tea sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMGuy Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Letter of the law?Spirit of the law?Interpretation of the law? Which one ya want? Crypto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarVortex Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I drink Cafix. It's available in larger Whole Foods stores. It contains roasted barley, chicory, malt, figs, and red beet concentrate. Tastes just like a cheap instant coffee to me. And the best part: it doesn't market itself a "coffee substitute" that sets into motion all kinds of nuisance worrying. No, the label clearly says that it's merely an "all-natural instant beverage." Ho ho! Because it's caffeine-free, it can allegedly be enjoyed by everyone in the family, even children. But don't try it. I think you'd have better luck feeding your kids broccoli in cod liver oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytor2112 Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I hear green tea is delicious....(kinda like drinking grape juice instead of wine....so I hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsifer42 Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I'll have to look for that Polar. I love coffee, but don't drink it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlimac Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I drink Pero (barley drink). I mix a teaspoon into a weak hot chocolate and add a little creamer and a pinch of sugar. Yum! Sort of a mocha effect I guess. I've never drunk coffee of any kind but it smells similar. I also really like chamomile tea. It's calming as well as good for upset stomach. I first was served it when I was in Mexico 35 yrs ago and Montezuma got me. It was so soothing. Almond tea is good too, with a bowl of popcorn. But after drinking it all one summer when I worked in the mountains at a kids camp, I realized the version I was drinking does have tea in it. Oh well. I was uninformed. I figured any tea labeled with a nut or a flower would be free of tea. I didn't read the label- obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Folk Prophet Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I hear green tea is delicious....(kinda like drinking grape juice instead of wine....so I hear. Green tea is tea. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It is is the exact same plant. The exact same thing. Just a younger version of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LiterateParakeet Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I think herbal infusions (aka herbal tea) are just fine for the reasons Estradling mentioned. but as Paulsifer said go by how YOU feel about it. If you don't feel good about it then don't drink it. If you do (as I do) then drink it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytor2112 Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 (edited) Green tea is tea. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It is is the exact same plant. The exact same thing. Just a younger version of it. Wine is made from grapes...so is grape juice...no, if's and's or but's...Just a non-alcoholic version. It's all in the processing......;-) Edited October 28, 2014 by bytor2112 MrShorty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silhouette Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 It's my understanding that "tea" refers drinks made from the tea plant, as someone pointed out. I was told that the reason we don't drink it is because of the caffeine and tanin in it.I was told by my Bishop that herbal tea is fine to drink, so I don't feel bad about it. Actually I've never felt guilty about drinking herbal tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Folk Prophet Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 (edited) Wine is made from grapes...so is grape juice...no, if's and's or but's...Just a non-alcoholic version. It's all in the processing......;-) That makes no sense. Wine isn't against the word of wisdom. Alcohol is. Tea is different. Tea is tea...as in the tea leaf. And alcohol, tea, coffee, and tobacco are the list. Surely you wouldn't argue that tobacco processed differently is acceptable to use. You can quibble all day as to whether green tea is or is not against the word of wisdom. I have my opinion. But that's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is that green tea and black tea are both, decidedly "tea". If someone wants to justify green tea as acceptable, that's up to them. Edited October 28, 2014 by The Folk Prophet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 (edited) It's my understanding that "tea" refers drinks made from the tea plant, as someone pointed out. I was told that the reason we don't drink it is because of the caffeine and tanin in it.I was told by my Bishop that herbal tea is fine to drink, so I don't feel bad about it. Actually I've never felt guilty about drinking herbal tea. These kind of statements never die and go on forever (bold sentence). I'm absolutely positive that is NOT the reason LDS do not drink tea. For one thing, there are a few food and drink items that have caffeine and tannins in them and they are not against the WofW. There are several health benefits with drinking tea, so it can't be for health reasons. I wonder how many decades it would take for it took catch on, if LDS members would start a rumour to say that the WofW is an obedience commandment and that's why they don't drink tea or coffee. M. Edited October 29, 2014 by Maureen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silhouette Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 These kind of statements never die and go one forever (bold sentence).I'm absolutely positive that is NOT the reason LDS do not drink tea. For one thing, there are a few food and drink items that have caffeine and tannins in them and they are not against the WofW. There are several health benefits with drinking tea, so it can't be for health reasons.I wonder how many decades it would take for it took catch on, if LDS members would start a rumour to say that the WofW is an obedience commandment and that's why they don't drink tea or coffee.M.Your last paragraph is very insightful. I'd never thought of it that way before. I just went along with what I was told all these years... That there had to be some sort if physical thing wrong with tea and coffee the reason we don't drink them. However, your last paragraph is something to ponder, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytor2112 Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) That makes no sense. Wine isn't against the word of wisdom. Alcohol is. Tea is different. Tea is tea...as in the tea leaf. And alcohol, tea, coffee, and tobacco are the list. Surely you wouldn't argue that tobacco processed differently is acceptable to use. You can quibble all day as to whether green tea is or is not against the word of wisdom. I have my opinion. But that's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is that green tea and black tea are both, decidedly "tea". If someone wants to justify green tea as acceptable, that's up to them. Except the WOW doesn't mention tea or coffee or alcohol.....it does mention wine specifically and strong drink and hot drinks. Tea can be enjoyed over ice and I hear coffee can be quite delicious cold.....not to mention ice cream. Playboy isn't pornography....just artistic expression. I wonder how many decades it would take for it took catch on, if LDS members would start a rumour to say that the WofW is an obedience commandment and that's why they don't drink tea or coffee. I believe that is in large measure the reason.....we r a peculiar people. I often think of the Lord's House is a House of Order and I think that obeying the WOW is part of that.... Edited October 29, 2014 by bytor2112 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Folk Prophet Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) Except the WOW doesn't mention tea or coffee or alcohol.....it does mention wine specifically and strong drink and hot drinks. Tea can be enjoyed over ice and I hear coffee can be quite delicious cold.....not to mention ice cream. Playboy isn't pornography....just artistic expression. What on earth? Edited October 29, 2014 by The Folk Prophet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted October 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks for all the responses - I learned a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytor2112 Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 What on earth? I jest..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Folk Prophet Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 I jest..... I find myself relieved. You had me a bit stressed there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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