Yes, I’ve never heard or seen anyone from the UK so much as acknowledge to Lipton as actually being tea. TBD, though, I actually prefer our Bigelow teas to Twinning, though. Especially the Earl Grey.
Man, it used to drive me nuts that people would say “spicy” or “too spicy for me” when they clearly meant “too hot” but then i started to pay close attention. They were using the term properly, they were actually bitching about the garlic and cumin and cardamon and white pepper and curry and anise and whatever else i was using. Mustard was too much. Yeah, some of them used spicy for hot, but those were the people who could handle spice or hot,
Yeah, oregano, cumin, and such are spices. But I’m not arguing it isn’t a pungent plant used culinarily I’m saying it’s not used as a spice. A spice is used to add flavor to a dish, tea is more of an ingredient. It’s closer to strawberries in culinary use. By adding strawberries to something its flavor is so impacted we either specify that it’s a strawberry version of the dish. Tea is more like that. Coffee too.
Yeah some of those sound like decent novelties. Tea ice cream sounds good. But notice in each of these situations it’s being used far more like a fruit than bay or oregano would be. It’s never “do you know what this dish could really use? A bit of tea” no its “let’s build a dish to show off that we can use tea culinarily” its never curry with tea in its masala. It’s never used to spice up your rice. It’s never part of your dry rub. It’s never thrown into your soup or stew.
What do you think tea is made of?
Leaves?
mfing brits will make tea and I ask what kind and they say “Lipton”
Nobody drinks Lipton in the UK
Yes, I’ve never heard or seen anyone from the UK so much as acknowledge to Lipton as actually being tea. TBD, though, I actually prefer our Bigelow teas to Twinning, though. Especially the Earl Grey.
Yorkshire or Tetley, usually
Does anyone use tea as a spice?
Tea is spice
Spice isn’t necessarily spicy. It also contains herbs.
Man, it used to drive me nuts that people would say “spicy” or “too spicy for me” when they clearly meant “too hot” but then i started to pay close attention. They were using the term properly, they were actually bitching about the garlic and cumin and cardamon and white pepper and curry and anise and whatever else i was using. Mustard was too much. Yeah, some of them used spicy for hot, but those were the people who could handle spice or hot,
Yeah, oregano, cumin, and such are spices. But I’m not arguing it isn’t a pungent plant used culinarily I’m saying it’s not used as a spice. A spice is used to add flavor to a dish, tea is more of an ingredient. It’s closer to strawberries in culinary use. By adding strawberries to something its flavor is so impacted we either specify that it’s a strawberry version of the dish. Tea is more like that. Coffee too.
Whatever a Bay leaf is, tea is too. Same process.
Interesting. I never heard tea referred to as such and won’t use it in speech, but it’s a fascinating bit of trivia, for me.
But extremely different culinary uses.
I asked chatgpt for ideas
Black Tea Infused Chicken: Marinate chicken in brewed black tea with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey for a flavorful twist.
Black Tea Glazed Salmon: Create a glaze with brewed black tea, honey, soy sauce, and a dash of lemon juice to brush over baked or grilled salmon.
Black Tea Poached Pears: Poach pears in brewed black tea with cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of sugar for a delicious dessert.
Black Tea Ice Cream: Infuse heavy cream with brewed black tea, then mix with sugar and vanilla before churning into ice cream
Yeah some of those sound like decent novelties. Tea ice cream sounds good. But notice in each of these situations it’s being used far more like a fruit than bay or oregano would be. It’s never “do you know what this dish could really use? A bit of tea” no its “let’s build a dish to show off that we can use tea culinarily” its never curry with tea in its masala. It’s never used to spice up your rice. It’s never part of your dry rub. It’s never thrown into your soup or stew.
i mean, have you ever tried throwing a tea bag in a chili pot? I have. It was good.
And it’s not a chatgpt hallucination https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/earl-grey-tea-ice-cream-56389790
Agreed. Certainly not common.
However, I have heard coffee being used as a food ingredient. Cocoa too (e.g. Mole chicken).
Fascinating. Hopefully someone itt have tried some of those and gives a critique.
I’ve had Earl grey ice cream by van heusen and I am a big fan - I pick it up whenever I see it
Tea has been used to flavour a dish, not in leaves form but brewed and then added to the broth, there’s a chole recipe with tea used as such