I recently flew from Chicago to Hong Kong. On my United Flight they
offered "Chinese tea." Umm, how is that different from ? American tea?

Thanks
Pete

My best guess is a generic Chinese green tea blend. "Indian tea" would
be a generic Indian black tea blend, maybe. Toci
P T wrote:
I recently flew from Chicago to Hong Kong. On my United Flight they
offered "Chinese tea." Umm, how is that different from ? American tea?

Thanks
Pete

P T wrote:
I recently flew from Chicago to Hong Kong. On my United Flight they
offered "Chinese tea." Umm, how is that different from ? American tea?

Thanks
Pete

Many times this is an oolong tea. It's a safe bet when you see a box of
teabags labeled "Chinese Restaurant" tea that it will actually be an
oolong or oolong blend. Oolong is much different than a more "American"
tea such as Tetley or Lipton in that it is a bit closer to a green tea
than a black. Here is a basic primer on oolong from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolong. Personally, I think wikipedia
entries on tea are marginal at best but it will do in a pinch.

- Dominic

P T wrote:
I recently flew from Chicago to Hong Kong. On my United Flight they
offered "Chinese tea." Umm, how is that different from ? American tea?

Thanks
Pete

From what I've seen the "Chinese tea" bags on planes and things are one
of two categories: Jasmine tea or "Oolong tea". The former smelling
strong and sweet like flowers and the latter usually tasting kinda
burnt because for the most part they use low quality "nong xiang"
(fully cooked) wulong.

American tea would be....? Red tea in the form of Liptons?

P T wrote:
I recently flew from Chicago to Hong Kong. On my United Flight they
offered "Chinese tea." Umm, how is that different from ? American tea?

Odds are it's an oolong. Which is a good thing, in part because you can't
get water hot enough on airliners to make black tea. They pressurize the
cabin to 8,000 feet and the water boils at 197'F or so. Combine that with
using the lowest possible quality tea bags, and ordering tea on airliners
is not a good experience.

An oolong or a green tea would be a much better choice on an airliner.
--scott

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

Mydnight wrote:

American tea would be....? Red tea in the form of Liptons?

Made with lukewarm water contaminated with coffee, served in a takeaway
container for $20.
---scott


With a coca-cola chaser, please.
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

P T wrote:
I recently flew from Chicago to Hong Kong. On my United Flight they
offered "Chinese tea." Umm, how is that different from ? American tea?

Hi Pete. At last, a question to which I can give an educated
answer. I've drunk "Chinese tea" on those flights and it's a regular
restaurant-style oolong, decently brewed. If you want something similar
go to a Chinese grocery (or, for reasonable prices in Hong Kong Yue Wah
has several branches there including a large store on Nathan Street)
and get either a cheap Shui Xian or just plain "oolong".

I drink fancier teas, but I sure can't complain about theirs 10 hours
into a flight.

Have fun,

Rick.