Green Tea & Green Tea Extract

[ChristopherMills]

I am really interested in getting some feedback on this. This thread is inspired from the recent popularity of Green Tea and its health benefits that are advertised.

From what I understand, "hot drinks" in Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 has been interpreted specifically to be coffee and tea. I have heard and read from other LDS members that believed that "tea" refers to "Black Tea" simply because the "hot drinks" of Joseph Smiths day were in fact coffee and Black Tea. Herbal teas have been deemed permissible. I have spoken to a few LDS who were under the assumption that Green Tea is classified as an herbal tea and that drinking it does not violate the Word of Wisdom.

A fact that some may not be aware of is that Green Tea is produced from the Camellia Sinensis, which is the same plant that Black Tea is produced from. White Tea and Oolong Tea are also products of this plant. The difference from one Camellia Sinensis tea to another is dependant upon how the leaves are processed. Although each come from the same plant, they are not the same product.

My question is this: Should we avoid Camellia Sinensis altogether or only the Black Tea that is produced from it? I am not aware of any statement from a General Authority on this issue. I am curious if anyone else could shed some light on this.

Another topic in question is Green Tea Extract. I have done a limited amount of research on this product. As I understand it, there are various methods of obtaining the extract. Would certain extracts be a permissible way of consuming the antioxidants, vitamins and obtaining other health benefits associated with Green Tea (some use it as a weight loss supplement)?

On a BYU website, the Word of Wisdom is defined as follows:

word of wisdom - a name given to Joseph Smith’s revelation on health, contained in D & C 89. Past and present prophets of the church have clearly stated that the following are proscribed by this revelation: alcohol, tobacco, coffee, black tea, and illegal drugs. Following the word of wisdom is a requirement for obtaining a temple recommend as well as for being baptized.
source: Glossary

A few other of many sources defining "tea" as "Black Tea":

Teas | Times & Seasons, An Onymous Mormon Blog
LDS FAQ: Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet
JENNIFER
DIANE
Mormon Family
The Freelance Observer: Breaking Rules or Breaking Babies: LDS vs. FLDS Mormon Church

As of yet, I have not read any official statement from a prophet defining "tea" as "Black Tea" but it is obvious that many members have interpreted it to be so under the fact that "Black Tea" was the tea of Joseph Smith's era and herbal teas are ok.

I have also found a quote from Victor L. Ludlow, a BYU religion professor who states:

“The Word of Wisdom counsels against drinking “hot drinks,” which have been identified by early Church leaders as coffee and tea. “Tea” refers to the standard tea derived from the tea plant, sometimes called black tea or green tea. The Word of Wisdom has not been interpreted as proscribing herbal teas, stating that “all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man (D&C 89:10)” (Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, p.434).

As it seems, there is some confusion among LDS members regarding this matter. This was what inspired me to post this blog.

I have been curious of the health benefits associated with Green Tea Extract but have decided to avoid it simply because it is produced from Camellia Sinensis. Until an official statement is made, I feel that tea is tea if it comes from the "tea plant". I am intersted in any facts, quotes, opinions, etc. on this subject.

Thanks,
Chris

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by ChristopherMills

I have been curious of the health benefits associated with Green Tea but have decided to avoid drinking it simply because it is produced from Camellia Sinensis. I am interested in any facts, quotes, opinions, etc. on this subject.

Thanks,
Chris

Considering the health benefits of green tea, this is a bit of a conundrum. If you are like me, you want your health code to make sense. Here is what I have come up with as an explanation for our obedience to this portion of the health code: In the war in Heaven, the tea and coffee plants sat too close to the fence and were thus considered less valiant.

The rest of the word of wisdom health code is self explanatory.



BTW, did they ever discontinue selling hot drinks at the Red Brick Store?

[hordak]

I wouldn't get too caught up on the "same plant same thing" idea.

Some of my favorite foods are poppy seed chicken, and muffins.

[Hemidakota]

We had issue with those who love to eat seeds prior to a 'urine test'.

[Dravin]

My opinion on the matter is that we've not been told why exactly we are to stay away from hot drinks (interpreted coffee and tea (I've never heard a distinction between white, black and green, only between the tea plant and infusions)) so I'm not inclined to take an extract not knowing what it is I'm supposed to be avoiding. As far as anti-oxidants there are surely other ways to obtain these things (though in cases of things like pomegranate and wild blueberry may be more expensive).

I repeat, this is my opinion and not a statement of Church policy or the doctrines of Christ.


P.S. For what its worth when a missionary I knew asked the Mission President he was told there was no policy on extract and to pray about the matter and do what he felt right. Of course Mission Presidents are not arbiters of doctrine or Church Policy (though in my experience are decently well informed, at least mine was) so take it with as much salt as you please.

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by hordak

Some of my favorite foods are poppy seed chicken, and muffins.

Poppy seed bagels!!!

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by ChristopherMills

From what I understand, "hot drinks" in Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 has been interpreted specifically to be Black Coffee and Black Tea.

Please provide a reference for this. I have always read that it has been interpreted as coffee and tea. The way you have written it, in fact, makes it perfectly permissible to drink coffee, so long as I throw in a little sugar and cream.

[ChristopherMills]

I apologize for the misunderstanding. My reference to "Black Coffee" was intended to be directed towards the product itself (whether with or without the sugar and cream). "Black Coffee" as opposed to the not so popular Green Coffee or Green Coffee Extract. I did not mean to imply that drinking coffee in any form is acceptable according to the Word of Wisdom.

When the Word of Wisdom was given, black tea and coffee were the popular "hot drinks". Recently, Green Tea has become quite popular and there are some LDS who feel that it is ok to drink because of the advertised health benefits. To me, coffee is coffee and tea is tea if it comes from the same plant. However, Green Tea is not the same product as Black Tea, due to the processing that takes place. So, is it the plant or the product that we should abstain from? That is the question.

[Maureen]

The way you have written it, in fact, makes it perfectly permissible to drink coffee, so long as I throw in a little sugar and cream.

Because of the LDS church's non-coffee drinking stipulation, many members are not familiar with the scripture: "And it came to pass, that on the one millionth, three-hundred and eighty-seventh thousand day, God created cream and sugar."

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by ChristopherMills

I apologize for the misunderstanding. My reference to "Black Coffee" was intended to be directed towards the product itself (whether with or without the sugar and cream). "Black Coffee" as opposed to the not so popular Green Coffee or Green Coffee Extract. I did not mean to imply that drinking coffee in any form is acceptable according to the Word of Wisdom.

When the Word of Wisdom was given, black tea and coffee were the popular "hot drinks". Recently, Green Tea has become quite popular and there are some LDS who feel that it is ok to drink because of the advertised health benefits. To me, coffee is coffee and tea is tea if it comes from the same plant. However, Green Tea is not the same product as Black Tea, due to the processing that takes place. So, is it the plant or the product that we should abstain from? That is the question.

I'm still wondering if you can provide a reference that specifies black tea, but either explicitly or implicitly excludes green tea. I have always only ever heard "coffee and tea."