Is it true that Mormons are not allowed to drink iced tea. If so, what is the reasoning?

Comments

• Anonymous,
   
  Where did you learn that herbal teas are okay? I’ve heard this many times, but I’ve never found anything from the Church to support it.

  • Report
  

  by the Otter on March 9th, 2008

• I don't think that the Church does have an official statement; I haven't heard of one. But I learned from Wikipedia that herbal teas aren't actually teas, because they aren't made from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). They're better described as 'infusions' or 'tisanes', and they're usually made from various flowers. So, there's no actual reason to consider them 'tea', except that they're drinks produced by putting a plant in water.

  • Report
  

  by Anonymous on March 10th, 2008

Comments

• Kim,
   
  Sorry to bump an old answer, but do you have any citation for this? I’ve never heard any statement from the Church regarding which kinds of tea are against the Word of Wisdom, just that “tea” is. I’ve always understood that to mean tea, period—be it herbal, iced, Texas, or whatever—but if you know something I don’t, I always love to learn!
   
  Thanks!

  • Report
  

  by the Otter on March 9th, 2008

• Sure.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea

  • Report
  

  by Kim Siever on March 9th, 2008

• Great info. However, I guess I didn’t phrase my question as clearly as I’d like: do you have any citation of a First Presidency letter, official Church publication, etc., in which the Church specifically outlines which kinds of “tea” fall under the counsel/commandment given in the Word of Wisdom? As I said, I’ve always erred on the side of caution and assumed that, in the absence of any clarification to the contrary, strict compliance with the Word of Wisdom would include abstinence from any and all types of “tea,” regardless of the plant of origin.
   
  Thoughts?

  • Report
  

  by the Otter on March 9th, 2008

• That's like asking if the first presidency has defined what 'blue' is or what 'coffee' is. Tea is tea. Tea was defined centuries before the first presidency ever existed.

  • Report
  

  by Kim Siever on March 9th, 2008

Comments

• why are you permitted to have caffeinated sodas? a friend told me anything addicting is pretty much prohibited, and caffeine in any form is an addicting substance.
  just an explanation please if you don't mind. thank you

  • Report
  

  by miRi hates social norms and regulations on January 20th, 2008

• With respect to caffeine, it is a personal choice. I personally try to avoid it. However, the Church has never specifically stated what it is about coffee or green tea that we are supposed to avoid. So, we don't know.

  • Report
  

  by Glenn Blaylock on January 20th, 2008

• oh i see. so it's a bit more specific that "addicting substances" and says "tea" and "coffee" instead. thank you =) +

  • Report
  

  by miRi hates social norms and regulations on January 20th, 2008

• The specific phrase is "hot drinks". At the time, the most common hot drinks were coffee and tea and that has been what the phrase has specifically interpreted to mean. In recent decades, with the rise of the abusive use of drugs and the societal harm they cause, the restrictions have also been expanded to include all illicit drugs. Again, we don't know why it is that coffee and tea are excluded, but the council concerning other substances contained in the revelation proved to be prophetic. So, we trust that the Lord also knew what He was talking about in respect to those two beverages.

  • Report
  

  by Glenn Blaylock on January 20th, 2008

Comments

Comments