Is green tea against the word of wisdom?

Yes, green tea is prohibited by the word of wisdom. Why it is prohibited we really don't know. Some have said that it is because of the caffeine in it. However, while caffeinated beverages are discouraged, not all are prohibited. Others have said that it is because of tannic acid. However, that has not been confirmed either. So, we really don't know why green tea is prohibited. It just is.

As glenn has pointed out there is nothing in the word of wisdom or other accepted revelations indicating caffiene as the cause of absination from tea and coffee - it is important to note when considering green tea that "tea" is a particular type of plant - not a type of drink. both green and black tea are made from various forms of the tea plant - the reason herbal teas are not prohibited is because they are not made from the tea plant but from other types of plants. Chammomille tea for instance is made from a flower and not from tea at all. Any drink made from any form of the tea plant would be considered "hot drink" as specified in the word of wisdom. it has never been necessary for the leaders of the church to specify "green" tea as being against the revelation because it is still tea - i.e. a drink made from one of the various forms of tea plant.

While this is not an official church publication, it does shed some light on the subject of green tea and the Word of Wisdom.

“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)

No. Mark 7:14-15 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"

There isn't agreement about green tea and the Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom forbids tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. However, there is much debate over what is included in "tea". Obviously black tea is against the Word of Wisdom, but many Mormons (myself included) drink herbal teas. Iced tea contains leaves from the same plant as black tea, so it's normally frowned upon. Green tea is also from the same plant, so many Mormons avoid it as well.

If you honestly need an answer, seek advice from your bishop.

It seems people here are trying to decide whether drinking green tea violates the WOW or not based on the definitions of the words used in the scriptures or later explanations by prophets and apostles. I believe that when the sophistication of the Lords people concerning a matter is rudimentary he spells things out explicitly i.e. Law of Moses and the WOW. He then gradually expects people to make their decisions based on principles as their knowledge and sophistication in their culture or era evolves. When ambiguity arises the prophet asks the Lord and if the ambiguity could lead people to sin or halt spiritual progression clarification is revealed. When an ambiguity has little or no such risk to the church as a whole it is left uncommented on by the Lord.

I suggest that to come to a conclusion on this question anyone should consider at least the following:

1. The WOW as it is written is still in effect and rises to the level of importance as to be a temple attendance discriminator.

2. "Harmful drugs" is not mentioned in the WOW but is considered to be included in the WOW now. Why has this happened with drugs and not for Green Tea?

3. Further clarification of the WOW in light of new knowledge and possible definitions to "Hot Drinks" has not been given in recent years. Therefore use of what does not need clarification (tobacco) is determined literally and what does need clarification for you individually (Green vs Black Tea) should be determined based on principles and individually with counsel with your local priesthood leader.

4. Does its use or abstinence effect your spiritual progression?

This is an area of the gospel that was previously black and white but has become grey. Our knowledge has created more definitions to words in the scriptures concerning “Hot Drinks” and tea. It is unconventional to determine what those words mean for others when we haven't that authority. When the need for further clarification of "Hot Drinks" or “Tea” is needed for the church as a whole it will be revealed by God. Until then we pray for answers, seek authorized guidance, make decision based on principals for ourselves and stewardships, judge the fruits and change our decision as needed precept upon precept.

Much of the discussion here adds to someone’s ability to consider true principals and come to that decision. But any decision by a lay member here or anywhere should never, no matter how logical or how much support by others it has, be used to determine that someone else is or is not obeying the WOW. The WOW just does not explicitly clarify this ambiguity.

Does anyone have any other considerations that may help in making this decision?

What about cold green tea...such as Lipton Green Tea, iced tea mix? This is a cold drink that offers antioxidants and no caffine!

I read the responses to this question. If you can find the answers in the General Handbook of Instructions for Priesthood Leaders, it says they should not keep from issuing a temple recommend for those who drink caffenated drinks. As for the comment about tea being all tea including herbal teas, what about the part of the Word of Wisdom that says, "All grain is good for the food of man"? Barley in it's fermented form is used for beer. Grapes are good for man, but when they are fermented, they turn into wine which we are not supposed to drink.
I have done an extensive search on this subject and found that white tea is from the young plant, green tea is from the mature plant, and black tea is from the fermented plant. Could it be that the fermenting is the harmful part? I have heard those who are very strict about obeying the Word of Wisdom, including a RS President and a Temple President that believe green tea is good for you and drink it. however our Bishop told my husband that "Tea is tea". I have called the Church offices and even the Missionary Department for Japan and no one had any answers for me. I say seek for and follow the Spirit in this matter. He will never lead you astray. After doing so and you feel at peace about it, unless you hear different from our Church Leaders, do not worry about it.

If your morom it is because it contains caffenine

For as much debate as there is that surrounds this subject, you would think that it would be addressed, by the Prophet. Why has there not been some sort of specifics on this subject. I see hundreds of articles from everyday LDS citizens, but slience from Church Leaders.

I find it intreging how the actual specified word of the Lord has been dismissed "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly." and replaced in word, but not added to scripture as coffee and tea.

The Chinese have known for 5000 years that if a cup is too hot to hold, its too hot to drink. The first cup handle doesn't appear until around 1750.

Why would the Lord give Prophet Joseph exacts on wine and strong drink, meats, grains etc, but avoid telling us about tea and coffee, but rather, address "hot drinks"? Surely He knew what Coffee and Tea were as did Joseph Smith yet the Lord chose to use the verbage "hot drinks". I wonder if it is because he did not want us drinking hot drinks?

If they called it Antioxifidus would you give it the stamp of approval? Green Tea Extract is not the same thing has piping hot Tea in the 1840's. Most of the tea back then was ultra rich black tea anyway, and nevermind the fact that half the members still drank it long after the word of "wisdom", "given not by way of commandment" drank the nasty stuff.

Is Resveratrol against the Word of Wisdom, because it comes from red wine? Or is it okay because it isn't called "Red Wine Extract"?

I can just see a super fat LDS member who eats poorly and never exercises expecting to go to heaven while believing their LDS neighbor who needs green tea extract to function will go to hell, just because the W of W doesn't mention exercise or sugar. Pretty messed up if you ask me.

You have a bishop. Tell him why you need it and see what he says. It's between you, the Lord, and your Bishop. Everyone else's opinion is just that: meaningless opinion.

Green tea is NOT Tea-- That's the thing that people don't understand in the church.

The definition of TEA is black tea, or the FERMENTED tea leaf. If anyone has ever been to the store in the tea section, any box that says "tea" on it will read "black tea" in the ingredients.

Green tea is the FRESH leaf. It has not been oxidized, and is subsequently lower in caffeine, and extremely healthy. Same with white tea (the bud of the plant). It's like drinking any herbal tea-- peppermint, chamomile, etc.

We don't drink tea or coffee. Black tea or coffee.

When the WOW was revealed in the 1800's, green tea didn't even exist in this country.

Green tea specifically has never been banned. It varies from presidency to presidency on whether or not it is allowed. Although it is infact from the same plant as black tea the chemical processes that take place are different much like how grape juice and wine made from grapes is different.

Perhaps with the ever mounting evidence that tea in all forms is loaded with life boosting anti-oxidants that are proven to aid the body in disease immunity, the rule might be modified. Tea is now regarded by the medical community as being healthful.

I drink natural, organic, non-caffinated green teas as they help my metabolism work better so its beneficial.

No. Just pure false doctrines of men.

My 2 cents.

As I watch the many crippled-up, obese members that are out of breath just making it to the parking lot, and consuming a daily regiment of 7 or more pharmaceuticals.... well, it just seems to me that this green tea issue is rather silly; kind of a paying attention to a mote in the eye and ignoring the beam. It surely shows that we are indeed of Israel.

I thought this was a joke question, but damn.

What the ....!!

It seems that there are two points of view:
Those that only see tunnel vision, or see the letter of the law, and...
Those that see more of the whole picture, or spirit of the law.
A person may discern what isn't and what may be good for the body, "with judgment," according as the Holy Spirit indicates. Ponder D&C 59:17-20.

So what does "tea" indicate? At the time the prophets said to abstain from tea, they meant, tea, as in a warm or hot drink of tea, exactly as one would imagine tea should be.

So does an herbal tea concentrate in granular form (which may contain green or black tea, because an herb is something derived from a plant on Earth), for the use of anti-oxidant properties to be supplemented in nutritional shakes, count as drinking tea?

Rooibos and herbals teas might be better for your convictions. I am not Mormon but I have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for my eternal security and I love Him. I study of the Bible and it's doctrines from a Grace Oriented Faith. I believe that all things are lawful for me but not all things are profitable. I of course obey the laws of the land and believe in being submitted to the authorities that God has over me. I find the Bible very pro herbs and that it is not specific about a lot of foods but what ever is not of faith for you is sin. Check out Rooibos. If you faith allows it I think you might enjoy it. I get mine from an Organic Tea store in Houston, TX

I think all of these answers sidestep a crucial point. Regardless of the health issues or exact wording of the Word of Wisdom, when you accept baptism you are accepting the Word of Wisdom, making a promise. Something could be the healthiest, safest thing in the world, but if you promised God you wouldn't partake of it, then the rest is between you and God.

But the real crucial factor is that those in the LDS church are a "peculiar people" for others to take notice of. Everywhere you go, you set an example and act as an unofficial spokesman for the church (and Christ) by your example. So if people see you drinking Green Tea, that affects their opinion of the church regardless of any rightness or wrongness, which makes the answer to some of these "gray questions" simple when you are talking about doing them in public and only gray when you are talking about doing them privately.

Is this an oxymoron?

Most people interpret the prohibition on tea to mean the tea plant. You are not going to find authoritative lists telling you what you can and can not eat and drink - it is not God's intention that we be commanded in all things. We are to think things out, consider the issues prayerfully, and as long as the Spirit is with us we aren't to lose a lot of sleep caring what other people think.

Regarding herbal teas, reread the above and realize you aren't likely to find anything explicitly listing what types are and are not acceptable. But it's interesting to note that Heber J. Grant, seventh president of the Church, speaks of drinking herbal teas. It's interesting to note a February 1997 article in The New Era speaks favorably of a student substituting herbal tea for "real" tea. The Church is very careful about what goes into its official publications and if there were doubts the references wouldn't be there.

We refer to the Word of Wisdom as a law of health, but more than that it's a measure of our willingness to be led. Yes, if you never smoke, if you never drink alcohol you don't have to worry about becoming dependent on them. But the larger point is that by demonstrating our willingness to be obedient in small things, we show ourselves trustworthy to be obedient and led in larger things.

“The Word of Wisdom contains certain very important warnings. It declares that alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee are not good for the body. The revelation says “hot drinks,” but before the revelation was a year old, “hot drinks” were defined to include tea and coffee” (Elder John A. Widtsoe, Conference Report, April 1926).

And Victor L. Ludlow has further clarified that the “hot drinks” referred to in the Word of Wisdom do not apply to the herbal teas.

“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).