i drink lots of tea. and i’m a fool for fruity drinks, so i’ve been thrilled about the green (and white) tea revolution that seems to be going on in the US. Companies are mass-producing teas mixed with an assortment of fruity flavors, and marketing them as healthful because they contain antioxidants. From the lipton website:

Antioxidant
A compound that helps prevent or delay oxidative damage to the body, cells and tissues. Antioxidants are found naturally in the body and many foods and may inhibit the harmful effects of free radicals, which scientists believe may contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.

i’ve had some flavored teas that taste like i’m drinking freezer pops. and they are great over ice, but i still get that sickening sweet feeling after a couple glasses. that’s why i’ve gone a little crazy over Lipton’s Green Tea with Citrus, and Raspberry White Tea.

behold, my favorite mass-produced beverage:

these have the perfect blend of tea, fruitiness, and sweetness. they make me feel like i’m enjoying a mixed drink, but able to drink enough to quench my thirst without making feel sick to my stomach from all the sugar.

lipton raspberry white tea:
“Water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, white and green tea, natural flavors, sodium hexametaphosphate (to protect flavor), phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid (to protect flavor), potassium sorbate and potassium benzoate (preseve freshness), acesulfame potassium, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor)”

lipton green tea with citrus ingredients:
“Water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, green tea, sodium hexametaphosphate and ascorbic acid (to protect flavor), honey, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preseve freshness), calcium disodium edta, caramel color, yellow 5, blue1.”

tip: if you are concerned about how much healthier these are than coke or pepsi, do not compare the labels.

View more images from the Lipton Tea photo-shoot:

by the way, the best beverage i’ve ever had was an iced honeydew green tea, mixed at Teaz Me in the Westfield Mall in San Francisco.