Sometimes, flavored teas have "natural flavorings"....what exactly are these?!
Sometimes, flavored teas have "natural flavorings"....what exactly are these?
and why don't they specifically say what they are? my guess is that they don't want to give out the secret to its taste...but that's just my guess...thanks for your input.
Answers:
The exact definition of natural flavorings & flavors from Title 21, Section 101, part 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:
"The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional."
In other words, natural flavors can be pretty much anything approved for use in food.
Not too sure about the flavorings. But in some cultures, tea is steeped with flowers like chrysanthemums, lavenders or roses to give a distinct but different flavor.
It more than just a secret, because, telling to the consumen the exact process or the name of the flavor which is the result of a particular process is not easily understandable by most people, so they might think or it is common in marketing language and communication technique to tell a jargon. As well as in expectation that this jargon can hide some ( may be) a dangerous information or a real fact about the product.
And flavored tea, means the etea is not in its natural taste, could be, they use tea in lower grade or quality so they need to put a flavor. Especially for tea, not every tea can get along with all kinds of flavor. If the tea leaves it self is in high qualityt, i believe the producer will pack and sell it as it is, not put another cost for flavoring production.