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I witnessed a lot of Japanese exchange students happily purchasing a bottle of "green tea" in the states only to see a look of pure shock on their face as they

I witnessed a lot of Japanese exchange students happily purchasing a bottle of "green tea" in the states only to see a look of pure shock on their face as they tried it. It only takes a few weeks to get used to unsweetened tea but it's so much better for you, and honestly really refreshing. Oi Ocha and Ayataka green tea are my personal favorites. If the states had more of a vending machine culture (like Japan) with these healthier drinks in them, maybe it would catch on more. That's probably too optimistic of me though...

dannyw 5y ago
You can also add a little bit of honey to tea to taste. Lovely to sip on, especially if you get some quality honey.
jbay808 5y ago
When I first visited Japan, the wide variety of conveniently available unsweetened tea in vending machines was one of the things I really wished I could take back home with me.
scotty79 5y ago
I think Japanese generally don't put sugar in tea as a cultural thing. Same way most of the world wouldn't even think of putting milk in tea like Brits do. I read some story about "customer is always right" in US vs. "customer must be saved from his ignorance" in Japan. Author ordered green tea with sugar in Japan. She got no sugar when she requested it she was told that sugar ran out. But she could order black tea with sugar right after.
- bschwindHN 5y ago
  > I read some story about "customer is always right" in US vs. "customer must be saved from his ignorance" in Japan. I think the typical phrasing is "The customer is god" in Japan, though thankfully this mindset is changing somewhat. It leads to great customer service, but also some super entitled customers who treat servers like crap. I would guess the tea and sugar story is more about the rigidity of Japanese menus. If the green tea doesn't have a sugar option, it won't ever come with it even if the black tea version does. Though I'm fairly sure I could order a green tea with sugar if I really wanted it.

dannyw 5y ago

You can also add a little bit of honey to tea to taste. Lovely to sip on, especially if you get some quality honey.

jbay808 5y ago

When I first visited Japan, the wide variety of conveniently available unsweetened tea in vending machines was one of the things I really wished I could take back home with me.

scotty79 5y ago

I think Japanese generally don't put sugar in tea as a cultural thing. Same way most of the world wouldn't even think of putting milk in tea like Brits do. I read some story about "customer is always right" in US vs. "customer must be saved from his ignorance" in Japan. Author ordered green tea with sugar in Japan. She got no sugar when she requested it she was told that sugar ran out. But she could order black tea with sugar right after.

bschwindHN 5y ago
> I read some story about "customer is always right" in US vs. "customer must be saved from his ignorance" in Japan. I think the typical phrasing is "The customer is god" in Japan, though thankfully this mindset is changing somewhat. It leads to great customer service, but also some super entitled customers who treat servers like crap. I would guess the tea and sugar story is more about the rigidity of Japanese menus. If the green tea doesn't have a sugar option, it won't ever come with it even if the black tea version does. Though I'm fairly sure I could order a green tea with sugar if I really wanted it.