Tea and Orange Juice - a Public Service Announcement

[steepholm]

A couple of years ago I was given a rather pretty Cath Kidston mug, from which I often drink green tea in the afternoon. (It's the only kind of tea I really like.) After a while, I noticed that the mug was becoming stained on the inside, and that washing up liquid did nothing to shift it, no matter how I scrubbed. It was hard to accept, but eventually I came to terms with it.

Being out of glasses one day, I drank orange juice from that same mug. Wiping the mug clean afterwards, I found the tea stains disappearing like magic, with no effort at all. "That's a useful trick," I said to myself.

Since then, I've had occasion to mention this thrilling experience to a couple of people, and neither of them was aware of the tea-stain removing properties of orange juice. It occurs to me that it may not be widely known - in which case it's my duty to tell the world!

Is it widely known?

Comments

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

I remember when I was in college someone pointed out that adding just a small amount of lemon juice to a cup of tea almost immediately lightened the color, far beyond the degree of dilution. I wouldn't be surprised if that's a reaction between the acid and whatever it is that colors tea (the tannins?).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

That does sound likely, yes.