noted in passing

If you read Marx (and I am no Marx scholar) he discusses the adulteration of bread in the 19th century. Bakers were throwing all sorts of stuff into the bread. Poor people could only afford to buy bread of very low nutritional value.

That's nasty and that's dirty.

However, the situation in the USA with ordinary teas seems to me, in some ways, worse.

Why worse? Granted teas are not especially nutritious--not a source of calories or minerals or vitamins. Yet, teas can have medicinal value.

Last night I had an upset stomach, and attempted to soothe it with chamomile and peppermint teas sold by USA companies.

The tea sold in this country is inferior to that available for sail in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. The tea in the USA is weaker.

However, USA tea features a pretty box with inspiring words and pictures......

The triumph of appearance over reality.

It sort of pisses me off. Instead of providing something of quality, they waste time with sophistry and illusion.....and I want to say: How typical of this country! (Indeed, young people go to school to learn the pseudo-science of illusion......aka "marketing"........)

GMOOH