0:00:02 > 0:00:05There's a lot we don't know about the food on our plates,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08and the shops and the labels don't always tell you the whole story.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Sometimes there's just too many offers
0:00:10 > 0:00:14and when you actually look at them, you're not really saving that much.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Whether you're staying in or going out,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19you've told us you can feel ripped off by the promises made
0:00:19 > 0:00:21for what you eat, and what you pay for it.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26If you buy six, it's cheaper.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29But I don't want to buy six, I want to buy one.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34From claims that don't stack up to the secrets behind the packaging,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37we'll uncover the truth about Britain's food
0:00:37 > 0:00:40so that you can be sure you're getting what you expect
0:00:40 > 0:00:41at the right price.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Your food, your money - this is Rip-Off Britain.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Hello and welcome once again to Rip-Off Britain,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56where, in this series, we're unwrapping the secrets
0:00:56 > 0:00:59of the food and the drink that we consume every day.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Now, we know that different brands work their socks off to try to
0:01:02 > 0:01:05convince us to buy their particular product,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08so we're here to cut through all that hype
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and try to ensure that when you spend your money,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13it's on the things that you really know you want.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16So with that in mind, we'll be looking a little bit
0:01:16 > 0:01:19more closely into the bold claims which are made
0:01:19 > 0:01:23for some everyday products to see if all of them really do stack up.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26And as we reveal the truth behind some of the labels themselves,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29you may end up feeling that not all things we'll be talking about,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32some of which, by the way, you may have bought yourselves,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34are necessarily quite what you thought they were.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37And along the way, we'll also be settling a concern
0:01:37 > 0:01:39that many of you have already shared with us,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42not so much about the items that you buy in the supermarket
0:01:42 > 0:01:45as the one that you've already got at home in your cupboards,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48and what you want to know is how long you should leave them there.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49Well, we'll have an answer to that,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53as well as unpicking the secrets of some of the other food and drink
0:01:53 > 0:01:56that you have, so that all you've got to do is enjoy them.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Coming up, the big-name brands boasting added protein.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05But is there really any need, or indeed, benefit?
0:02:05 > 0:02:07These products are not generated
0:02:07 > 0:02:10to improve people's health, necessarily,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13they're generated to make companies money.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17And the storm in a teacup over the price of a speciality cuppa.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Why should brews such as an Earl Grey cost you
0:02:20 > 0:02:23more than a bog-standard builder's?
0:02:23 > 0:02:27I can understand if it was 5p more, but when it's 40p more,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29I think that's not fair.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35You know, there can't be very many of us
0:02:35 > 0:02:38who don't know that protein is an essential part of our daily diets.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41But it isn't always easy to know exactly how much
0:02:41 > 0:02:43you should be having to stay healthy,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47which is why you may have been drawn to a whole range of new products
0:02:47 > 0:02:50that are springing up from big-name companies that appear to
0:02:50 > 0:02:52make the whole thing easy
0:02:52 > 0:02:57by adding extra protein to some very familiar brands.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Now, that protein boost, however, can come at a price,
0:03:01 > 0:03:02so is it worth it?
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Well, some experts would say no, it's not, and that,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09far from being an innovative short cut to eating better,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12these protein-packed products are just a very clever
0:03:12 > 0:03:14marketing gimmick and a way of getting us to spend money
0:03:14 > 0:03:17on something that, well, frankly, most of us won't need.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24They're everyday foods, but not as we know them,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27because some of the UK's biggest brands have added a bit of muscle
0:03:27 > 0:03:29to some of their best sellers.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Cereals like Weetabix and Shreddies, and even chocolate bars
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Mars and Snickers,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38have introduced versions of their products that are higher in protein.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And watching these ads...
0:03:40 > 0:03:43It doesn't taste like a protein bar, it tastes like it should.
0:03:43 > 0:03:4619g of protein is the perfect amount.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49..you'd be forgiven for thinking that these new versions
0:03:49 > 0:03:51of the products are the ideal accompaniment
0:03:51 > 0:03:53to a healthy lifestyle.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57There are more than 640 muscles in your body.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00New Weetabix Protein helps grow and maintain them.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07No wonder, when faced with a choice between the traditional variety
0:04:07 > 0:04:09or the one full of protein,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13most of the people we spoke to had no doubts over which they'd go for.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17If I had to choose one, I'd most likely choose this one,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20obviously because of the high levels of protein in it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22I'd go for the protein one.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24- Yeah, I'd go for that. - So, I'd pick this one,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26because it's got less in fat and it's got more protein.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33The protein bandwagon set off back in the 1950s in California,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36when the body-builders of Muscle Beach started adding powder
0:04:36 > 0:04:40made from soy beans into their diets to help build muscle.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46In 1972, the body-conscious reached for the nutrient once again...
0:04:47 > 0:04:52..as the low-carb, high-protein Atkins diet hit the shelves,
0:04:52 > 0:04:57with eating plans like Paleo and Dukan following suit in the 'noughties.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00But these new protein products, which in some cases
0:05:00 > 0:05:03can cost a lot more than the standard varieties,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07aren't aimed just at those trying to gain muscle or lose weight.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09So now we're all being targeted, and why?
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Well, of course, because it's big business.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15But how much protein do we actually need in our diet,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and are these products a good way for us to get it?
0:05:21 > 0:05:22Well, here's a man who should know.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Dr Stuart Gray is a lecturer in exercise and metabolic health,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29and he's especially interested in how our bodies
0:05:29 > 0:05:32are affected by the food we eat.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Protein's basically the building block of the body,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39so all our muscle tissue, all our organs, everything in the body,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41all the cells are composed of protein.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44So without protein, we wouldn't be here.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46So what happens if you don't get enough protein?
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Lots of things would probably happen.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51The main one, you would lose muscle mass,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54and that puts you at risk of a number of medical conditions.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Because proteins, also in times of energy crisis,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01it can be converted to sugar and it can keep us fuelled.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03So you're more at risk of getting disease
0:06:03 > 0:06:05and you're probably going to fare less well with it -
0:06:05 > 0:06:09you're less robust, less resilient in coping with it.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13The recommended daily intake of protein for adults is around
0:06:13 > 0:06:1755g per day, give or take a few grammes, depending on your age.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20So I wanted to know how much I'm getting, and whether,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24with all these protein-busting foods hitting the supermarket aisles,
0:06:24 > 0:06:28I should be using them to supplement my intake.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30So I've kept a diary of my diet for a week
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and Dr Gray is taking a look.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38You consumed about 70g of protein on average per day.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40So that was enough?
0:06:40 > 0:06:42That is more than the current recommendations, yeah.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45But, I mean, looking at all of the new protein products
0:06:45 > 0:06:47that are available on the market,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49would any of those actually give me a boost?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52The evidence would suggest no.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54There's some evidence that, if you were doing a lot of exercise,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57you may require some extra protein
0:06:57 > 0:06:59and you may get a very small benefit,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02but it would probably not be anything you would really notice.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07And it seems the same is likely to be true for most of us.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Research suggests that in the UK, almost everyone gets
0:07:11 > 0:07:15more than enough protein through their everyday diets and in fact,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18men get, on average, over 50% more than they need.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25All of which raises the question of what point there is in buying
0:07:25 > 0:07:29a protein-enhanced chocolate bar or box of cereal in the first place?
0:07:32 > 0:07:35But according to food marketing expert Phillip Adcock,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37the answer to that is simple -
0:07:37 > 0:07:40manufacturers know that any hint of a connection
0:07:40 > 0:07:43to a healthier lifestyle can be enough for us
0:07:43 > 0:07:45to pop a product in our supermarket trolleys.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49There's lots of positive associations with the word protein.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54So, as the lazy brains we all have and are, then we will think by,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57"Oh, that's got protein, I can do less exercise."
0:07:57 > 0:08:01So what we're always looking for is a short cut to a healthy lifestyle,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04and by putting a protein badge on, we will buy something.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Whether that's 0.01% healthier or 40% healthier,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10we just see it as slightly healthier,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13so it's the indulgence alibi.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15But we, as shoppers and consumers, need to understand
0:08:15 > 0:08:18what protein we need and whether we need to go and get
0:08:18 > 0:08:20some more or not because at the moment,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23we're paying a lot more money for a little bit more protein.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28We took a closer look at two of the best-known brands
0:08:28 > 0:08:31that have added protein to their products.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33First, Weetabix.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38On the day we checked, a regular pack of 24 cost £2.50
0:08:38 > 0:08:39from a leading supermarket,
0:08:39 > 0:08:44and two biscuits would give you 4.5g of protein.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48But at the same store, you would pay £3 for the Weetabix
0:08:48 > 0:08:50that comes with the added extra,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54and with two of those biscuits containing 7.6g of protein,
0:08:54 > 0:08:59it works out at 1.3p extra per gram.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03But you could just as easily add the same amount of protein to your
0:09:03 > 0:09:09usual Weetabix by pouring on an extra 100ml of milk.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12In fact, the white stuff contains all the protein we need
0:09:12 > 0:09:15in our diets, although using it as the only source
0:09:15 > 0:09:19isn't recommended for adults, who need a varied diet.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Another product that's received nutritional enhancement
0:09:22 > 0:09:24is a Snickers bar.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28A normal one, typically costing around 65p,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30contains 4.5g of protein.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33But a bar of the similar-sized protein version
0:09:33 > 0:09:37has almost four times that amount, a full 18g,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40as well as fewer calories, fat and sugar.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44But that extra kick comes at almost four times the cost,
0:09:44 > 0:09:49because we found this bar for sale online for £2.40.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53And while there are some who would consider it worth every penny,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55others, like Dr Gray,
0:09:55 > 0:10:00would say that's a lot extra to pay for something that isn't necessarily
0:10:00 > 0:10:02as healthy as you might hope.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05The fact that a lot of these products are packaged up
0:10:05 > 0:10:08with other things, like sugar and saturated fat,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11it's not going to be an overall very good addition
0:10:11 > 0:10:12to people's diet, really.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17Do you think that they're, sort of, masking the fact,
0:10:17 > 0:10:18in their own commercial terms?
0:10:18 > 0:10:23So the fact that, all right, 18g of protein in a Snickers bar,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25but because of all the sugar and fat that's in there as well,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28it's almost cancelling out the health benefit.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31It is, yeah, yeah. So even if you do have a protein requirement
0:10:31 > 0:10:35where you did need protein, getting it alongside that fat
0:10:35 > 0:10:37can interfere with a lot of these processes as well,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40so actually, we may well be losing the benefits of the protein,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43as you say, by adding all this other stuff in.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46So, I mean, you're a scientist, so what would your advice be
0:10:46 > 0:10:50in terms of our protein intake and how we should be getting it?
0:10:50 > 0:10:54So, for me, ideally, if you can, get it from your diet.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56There's a lot of sources in the diet,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00the beans, the pulses, the meat, cereals, breads also.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05But you can see how the packaging could make you think that these bars
0:11:05 > 0:11:07have a health benefit,
0:11:07 > 0:11:12as I saw for myself when I met some of the members at this Glasgow gym.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17If you were to see Shreddies Max Protein and Snickers Protein,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19would you be tempted, do you think, to buy them?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22I'd probably pick that up rather than the normal brand
0:11:22 > 0:11:24that doesn't say protein, yeah.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Just because they've advertised protein,
0:11:30 > 0:11:31it sort of draws your eye to it
0:11:31 > 0:11:33and makes you believe it's better for you.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35So, what do you think about the companies
0:11:35 > 0:11:36who are pushing the protein?
0:11:36 > 0:11:38They're just trying to sell their products,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40because they know people are health-conscious
0:11:40 > 0:11:43and they're just putting protein on stuff and saying,
0:11:43 > 0:11:44"People will just buy it."
0:11:44 > 0:11:48And that's a sentiment Dr Gray heartily agrees with.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50These products are not generated
0:11:50 > 0:11:53to improve people's health, necessarily,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56they're generated to make companies money.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59If there's a market there and people are willing to buy these products,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02a company will fill that slot in the market and sell these products.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Well, we put all of this to the manufacturers
0:12:04 > 0:12:06of the products that we looked at.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Nestle, which makes Shreddies Max Granola,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13told us that nowhere on the pack does the product claim to be
0:12:13 > 0:12:16high in protein, although it does contain enough protein
0:12:16 > 0:12:19to legally be called a source of protein.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24It said that the cereal is high in fibre and low in saturated fat
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and is a simple way for granola lovers
0:12:27 > 0:12:29to add more protein to their diet.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Weetabix told us that its product provides 20%
0:12:34 > 0:12:37of an adult's recommended daily amount of protein
0:12:37 > 0:12:39for those who are keen to boost their intake.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43And it said that, just like other products with added extras,
0:12:43 > 0:12:47the cost of the increased protein level of Weetabix Protein
0:12:47 > 0:12:50is reflected in the slightly higher price of the product.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54As for the £2.40 price tag we found online
0:12:54 > 0:12:59for a Mars or Snickers Protein bar, manufacturers Mars told us that
0:12:59 > 0:13:02while pricing is at the retailer's discretion,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05its recommended retail price is in line with
0:13:05 > 0:13:07other protein-rich products.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12Mars also said that these bars tap into a strong consumer trend and
0:13:12 > 0:13:15offer the nutritional profile that you would expect
0:13:15 > 0:13:17from a traditional post-workout protein bar.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Well, you'd expect the manufacturers to make a spirited defence
0:13:22 > 0:13:26of these products and of course, there's certainly no problem
0:13:26 > 0:13:30in eating them if you're happy to shell out the extra money to do so.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33But if you're doing it purely because you think
0:13:33 > 0:13:36there's going to be a benefit for your health, well,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38it's really not that simple.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40And if you think you do need it,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43there may well be better and cheaper ways
0:13:43 > 0:13:46to get that extra protein boost.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Still to come on Rip-Off Britain,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55what's to be done with those dusty old bottles of alcohol
0:13:55 > 0:13:56at the back of your cupboard?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Rather than waste them, we'll see if, once past their best,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01they are still OK to drink.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05When we try it, if it's good, we drink it.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07If it isn't, it goes down the plughole.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13Now, a good old-fashioned cup of tea
0:14:13 > 0:14:15has long been a very British tradition.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Ever since the drink hit our shores in the 17th century
0:14:18 > 0:14:22we've embraced it, and of course, it has very calming qualities.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26What problem isn't made better by a nice hot cuppa?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29But these days we're spoilt for choice, with an array of white,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33green and black leaves that promise to do much more than just
0:14:33 > 0:14:36calm the nerves. There are teas that claim to aid weight loss,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39boost your immune system and even, apparently,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41reduce your risk of a stroke.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Very bold claims indeed.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47And to top it off, many speciality teas cost more than your typical
0:14:47 > 0:14:51English Breakfast, which has led one viewer to get in touch to ask
0:14:51 > 0:14:54what exactly she's getting to justify paying extra.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Peppermint tea, Earl Grey, infused and good old Breakfast,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05just a few of the brews from around the world on sale in Britain today.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Now you can buy them loose or in square,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11round or even pyramid-shaped bags.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Such is our thirst for tea that the industry is now worth an estimated
0:15:15 > 0:15:17£620 million,
0:15:17 > 0:15:21and it seems that we all have a preference for how we like it.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28My perfect cup of tea is strong, two tea bags in it,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and, erm, hot and, erm,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34quite a bit of milk in it, in a china cup.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Well, I drink Assam tea.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40But I only have two cups of tea a day.
0:15:40 > 0:15:46I have decaf because of my problem with caffeine
0:15:46 > 0:15:49giving me palpitations.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54My perfect cup of tea would be just a classic mug of tea,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58just flavoured with tea, nothing else, no other flavours.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Michael and Angela Brown from Ketton in Cambridgeshire
0:16:02 > 0:16:06have very different tastes in how they take theirs.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Thank you.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12I like British tea, or English tea, as we call it,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15whereas my wife would normally prefer Earl Grey.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19I don't particularly like the tea that Mick drinks.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Never liked it, and I can't bear any kind of tea with milk in it.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24That's just horrible.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28But however much they disagree on which type of tea
0:16:28 > 0:16:32makes the best drink, they do have one thing in common.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35When I get up in the morning, the first thing is a cup of tea.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- Oh, I'd have to agree with that. - Before I've had breakfast
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- or anything like that, a cup of tea. - Mm.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43But Michael and Angela don't confine their tea-drinking
0:16:43 > 0:16:45just to their house.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- Hello.- Hello.- Good afternoon.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49We'd like some tea, please.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Now that they're semi-retired,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54they often pop into a cafe for a good old cuppa.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56One builder's tea, one Earl Grey.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Thank you very much.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00But unlike in this cafe that has the same price
0:17:00 > 0:17:02for the different teas,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06they often find that Angela's beloved Earl Grey can cost more.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- There we are. - Oh, that's lovely. Thank you.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12When we go out to a cafe and my wife drinks Earl Grey tea,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15it can cost up to 40p more for a drink,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and I don't think that's fair.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19I think that's far too much.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Particularly as when they buy Earl Grey to drink at home,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27the price difference is nowhere near as much.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32It's, on average, about 2-3p per tea bag
0:17:32 > 0:17:35more expensive than ordinary tea.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37But when we go to a cafe
0:17:37 > 0:17:41it can be up to 40p and I don't understand why.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44I could understand if it was 5p more
0:17:44 > 0:17:49but when it is 40p more, then I think that's not fair.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Well, to see if the couple's experience is true across the board,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57we took a closer look at what you might pay for different teas
0:17:57 > 0:18:00when you're out and about.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Now, we checked the prices at 42 independent cafes,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07comparing the cost of a traditional English Breakfast tea with the price
0:18:07 > 0:18:11of Earl Grey, mint, camomile, fruit and green tea.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15More than half, 22 of the cafes,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19charged the same price for all types of teas, but on 20 menus
0:18:19 > 0:18:22we found higher prices for speciality teas,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24with some charging up to 70p more.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28This looks like the place.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31So, keen to see if there is a justifiable explanation
0:18:31 > 0:18:34for such price discrepancies, Michael and Angela have come to meet
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Ajit Madan, a tea sommelier.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42When you buy English Breakfast, for example, versus Earl Grey,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45the Earl Grey tends to be a bit more expensive,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48and it's usually attributed to the fact that they add
0:18:48 > 0:18:51oil of bergamot, which is an essential oil,
0:18:51 > 0:18:55and it's actually quite an expensive additive to put into tea.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58So you're adding an extra layer of cost into the Earl Grey
0:18:58 > 0:19:01that you don't have with the English Breakfast.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Bergamot oil costs around £7 per 10ml
0:19:05 > 0:19:09and a decent blend of Earl Grey tea contains up to 4% of it.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Now, that may sound like a small amount,
0:19:11 > 0:19:15but as it's an expensive addition, it explains why some teas cost more.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17But Michael doesn't think that explains
0:19:17 > 0:19:19those price hikes in some cafes.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23I know when we buy it at home the difference in the price isn't great,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25but when we go to a cafe,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28we find the difference is quite considerable.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32When you go to cafes, you know, particularly the nicer ones,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34a bit like the nice sort of tea houses,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36they would probably pride themselves in saying,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39"Look, the Earl Grey that we're serving you
0:19:39 > 0:19:40"is a higher grade Earl Grey."
0:19:40 > 0:19:45Generally speaking, if you compare a kind of speciality leaf
0:19:45 > 0:19:51versus the type of tea that you might find in a mass-market brand,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and if you compare the size of the tea leaf, for example,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58the mass-market tea brand might be almost sort of dust-like
0:19:58 > 0:20:00in the size of its...
0:20:00 > 0:20:03of the tea leaf, compared to a speciality tea,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06which can range from anything from this size of the tea leaf
0:20:06 > 0:20:08down to that sort of size.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12And those tend to generate more sophisticated flavours.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15And people are willing to pay a premium for that.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Another factor that can push the price up is where the tea is grown.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Now, it's widely believed that the finest tea
0:20:23 > 0:20:25comes from the highest altitudes,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27where it's picked very carefully by hand.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31So in the cafes, the general cafes and that,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34do you think it's right that there should be such a large mark-up
0:20:34 > 0:20:35for speciality teas?
0:20:35 > 0:20:39I think if you're going to a tea house or a coffee shop or a cafe
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and you're ordering a nice cup of speciality tea,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47I think it is justified that you pay more for that type of tea,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49which is more expensive for the cafe to buy.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Well, it seems that Ajit at least is convinced that
0:20:53 > 0:20:57when it does come to a good cup of Rosie, you do get what you pay for.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59But do our tea-loving duo agree?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Armed with the expert's advice, will they now be happier
0:21:02 > 0:21:05spending a little more on Angela's brew of choice?
0:21:06 > 0:21:10I will still buy Earl Grey but I think I'm going to be changing
0:21:10 > 0:21:12the brand that I normally buy.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17If they served better quality speciality teas,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20then the extra cost would be justified.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Big relief - it seems Michael and Angela's faith
0:21:23 > 0:21:26in their beloved cuppa has been restored.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28But of course, the choice of tea available
0:21:28 > 0:21:29doesn't stop at Earl Grey,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31so later on in the programme,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34we'll be investigating whether some of the bold claims made by
0:21:34 > 0:21:37some speciality teas are worth paying extra for.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43There's teas that maybe even say they can provide you extra energy,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46extra zip, and what we would say is
0:21:46 > 0:21:49clinically, there is very little evidence to say
0:21:49 > 0:21:52that any of these claims can be substantiated.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Now, here's a sobering thought.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02According to the figures, most adults in the UK
0:22:02 > 0:22:06will spend over £300 per year on alcohol and almost
0:22:06 > 0:22:08half of that is consumed at home.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Now, even though much of that is drunk straight away,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13some will be kept a lot longer.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15A half-finished bottle of sherry,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18gathering dust in the back of the cupboard, say,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20or what about the bottle of bubbly we've been saving
0:22:20 > 0:22:22for a special occasion?
0:22:22 > 0:22:26But unlike the food we eat, it isn't quite so easy to know
0:22:26 > 0:22:29if those long-forgotten drinks have gone past their best.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33There's rarely a sell-by date, except on beer, and after all,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36some drinks are actually said to improve with age.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38So, when you asked us the question,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41"Is it still OK to drink from a long-neglected bottle?"
0:22:41 > 0:22:45we decided to investigate, and we found just the couple to help us.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53It looks like an unassuming suburban house in Devon.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00But step inside and it's a very different story.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Tucked away in the home of Simon and Donna Randall
0:23:04 > 0:23:05is a fully working bar.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11The extension started '98, '99, something like that,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13and actually finished it about two and a half years ago
0:23:13 > 0:23:16and it's been a work in progress ever since.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18It's what I would consider a proper pub.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21We decided to create it like this
0:23:21 > 0:23:23because it is a style that we do like.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26It's very much almost like a museum as well,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30collecting the old things that we remember from younger days.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Now of course, as these aren't licensed premises,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36the bar is only open to friends and relatives,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39and because Simon doesn't sell his drinks, unsurprisingly,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41those friends and relatives
0:23:41 > 0:23:43don't need much persuasion to come and visit.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Have one of those. A fine pint of that.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48We will see what we can do, young sir.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Love it, yeah. It's got all the...all the elements
0:23:51 > 0:23:54that you don't get in the bars in town.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56You can hear yourself think, you can speak to people,
0:23:56 > 0:23:57you can play pool.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01It's just a fabulous atmosphere.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03We have a good time when we come here.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Have to leave whenever we leave but it's never early, normally.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Please help yourself to a gin and tonic.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14The Randalls' shelves are stocked with a mixture of drinks they have
0:24:14 > 0:24:17either bought themselves or that friends have donated.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And with the bar nearly 20 years in the making,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22it's a fact that quite a few of these bottles
0:24:22 > 0:24:24have been around some time.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26Remember this one I got you?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30- That one there.- '89, when I went to Tenerife, that one.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33This was the first year Donna and I met.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34Donna brought me that back as a present.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36She didn't know my drinking habits at the time,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39so it was a bottle of tequila, which is...
0:24:39 > 0:24:41- Yeah, it's very good.- This one here,
0:24:41 > 0:24:46this Tia Maria has actually been open for many, many years.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Erm, not quite sure but certainly I would have probably said
0:24:50 > 0:24:52getting on for at least five, five years old.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57Martini, I think probably every bar and home bar has various bottles
0:24:57 > 0:25:00of Martini that somebody comes to a party, drops off,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04origin unknown, and this is just one of several we've actually got.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11In the UK, we throw away the equivalent of 624 million
0:25:11 > 0:25:14bottles of wine a year, but not Simon and Donna.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Their vintage specimens are just left on the shelf.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20In fact, they've a whole wine rack full of them.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24So, here's our wine collection.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26That's an interesting one.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28'93, it's got on the back of the label.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30And then we're into some ales.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34And there is a good old Cornish tribute.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Looking at the bottom of that one,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38that was at its best before 3rd July '14,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40so that's two and a half years out of date.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46With every bottle worth between a couple of pounds to over £100,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48they're worried about the money they're wasting
0:25:48 > 0:25:50as the booze goes past its best.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52But equally, they're anxious about
0:25:52 > 0:25:53allowing their friends to consume it.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58If it's the spirits and that sort of stuff,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00then if somebody wants to try it, they can.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02But if there's something that's, you know,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06an out-of-date cider or something, to be fair, no,
0:26:06 > 0:26:07we wouldn't and we don't.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12You too may well have worried if it's still safe to drink the bottles
0:26:12 > 0:26:14lingering in your own cupboard,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17though chances are you won't have quite so many as Simon and Donna.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21So the question is, are they right to be wary,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and which drinks are most likely to deteriorate
0:26:24 > 0:26:25if you keep them too long?
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Well, the usual labelling rules just don't apply to any drinks
0:26:29 > 0:26:33which are over 10% alcohol because if they stay unopened,
0:26:33 > 0:26:34they are unlikely to be harmful.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40That puts almost all unopened bottles of spirits
0:26:40 > 0:26:42into the category of still safe to drink.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44And the same is true of most wines,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47which are typically between 11% and 14% in volume.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Below 10%, the contents are unlikely to make anyone ill,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56but the taste could be affected.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58So, the best before date is just that -
0:26:58 > 0:27:01a guide to when the drink will be at its prime.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08Professor Anthony Hilton is a microbiologist at Aston University.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11He's been studying food and drink safety for nearly 30 years.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Alcohol is a natural preservative,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17but it's very much dependent on the concentration.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21So, the types of concentration that for example you get
0:27:21 > 0:27:24in alcohol hand gels is around 68% to 70%,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and at that level it will kill bacteria.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31At about 40%, which is where you would have things like vodka,
0:27:31 > 0:27:32whisky, things like that,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35it isn't really enough to have a killing effect,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38but it will preserve that liquid.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42So pure distilled vodka at 40% is unlikely to go off at all.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45However, over time,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49even strong spirits like vodka can develop a taint.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53So when some producers recommend consuming within three years,
0:27:53 > 0:27:54it's because after that time
0:27:54 > 0:27:58distillers can't guarantee it will taste the same as it originally did,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01though it's unlikely to harm you.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03And, for the reasons we've already heard,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06the professor is equally relaxed about wine -
0:28:06 > 0:28:08until, that is, it's been opened.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Wines can store for a long period of time and mature
0:28:11 > 0:28:13over that time and they don't go off.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15It's just that when the cork is removed
0:28:15 > 0:28:17and contamination from the air,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20bacteria that might be in your kitchen, for example,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22they will find their way into the bottle of the neck
0:28:22 > 0:28:24and drop into the wine.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Then they use that as a nutrient sauce and they start to grow,
0:28:27 > 0:28:28and that's really the problem.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32And indeed, if you open a bottle of wine and you leave it open
0:28:32 > 0:28:35to the atmosphere for maybe a week and then you taste the wine again,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38it will have started to take on a more vinegary characteristic.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42As for beer, the amount of alcohol
0:28:42 > 0:28:45is usually under that magic number of 10%,
0:28:45 > 0:28:50which means a bottle or can will usually have a best before date.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53So, the alcoholic content of beer is somewhere from about 3%
0:28:53 > 0:28:55maybe up to a strong ale, about 9%.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58And at that level of concentration of alcohol,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00it's insufficient to inhibit bacterial growth.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03And if you leave a pint of beer out, bacteria will get in there,
0:29:03 > 0:29:05so beer will spoil.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10But unopened, even after that best before date has passed,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13those leftover Christmas beers hidden at the back of the cupboard
0:29:13 > 0:29:17should still be safe to crack open on a hot summer's day,
0:29:17 > 0:29:20although they might not taste quite as good.
0:29:20 > 0:29:21I think other than the taste,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23I don't think there's any real risk in drinking beer
0:29:23 > 0:29:25that tastes like it's gone a bit off.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Well, if that's a reassuring message
0:29:28 > 0:29:31for most of the contents of your cupboard,
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Simon and Donna are keen to take a closer look at some of
0:29:33 > 0:29:38the tipples they fear have been festering too long on their shelves,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42so they've come to a bar in Bristol where head bartender Chelsea
0:29:42 > 0:29:45has some ideas for putting out-of-date drinks to good use,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48though she'd never serve them to paying customers.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52- Lovely to meet you. - But before she gets creative,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56she wants to know if our amateur bartenders can tell any difference
0:29:56 > 0:29:59between what's in some of their old bottles
0:29:59 > 0:30:01and brand-new similar products.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05If it's only the taste that risks being an issue rather than safety,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08is there really enough of a change to worry about?
0:30:08 > 0:30:12With three drinks to sample, let the tipple taste test begin.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15The first one is the ale
0:30:15 > 0:30:17that's been out of date for nearly three years.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20We're comparing it to a very similar ale.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Strange taste, but it's not unpleasant.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- That's proper.- OK, guys, you're absolutely spot on.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29After a few years, it starts to get a kind of sherry nose.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32I think the one on the left has not got the kick as much, I don't feel.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35No, I'm still sticking with right being the old one.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37OK, you were actually right on this one.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Our final one, which is the red wine.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43- That one.- Definitely.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Yeah, you're both absolutely right.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47For me, when I opened the bottle and I smelt the cork,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49I got a vinegar taste straight away.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Well, with two out of the three drinks,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Simon and Donna correctly identified which was the older version
0:30:56 > 0:30:57and which was the fresher one.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01Only with the Tia Maria did Donna fail to get it right.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05With the wine, they were probably helped along
0:31:05 > 0:31:07with that vinegary smell Chelsea described,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10a telltale sign that a chemical reaction occurred
0:31:10 > 0:31:12while it was sitting in their wine rack.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16Storing wine for long periods runs the risk of oxidisation,
0:31:16 > 0:31:19a process that turns cheap wine into expensive vinegar.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24This can happen to any wine, whatever the price,
0:31:24 > 0:31:25as not all improve with age.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29But again, if you can swallow the deterioration in flavour,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31drinking it shouldn't cause any problems.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36As for the other two, well,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Simon and Donna would still quite happily drink them.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44The real ale, I thought for a drink that was so out of its use-by date,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47I was really surprised that it was a really palatable drink.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49Yes, it was very different,
0:31:49 > 0:31:53but it was still a drink that you could enjoy.
0:31:53 > 0:31:54Yeah, absolutely.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59In fact, some alcoholic drinks remain so quaffable
0:31:59 > 0:32:02beyond their best before date that there are companies
0:32:02 > 0:32:05who've been able to turn that to their advantage.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Around the UK, warehouses like this one sell them
0:32:08 > 0:32:11at discounted prices among a range of products that normal shops
0:32:11 > 0:32:15won't touch because they're past their best.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Dan Cluderay's website, Approved Food,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21sells all manner of discounted groceries, including alcohol,
0:32:21 > 0:32:26which he knows plenty of customers will happily buy at a cheaper price.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30The difference between best before dates and use-by dates is that
0:32:30 > 0:32:33best before is the guide to the optimum quality of the product.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Use-by dates, now, they are there for health and safety reasons,
0:32:36 > 0:32:39so you'll find those things like chicken, meat and fish.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41Best before dates you'll find in your cupboards -
0:32:41 > 0:32:43it's tins, jars and things like packets.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Although it's an offence to sell food and drink
0:32:47 > 0:32:49that's passed its use-by date,
0:32:49 > 0:32:51selling products that are past their best before date
0:32:51 > 0:32:55is perfectly legal, with the important exception of eggs.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59And Dan says consumers can make particularly big savings on drinks.
0:33:01 > 0:33:02It's absolutely fine.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Now, you know, there are examples of where,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07I'm sure if you left a can of beer for years and years
0:33:07 > 0:33:08it wouldn't look right,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10but that comes down to the actual common sense -
0:33:10 > 0:33:14is it blown? But often, open the can of beer, see if it looks right,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17smells right, tastes right, it'll be absolutely fine.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21Meanwhile, back at the bar,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25mixologist Chelsea agrees we don't have to waste our past-it bottles
0:33:25 > 0:33:26by pouring them down the drain.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30In fact, as she's about to show Simon and Donna,
0:33:30 > 0:33:35you could save money by creating an entirely new, fresh-tasting drink.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Judging by the wonderful label on the back,
0:33:37 > 0:33:40I'm assuming it's from the '80s, potentially.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43So, one of the fun things I like to do is to make a fruit cup,
0:33:43 > 0:33:44commonly known as Pimm's.
0:33:44 > 0:33:49So, we're going to start by doing a shot...
0:33:50 > 0:33:51..of Martini Rosso.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57And then we're going to do a shot of gin with it.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02And to the gin, Chelsea adds orange liqueur, lemon juice
0:34:02 > 0:34:04and fresh oranges.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07There you go, guys. See what you think of that.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Oh, that is lovely. Very nice.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12- Oh, yes. - You can certainly taste the Martini.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18Another tip for keeping your bottles tasting their best a little longer
0:34:18 > 0:34:22is to store them in a dark place away from direct sunlight and heat,
0:34:22 > 0:34:26perhaps, if you're lucky, like Simon and Donna, in your own bar,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29where from now on they will feel a lot more confident
0:34:29 > 0:34:32about testing those long-neglected drinks.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36The reality is, a lot of alcohol gets better with age
0:34:36 > 0:34:38and a lot doesn't, so I'll taste it and decide.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41When we try it, if it's good, we drink it.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44If it isn't, it goes down the plughole.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Earlier in the programme, we heard how Angela and Michael Brown
0:34:55 > 0:34:58were left rather strained by the price of speciality teas
0:34:58 > 0:35:00when they're out and about.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05When we go out to a cafe, my wife drinks Earl Grey tea.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07It can cost up to 40p more
0:35:07 > 0:35:09and I think that's far too much.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11But a tea sommelier told us
0:35:11 > 0:35:14there are very good reasons why fancier cups
0:35:14 > 0:35:16can be just that little bit pricier.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20When you go to cafes, when you're drinking their Earl Grey,
0:35:20 > 0:35:22they would probably pride themselves and say,
0:35:22 > 0:35:26"Look, the Earl Grey we're serving you is a higher grade Earl Grey."
0:35:28 > 0:35:31But of course, the choice of speciality teas
0:35:31 > 0:35:32doesn't stop at Earl Grey.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Alongside the classics are plenty of new brews in the pot.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38In fact, at one supermarket,
0:35:38 > 0:35:41we found over 200 different teas on offer,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44and even popular brands have jumped on the bandwagon.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- Tough day?- Yes.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Then I've got just the thing.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52Delicious fruit-flavoured Tetley super tea.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56There are teas that claim to detoxify you, slim you down,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59clear your skin and help you get a good night's sleep.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04So, to gauge the appeal of such powerful brews...
0:36:04 > 0:36:07It's organic, sleep easy infusion.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09..we've laid out a few popular brands
0:36:09 > 0:36:11to see what people make of them.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Well, these are supposed to support your immune system.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17I doubt it.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Peppermint and spearmint. So...
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Yeah, that's supposed to be good for the digestive system, isn't it?
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Yeah.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Turmeric is the latest good food, isn't it,
0:36:29 > 0:36:31to have, to add to your food?
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Turmeric. I might try it,
0:36:34 > 0:36:38but I'm not into really different teas.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Peppermint and spearmint.
0:36:40 > 0:36:41Wonderful ingredients.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43That I do fancy.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44"Spruce up your insides."
0:36:44 > 0:36:46It's not going to do that, is it, really?
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Spruce up your insides.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51So, a mixed reaction from that crowd,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54but it seems that many of us are falling for the hype,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57and branding expert David Whittle can understand why.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03Consumers were looking for a different type of tea experience.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06They are drinking less and less black tea
0:37:06 > 0:37:08but looking for an alternative,
0:37:08 > 0:37:12and looking for a healthier alternative as well, hence the...
0:37:13 > 0:37:16..the growth in speciality teas.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19And also, our trends are changing as well.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22We're looking for more exotic experiences
0:37:22 > 0:37:27as we experience different flavours across different food types.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30That has an impact on tea-drinking as well,
0:37:30 > 0:37:34and you will be happy to pay a premium for that.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Compared to your average cuppa,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42we found speciality teas that cost over 30 times more per bag.
0:37:44 > 0:37:45But you can still find some bargains,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48especially if you hunt around stores' own brands.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55Aldi's own label fruit and herb tea, which costs 79p for 40 bags,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58has been crowned best own brand in the UK,
0:37:58 > 0:38:00beating pricier blends that cost much more.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Master of teas Ajit Madan has developed blends
0:38:06 > 0:38:09that claim to aid sleep, clear your skin,
0:38:09 > 0:38:11and even induce happiness.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13He wholeheartedly believes that certain blends
0:38:13 > 0:38:15offer more than good value.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21There are certain teas that are meant to be good for helping you
0:38:21 > 0:38:25to slim down, to lose weight, to increase your metabolism,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27and there are also certain teas
0:38:27 > 0:38:31which are really good for digestion and helping with bowel issues.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35White and green tea has very high levels of antioxidants,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38so, you know, teas - in combination with a good healthy diet -
0:38:38 > 0:38:40can be really, really good for you.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42It's not a substitute for mainstream medicine at all,
0:38:42 > 0:38:44but it can complement your health.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48So what does mainstream medicine make of the claims?
0:38:48 > 0:38:52Well, GP Aisha Sharif isn't sure that they stack up.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57There are teas out there that claim they can detox you,
0:38:57 > 0:39:00they can boost your immune system, they can help with your sleep,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03and I think there's teas that maybe even say
0:39:03 > 0:39:06they can provide you extra energy, extra zip.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08And what we would say is clinically,
0:39:08 > 0:39:13there is very little evidence to say that any of these claims
0:39:13 > 0:39:14can be substantiated.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18In the NHS, none of us are really recommending
0:39:18 > 0:39:20people go out and have a particular type of tea
0:39:20 > 0:39:22for a particular health condition.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24That's not something that we're recommending.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28Teas that claim to work as a detox
0:39:28 > 0:39:31are a particular bugbear for Dr Sharif.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33They're part of the multi-million pound detox industry
0:39:33 > 0:39:36that many health care professionals are sceptical about.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42I think this is something that we see a lot in GP practices -
0:39:42 > 0:39:45detox, and what does it mean? It means nothing.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48If you have kidneys, if you have a liver, it's doing a job,
0:39:48 > 0:39:52and you don't need a tea to help get rid of waste products.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55If anything, this tea has dandelion,
0:39:55 > 0:39:59and we do know that dandelion is a weak diuretic -
0:39:59 > 0:40:02it helps push out fluid from the kidneys -
0:40:02 > 0:40:04so it's just going to make you wee bit faster,
0:40:04 > 0:40:06you may be having some trips to the toilet,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09but I don't think it's going to do much more than that.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Dr Sharif isn't convinced that any of the ingredients
0:40:13 > 0:40:17come in an amount that justifies the extra spend.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19There's a sleep tea here,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22and I think one of the ingredients that this tea has,
0:40:22 > 0:40:25along with cinnamon and some camomile,
0:40:25 > 0:40:27I think it has valerian root.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Valerian may in some cases make you feel more sleepy
0:40:30 > 0:40:33and assist if you have some sleep difficulties,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36but it's only 5%, so it's very, very weak,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39and whether that would actually make you fall asleep,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42I would be sceptical about that.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Well, when we contacted the companies behind these teas,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50Yogi - who have many speciality teas in its range,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53including the detox tea - didn't comment.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Dr Stuart's has robustly rejected any criticism
0:40:56 > 0:40:59and also said the line "spruce up your insides",
0:40:59 > 0:41:03used on some of the packaging, was intended to be humorous.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06Clipper told us that its sleep easy blend contains
0:41:06 > 0:41:09naturally calming herbal ingredients
0:41:09 > 0:41:11which can help promote relaxation,
0:41:11 > 0:41:13and it went on to say that it always recommends
0:41:13 > 0:41:16that people suffering from severe sleep problems
0:41:16 > 0:41:20or sleep disorders seek professional medical advice.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Diet-Tee said that it only uses the finest ingredients,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27many of which have been used traditionally
0:41:27 > 0:41:30in the natural herbal remedy industry for hundreds of years.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36But while brews that come with apparent health benefits
0:41:36 > 0:41:38clearly are not Dr Sharif's cup of tea,
0:41:38 > 0:41:40she wouldn't put anyone off drinking them
0:41:40 > 0:41:44but prefers if you stir in a soupcon of scepticism.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46If you enjoy the taste of a tea
0:41:46 > 0:41:48and if it makes you feel a certain way,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51if it makes you feel calm or if it does help you
0:41:51 > 0:41:54as part of your routine to fall asleep, I don't see a problem.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59I do feel that if you believe that you need to drink or buy a tea
0:41:59 > 0:42:03to boost your immune system, there's no such thing,
0:42:03 > 0:42:06and really, you could save and spend your money in better places.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Well, I'm afraid that's where we have to leave it for today.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Thanks as always to all of you that got in touch with various queries
0:42:17 > 0:42:19that sparked off some of our investigations.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Now, it's only because of your concerns and experiences
0:42:22 > 0:42:25that we are able to reveal all kinds of truth about the claims made
0:42:25 > 0:42:29for some of the most popular food and drink that we all buy.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31Well, let's hope the tips we've heard about today
0:42:31 > 0:42:33will help you go through your own shopping list
0:42:33 > 0:42:35with extra confidence.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37And remember, we are always keen to hear about new ways
0:42:37 > 0:42:39to help us all bag a bargain,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42so if you've got any advice you'd like to pass on,
0:42:42 > 0:42:43please do get in touch.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Because we've got plenty of Rip-Off Britain programmes
0:42:46 > 0:42:48coming up over the next few months, and who knows?
0:42:48 > 0:42:51It could be your story that we feature in one of those programmes.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Or as Julia says, not just the story but also your advice,
0:42:54 > 0:42:56your nuggets of advice.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58But in the meantime, from all of us today,
0:42:58 > 0:43:00I'm afraid that's where we have to say goodbye.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02But do come and join us the next time we are here
0:43:02 > 0:43:05- with Rip-Off Britain, and until then, goodbye.- Goodbye.- Bye.