They put the "teas" in dissertation.
June 15, 2011 6:35 PM Subscribe
Unavailability of Nestea 100% Instant Unsweetened Iced Tea jeopardizes completion of dissertation! Can you help?
Mr. Vitabellosi -- full time job, full time dad, part-time doctoral candidate--just learned that the only palatable, effective caffiene delivery system he finds acceptable for extending his productive time is no longer available at our Wegman's grocery store. His dissertation is just getting underway.
We've ordered 6 jars from amazon for $50 with shipping, and they're selling on eBay for $8 per jar.
Can you find a substitute?
Advantages of the Nestea instant brand are that it's unsweetened, with no lemon flavoring, and because it's instant he can make it as strong and bitter as he likes/needs.
It is a dark day in our household. This is a man who routinely works 5-6 hours, after we're nestled in our beds, on work or school so that he can spend a few hours with his family in the evenings. He asks very little in return, beyond having his Nestea fuel.
Mr. Vitabellosi -- full time job, full time dad, part-time doctoral candidate--just learned that the only palatable, effective caffiene delivery system he finds acceptable for extending his productive time is no longer available at our Wegman's grocery store. His dissertation is just getting underway.
We've ordered 6 jars from amazon for $50 with shipping, and they're selling on eBay for $8 per jar.
Can you find a substitute?
Advantages of the Nestea instant brand are that it's unsweetened, with no lemon flavoring, and because it's instant he can make it as strong and bitter as he likes/needs.
It is a dark day in our household. This is a man who routinely works 5-6 hours, after we're nestled in our beds, on work or school so that he can spend a few hours with his family in the evenings. He asks very little in return, beyond having his Nestea fuel.
Lipton?
You can order it online from Walmart.
posted by effigy at 6:43 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
You can order it online from Walmart.
posted by effigy at 6:43 PM on June 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I thought the Lipton was a bit more bitter than the Nestea and switched to Kroger's store brand (also for dissertating), but I don't know if you can source that locally. If he likes it bitter, try the Lipton, but don't be afraid to try store brands, either.
In my experience, diversification of caffeine delivery methods becomes an important part of the dissertation process as long-term sleep deprivation eventually sets in, so don't be surprised if the caffeine intake increases or shifts to something stronger. I made it through years of school without coffee, but the last year of the dissertation did me in until I was eventually just taking caffeine pills some nights. Just a warning!
posted by BlooPen at 7:03 PM on June 15, 2011
In my experience, diversification of caffeine delivery methods becomes an important part of the dissertation process as long-term sleep deprivation eventually sets in, so don't be surprised if the caffeine intake increases or shifts to something stronger. I made it through years of school without coffee, but the last year of the dissertation did me in until I was eventually just taking caffeine pills some nights. Just a warning!
posted by BlooPen at 7:03 PM on June 15, 2011
This has a lower list price. It looks like this does too. From a former dissertationer, bless you for seeking out creature comforts for your husband. Best of luck to him in the final stretch!
posted by goggie at 7:08 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by goggie at 7:08 PM on June 15, 2011
Much of my academic work is fueled by iced tea, but the stuff that's made of...y'know...tea. If the Mister likes it unsweetened, consider a dedicated Iced Tea Maker and plenty of bulk tea - a box of oversized Iced Tea teabags is enough to last me for months and only costs a few bucks.
posted by Rallon at 7:26 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by Rallon at 7:26 PM on June 15, 2011
This is pretty close to instant, and from my experience can be made in varying strengths. Towards the end of my dissertation, I was on a steady diet of iced tea, Diet Coke, and iced coffee. The variety helped.
posted by oflinkey at 8:36 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by oflinkey at 8:36 PM on June 15, 2011
Wow, I didn't know that instant unsweetened tea existed! I am also an unsweetened iced tea fiend and have at times (when I was too busy to brew it proper) found the Trader Joe's jugs of "just black tea" totally acceptable. No lemon flavor, no sugar, just black tea. And quite strong, so your husband will be able to "adjust the strength" as long as he only wants to adjust it to be weaker...
In the past I've called my local TJ's to have them check stock for me before I schlep down there, so you should be able to get an answer from your local store over the phone as well.
posted by telegraph at 8:46 PM on June 15, 2011
In the past I've called my local TJ's to have them check stock for me before I schlep down there, so you should be able to get an answer from your local store over the phone as well.
posted by telegraph at 8:46 PM on June 15, 2011
Did you contact Wegman's to find out why they no longer carry it? You can email them through their website. It's possible you can convince them to bring it back if it is still available from the manufacturer.
posted by LightMayo at 4:05 AM on June 16, 2011
posted by LightMayo at 4:05 AM on June 16, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone. We're a little less panicked.
We don't have a Trader Joe's -- but it sounds delicious. We'll take Wegman's to task for not carrying the Lipton equivalent--they only had fruity sweetened Lipton versions -- they should stock it. The dept. manager said when they stopped the Nestea they thought theyd'd stocked any equivalents.
In the meantime, we'll buy up anything left on the shelves (found 6 last night at a different chain).
posted by vitabellosi at 4:05 AM on June 16, 2011
We don't have a Trader Joe's -- but it sounds delicious. We'll take Wegman's to task for not carrying the Lipton equivalent--they only had fruity sweetened Lipton versions -- they should stock it. The dept. manager said when they stopped the Nestea they thought theyd'd stocked any equivalents.
In the meantime, we'll buy up anything left on the shelves (found 6 last night at a different chain).
posted by vitabellosi at 4:05 AM on June 16, 2011
Best answer: In the same vein as the already brewed TJ's just black tea, Wegmans has a "Just Tea" Oolong which is unsweetened. I am a big fan of strong unsweetened iced teas and I love this one.
posted by ridiculous at 9:21 AM on June 16, 2011
posted by ridiculous at 9:21 AM on June 16, 2011
And there is a "Just Tea" Black also. Now that I see the label, this is the one I usually get, not the Oolong, so take my recommendation for this one instead!
posted by ridiculous at 9:26 AM on June 16, 2011
posted by ridiculous at 9:26 AM on June 16, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks ridiculous--pretty sure it won't be strong enough. The advantage of instant is in mixing it strong.
(I like Wegman's Jasmine Tea)
posted by vitabellosi at 5:24 PM on June 16, 2011
(I like Wegman's Jasmine Tea)
posted by vitabellosi at 5:24 PM on June 16, 2011
Just a note to say that beyond talking to your local store, you should contact Wegmans on Twitter. They have excellent customer service via their tweets.
posted by stefnet at 8:25 PM on June 17, 2011
posted by stefnet at 8:25 PM on June 17, 2011
Response by poster: Confirmed with Nestea that they have discontinued the mix. Boo. Mr. Vitabellosi tried the Lipton, which, unlike Nestea, isn't 100% tea. It contains maltodextrose, which makes it taste, well, malty.
He compares it to being a fan of diet coke and having to make do with diet pepsi. It's disappointing and just not the same.
We've calculated how many he needs to complete his dissertation and we're halfway there with the Nestea we've found on the shelves of Tops (the other local grocery).
It will lead to Seinfeldesque moments --- is this chapter tea-worthy?
posted by vitabellosi at 12:47 PM on June 18, 2011
He compares it to being a fan of diet coke and having to make do with diet pepsi. It's disappointing and just not the same.
We've calculated how many he needs to complete his dissertation and we're halfway there with the Nestea we've found on the shelves of Tops (the other local grocery).
It will lead to Seinfeldesque moments --- is this chapter tea-worthy?
posted by vitabellosi at 12:47 PM on June 18, 2011
Response by poster: We bought up the stock on the shelves of the other major chain in town---more than 100 jars. We're stocked and stoked!
posted by vitabellosi at 2:44 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by vitabellosi at 2:44 PM on July 16, 2011
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posted by pecanpies at 6:41 PM on June 15, 2011