Depressing problem on our hands

Dear Mr. Tea,

Is regular Lipton tea known to have a mood enhancement or antidepressant effect?

Celebrating the Moments of My Life

Dear General Foods,

Around here, we've got a habit of making fun of Lipton tea. You can see why—I've been drinking proper tea since I was a little teabag myself—chalk it up to being born into a family that knows gourmet beverages. In comparison to, say, Adagio's Yunnan Gold, Lipton is definitely going to lose out in the deal. On its own merits, Lipton does have advantages—it's cheap, it's easy-to-find, and it's cheap. And personally, I'd rather people be drinking tea than, say, coffee.

But does Lipton have anti-depressant effects? Tea itself doesn't have any antidepressant effects, although it does carry a host of health benefits that can boost your mood—it can increase bone strength, fight cholesterol, and aid weight loss. Lipton specifically? I can tell you anecdotally that if you put a cup in front of me, it's going to have quite the opposite effect—I'm going to get depressed.

Yours,
Mr. Tea
Yours in teabag avoidance