Weird reaction to Keemun

[RandomCaribou]

Hey folks,

I'm a barista at a local coffee company that orders our teas directly from various tea gardens. We have this great Keemun that I'm pretty hip to - for a while I was drinking at least a pot a day. About two weeks ago, I started getting sores under my tongue and occasionally inflamed gums, which culminated in a pretty painful rash across my soft palate. Whenever my tongue touched it, it felt like sandpaper grating. I had NO idea what it could be or where it came from. I stopped drinking the Keemun (not really a conscious choice based on my physical reactions, but just a shifting interest in drinks) and it went away.

Well tonight, I had a nice cup of that same tea, and the rash started coming back!

It's very bizarre. Have any of you experienced anything similar? I've never had this issue before, and I'm quite sure it's the Keemun. Am I somehow allergic to that particular tea (is that possible?) or could there be some other chemical or product, or even another plant matter that's causing this?

I look forward to hearing your input!

[capheind]

Are you having this reaction to any other tea? If so it could be an allergic reaction to tea.. if not then maybe that keenum is tainted somehow...

[RandomCaribou]

I definitely do drink a pretty wide variety of teas, but not a lot of black teas. I've never had this problem before. Maybe I'll experiment on myself and try some other black teas today, and see if it still happens.

[silvermage2000]

Yikes I have not had anything like that happen. It's probley either the tea or something I't got in contact with.

[beecrofter]

Bad tea, perhaps fungal or other contamination.
Try another source of Keemun, it'sjust possible it's not for you but not likely.
Be very aware of a systemic reaction.

[capheind]

Yeah, it would have to be some sort of contaminant, its pretty rare to be allergic to just one type of tea. Despite the results of Oxidation one tea still has pretty much all the same stuff in it as another tea, just in differing concentrations.

[Intuit]

Have customers or coworkers who have purchased this tea also complained of mouth sores? Any other symptoms manifest at the same time as the oral cavity ulcers?

"it felt like sandpaper grating"

Classic allergy symptom, common in antibiotic adverse reactions. Sometimes lips will also become swollen and red.

[silverneedles]

just dont touch this particular product anymore, there are plenty other sources.

[RandomCaribou]

Thanks for all your great input. I tried some of our other black teas today and had no problem, so it's definitely not a tea allergy. I contacted our roastery and told our buyer about the problem, so she's investigating. I guess the chest that shipment came in had come open before it got to them, and I'm thinking a contaminant might have gotten in. Our Keemun isn't a tea that many people buy or drink repeatedly, so there's a chance nobody else had it enough to get any reaction.

[capheind]

Yeah, being allergic to a contaminant seems very likely. Definitely don't drink any more of it.. Unless you want to get away from it all....