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{{distinguish|Lepton}}▼
{{short description|Brand of tea}}
▲{{distinguish|Lepton}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
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|image_size =
|caption = a
|type = [[Tea
|currentowner = [[Lipton Teas and Infusions]]
|introduced = {{Start date and age|1890|df=yes}}
|discontinued =
|related =
|country = [[
|markets = Worldwide
|previousowners = {{ubl|[[Unilever]]
|trademarkregistrations =
|website = {{URL|https://www.lipton.com/us/en/|lipton.com}}
|module =
}}
'''Lipton''' is a [[brand]] named after its founder, Sir [[Thomas Lipton]] who started an eponymous grocery retail business in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1871. The brand was used for various consumer goods sold in Lipton stores, including tea from 1890 for which the brand is now best known.
The Lipton brand today is owned by [[LIPTON Teas and Infusions]] after [[CVC Capital Partners]] acquired the business from [[Unilever]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=CVC agrees €4.5bn deal to buy Unilever's tea business |url=https://www.ft.com/content/83529b44-f290-4668-a766-5559dfec431c |work=www.ft.com}}</ref>
Unilever retained use of the Lipton brand for tea in [[India]], [[Nepal]], and [[Indonesia]] as well as for [[ready to drink]] beverages globally, such as Lipton Ice Tea, which are sold by a joint venture between [[Unilever]] and [[PepsiCo]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Editor |first1=Ashley Armstrong, Retail |title=Unilever agrees sale of PG Tips and Lipton to CVC Capital Partners |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unilever-agrees-sale-of-pg-tips-and-lipton-to-cvc-capital-partners-wv3x8gz93 |date=27 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news |title=Unilever completes sale of tea business - Food & Drink Business |url=https://www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/news/unilever-completes-sale-of-tea-business |work=www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au |language=en}}</ref> and not associated with LIPTON Teas and Infusions.
Unilever continues to produce instant soup mixes under the Lipton name in North America,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.liptonkitchens.com/home.html}}</ref> which is also not associated with LIPTON Teas and Infusions.
==History==
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The Lipton tea business was acquired by consumer goods company Unilever in a number of separate transactions, starting with the purchase of the United States and Canadian Lipton business in 1938 and completed in 1972 when Unilever bought the remainder of the global Lipton business from [[Home and Colonial Stores|Allied Suppliers]].
In 1991, Unilever created a
Due to the [[2008 Chinese milk scandal]], food giant [[Unilever]] started recalling its Lipton milk tea powder in Hong Kong and Macau on 30 September 2008. The tea powder, which used Chinese milk powder as its raw ingredient, was recalled after the company's internal checks found traces of [[melamine]] in the powder.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_re_as/as_hong_kong_tainted_milk |title=Lipton-brand milk tea powder recalled in Asia |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=30 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003212837/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_re_as/as_hong_kong_tainted_milk |archive-date=3 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-09-30-liptontea-hongkong_N.htm?csp=34 |title=Lipton milk tea powder recalled in Hong Kong |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |access-date=30 September 2008 |date=30 September 2008 |archive-date=2 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802034137/http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-09-30-liptontea-hongkong_N.htm?csp=34 |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
In 2011, [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]] criticized Unilever for conducting and funding experiments on rabbits, pigs and other animals in an attempt to make human health claims about the tea's ingredients. According to the animal rights organization, Unilever decided to end the practice
Unilever reached an agreement in November 2021 to sell the majority of its tea business to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for €4.5 billion. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Editor |first1=Ashley Armstrong, Retail |title=Unilever agrees sale of PG Tips and Lipton to CVC Capital Partners |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unilever-agrees-sale-of-pg-tips-and-lipton-to-cvc-capital-partners-wv3x8gz93 |work=www.thetimes.com |date=11 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> This included the Lipton brand except where Unilever retained its use for tea in India, Nepal, and Indonesia, for ready to drink teas globally, and for soup mixes in North America. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/unilever-to-divest-most-of-its-tea-business-but-news084340.html|title=Unilever to divest most of its tea business but keep RTD Lipton|website=www.ingredientsnetwork.com}}</ref> The sale was completed in July 2022, with the new company named ‘LIPTON Teas and Infusions’. <ref name="auto"/>
Lipton produces instant [[Instant soup|soup mixes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liptontea.com/search/soup |title=Search results for 'soup' |publisher=Lipton Tea |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029182643/http://www.liptontea.com/search/soup |archive-date=29 October 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In the 1950s in the United States, Lipton ran an advertisement campaign promoting [[French onion dip]] prepared at home using Lipton's French onion soup mix, thus helping to popularize [[chips and dip]].<ref name="Oxford">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AoWlCmNDA3QC&pg=PA145 |title=The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink |page=145 |via=Google Books |isbn=978-0-19-530796-2 |last=Smith |first=Andrew F. |date=May 2007|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA }}</ref> Hundreds of new commercially produced varieties of dips were later introduced in the U.S.<ref name="Oxford"/>▼
==Present day==
[[File:Tea Estate in Bandarawala.jpg|thumb|170px|Dambatenne Tea Factory, Thomas Lipton's first tea plantation located in [[Badulla]], Uva Province, Sri Lanka]]
Lipton teas are a [[Tea blending and additives|blend]] selected from many different plantations around the world, from well-known producing countries including [[Tea production in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]], India, Kenya, and China. Lipton Yellow Label is blended from about 20 different teas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.time-for-tea.com/producing.asp |title=Lipton Tea can do that: Producing the Finest |publisher=Unilever |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111104522/http://www.time-for-tea.com/producing.asp |archive-date=11 January 2009 }}</ref>▼
Available in over 150 countries, Lipton tea is particularly popular in Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East, parts of Asia and Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) as well as Latin America, and the Caribbean. Despite its British origins, Lipton tea (such as Lipton Yellow Label) is not marketed in the United Kingdom, where brand owner LIPTON Teas and Infusions sells [[PG Tips]]. Lipton Ice Tea, from the Unilever PepsiCo joint venture is available in the United Kingdom.
▲Lipton
The Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy was launched by LIPTON Teas and Infusions together with the Government of [[Kenya]] and the [[University of Kabianga]] in February 2024 to offer training varying from vocational courses to advanced degrees in tea growing and harvesting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Launch of Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy, State House, Nairobi. | website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUnQx-J9zuE |date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kabianga.ac.ke/lipton-tea-innovation-and-technology-academy-ltita-launch}}</ref>
▲Lipton still owns plantations in East Africa ([[Kericho]], Kenya and [[Mufindi]], Tanzania). In May 2007, Unilever became the first company to commit to sourcing all its tea in a sustainable manner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070525-0857-tea-unilever-sustainable.html|title=Unilever to sell environmentally sustainable tea|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|agency=Reuters|access-date=29 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731212847/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070525-0857-tea-unilever-sustainable.html|archive-date=31 July 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Working with the [[Rainforest Alliance]], an international environmental [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]], Lipton and its parent company, Unilever, announced all Lipton Yellow Label [[tea bag]]s sold in Western Europe would be certified by 2010 and all Lipton tea bags sold globally by 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unilever.com/ourcompany/newsandmedia/pressreleases/2007/sustainable-tea-sourcing.asp |title=About us |publisher=Unilever |access-date=29 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070617183750/http://www.unilever.com/ourcompany/newsandmedia/pressreleases/2007/sustainable-tea-sourcing.asp |archive-date=17 June 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> Lipton's own tea estates were among the first to be certified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/analysis_and_features/article3223697.ece |title=Time to brew up a sustainable cuppa |work=The Independent |access-date=29 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107082327/http://news.independent.co.uk/business/analysis_and_features/article3223697.ece |archive-date= 7 January 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>[http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=consumerProducts&storyID=2007-05-25T170334Z_01_N25420184_RTRIDST_0_SP_PAGE_016-N25420184-OISCP.XML Reuters]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Product bearing the Rainforest Alliance seal appeared on Western European markets in 2008 and started appearing in North America in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=1427753|title=Sense & Sustainability: Banking on greener tea|work=National Post|access-date=29 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/behindTheScenes/idUKTRE5457WX20090506|title=Rainforest certified Lipton tea reaches U.S.|date=6 May 2009|work=Reuters|location=UK|access-date=29 October 2014|last1=Nicholson|first1=Marcy}}</ref>
In May 2024, LIPTON Teas and Infusions announced an agreement to sell its tea estates in Kenya, [[Tanzania]], and [[Rwanda]] to Browns Investments with the proceeds reinvested into [[East Africa]]’s tea industry. <ref>{{cite web |last1=week |first1=Stay up to date on the editors' picks of the |title=Sri Lanka's Browns acquires Lipton tea estates in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/sri-lanka-browns-acquires-lipton-tea-estates-4615654 |website=Business Daily |language=en |date=7 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lipton Teas and Infusions, Browns Investments agree long-term partnership |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/14-May-2024/lipton-teas-and-infusions-browns-investments-agree-long-term-partnership |work=The Nation |date=14 May 2024}}</ref>
==Brands==
[[File:Lipton Earl Grey tin.jpg|thumb|150px|A tin of loose Earl Grey tea]]
The Lipton brand is nowadays used for three types of consumer goods: tea (tea bags, loose tea, tea concentrates and tea powders), ready to drink tea (bottles and cans), and soup mixes.
===Lipton Yellow Label===
Lipton Yellow Label tea has been sold since 1890, when Sir Thomas
A range of specially formulated teas that infuse in cold water. Also variously described as “cold brew” or “real iced tea” .<ref>{{cite news |last1=Selwood2019-02-20T15:57:00+00:00 |first1=Daniel |title=Unilever's Lipton claims UK first with cold-brew tea leaves |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/new-product-development/unilevers-lipton-claims-uk-first-with-cold-brew-tea-leaves/590455.article |work=The Grocer |language=en}}</ref>
===Lipton Iced Tea===
'''Lipton Iced Tea''' or '''Lipton Ice Tea'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Lipton Ice Tea website|url=http://www.liptonicetea.com/|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=28 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928135341/http://liptonicetea.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> a ready to drink tea brand made and distributed by the joint ventures between Unilever and PepsiCo. It is typically sold in five flavours, lemon, peach,
===Lipton Brisk===
[[Brisk (drink)|Brisk]], formerly Lipton Brisk, is
===
▲
▲==Lipton worldwide==
▲Available in over 110 countries, Lipton is particularly popular in Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East, parts of Asia and Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) as well as Latin America, and the Caribbean. Despite its British origins, Lipton black tea (such as Yellow Label) is not marketed in the UK, as owner Ekaterra sells [[PG Tips]] tea there. Lipton Ice Tea and fruit teas are available in the UK. Due to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Ekaterra decided in August of the same year to completely withdraw from the Russian market and stop the production and sale of Lipton tea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/business/01/08/2022/62e7d7229a7947d8ec86f2ee|title=Чай Lipton и Brooke Bond перестанут продавать в России|language=ru|date=2022-08-01|website=rbc.ru|access-date=27 August 2022|archive-date=27 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827142043/https://www.rbc.ru/business/01/08/2022/62e7d7229a7947d8ec86f2ee|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Marketing and advertising==
[[File:Lipton can prop, Night of the Living Dead (1968).png|200px|right|thumb|A Lipton can was used as a prop in the popular horror film ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]'' (1968)]]
In 1914, Lipton's tea
In an attempt to change the negative perception of
==Product quality controversy==
▲
In November 2011, the [[General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine]] of China found high levels of pesticides such as [[bifenthrin]] in one variety of Lipton tea. Unilever responded by clearing the shelves of all affected products.<ref name=Greenpeace>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-unilever-china-qualitybre83n0at-20120424,0,731198.story |title=Greenpeace says finds tainted Lipton tea bags in China |first=Ben |last=Blanchard |work=Chicago Tribune |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=30 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426125723/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-unilever-china-qualitybre83n0at-20120424%2C0%2C731198.story |archive-date=26 April 2012 }}</ref> In April 2012, [[Greenpeace]] raised further questions about Lipton products in China, after two varieties of Lipton tea the group purchased in Beijing supermarkets failed safety tests, with the results allegedly failing to meet the regulations enforced in the European Union.<ref name="greenpeace1">{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/blog/lipton-tea-laced-with-toxic-pesticide-residue/blog/40093/|title=Lipton tea laced with toxic pesticide residue|publisher=Greenpeace|access-date=29 October 2014|archive-date=29 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029180312/http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/blog/lipton-tea-laced-with-toxic-pesticide-residue/blog/40093/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The group also stated, "Some of the detected pesticides are also banned for use in tea production by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture."<ref name="greenpeace1"/> Unilever China denied the findings, stating all Lipton products within the country were safe.<ref name=Greenpeace />
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==See also==
* [[Sir Thomas Lipton]]
* [[LIPTON Teas and Infusions]]
* [[Brooke Bond]]▼
* [[Lipton Institute of Tea]]
* [[Cup-a-Soup]]
▲* [[Brooke Bond]]
▲* [[Tetley]]
==References==
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[[Category:Iced tea brands]]
[[Category:Tea companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:
[[Category:PepsiCo brands]]
[[Category:Former Unilever brands]]
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[[Category:British companies disestablished in 1929]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]
[[Category:CVC Capital Partners companies]]
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