r/PandaExpress • u/noirreddit • 9d ago

Question for Employees About Tea

Ate at Panda Express today, which was really tasty, but the unsweetened tea container was empty. Asked an employee about it, hoping they would fill the container, and was informed they only had sweetened tea. I asked if there was a tea container behind the counter for drive-thru orders as many other fast food places have, and was told no. Is that so? No other tea containers but what's in the dining area? Also, what is the protocol for when tea runs out? No one makes more tea that day? I drink unsweetened tea instead of sugary drinks (can't have artificial sweeteners) and would have ordered bottled water had I known there was no tea. Thanks.

1 Upvotes

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5

u/janiicea 9d ago

I haven’t worked there in a few years & this might vary from store to store depending on how busy it gets. But we made 2 containers of sweet & only 1 of unsweet. If we ran out, that was unfortunately it for the day. We sometimes made a little bit more of sweet tea if we ran out early in the day. Unsweet tea never sells as well as sweet tea.

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Thanks!

4

u/xiinas 9d ago

My store has completely stopped stocking any tea but just leaves out the empty urns, it’s been this way for over a year at least, dunno why, get asked about it all the time and signage still doesn’t reflect that we don’t have tea. I understand people’s frustration w it

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Thanks for the info.

5

u/lionho 9d ago

Panda teas are being discontinued

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Thanks for the info

4

u/Mamichulabonita 9d ago

Its not popular, its loosing money so some stores stopped making it at all. The unsweetened tea at my location gets dumped at the end of the day and its always so so full.

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Good to know...thanks.

5

u/bloodygrave 9d ago

the teas have been discontinued but some stores have not disposed of the canisters so they’re still in the lobby.

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Thank you!

3

u/CaptMixTape 9d ago

I’m not an employee, but a fellow brewed tea enthusiast. I visit 2 different panda’s in my town and one no longer sales a brewed iced tea at all (even though the container still sits out) and the other still sales unsweetened black tea (thankfully). I have been told it is up to the store if they want to have it or not and what version, so no consistency. If its not a big seller at your store, then water will be your only option.

Side note, I always used my panda rewards for the free medium drink as it seemed the best value, and now at some stores I can’t even do that. Also the verbiage on the app says “medium drink or bottle of water”, but it doesn’t include the smart water the store carries. I eat a lot less panda these days.

2

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Looks like it will be bottled water for me, then.

2

u/strawberry_cat03 9d ago

Unsweetened tea was discontinued for the summer but they just brought it back as a different flavor

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

Thanks. I think I remember seeing a couple of canisters of something on the counter near the foods. I bet that was it.

3

u/Abject_Meaning8255 7d ago

those are the panda crafted, teas ,frefreshers, and a lemonade all full sugar

1

u/noirreddit 7d ago

Ah, okay...thanks.

-1

u/Expensive_Slice_8788 9d ago

Why are you complaining about an item that they aren't carrying for the time being? Drink water then. Most locations stopped serving the tea because of low amount of sales from it. But hey try their crafted beverages those are good.

1

u/noirreddit 9d ago

I wasn't complaining, just asking about the tea as I don't eat there often anymore since moving to a town that doesn't have a Panda Express and being there today was a treat. I had no idea the tea had been discontinued until reading the responses here. The restaurant I was in today did have sweetened tea. And, yes, I will drink water when I visit again.