Storm in a teacup as Suu Kyi serves Lipton at state banquet
TROUBLE was brewing in Burma yesterday after Aung San Suu Kyi was criticised by the grandson of former dictator General Ne Win over her choice of tea at a state banquet.
Aye Ne Win said that serving Lipton tea was a “disgrace”, implying that the brand was cheap. “OMG [oh my God] who serves Lipton tea for State Dinner! Such a disgrace,” he wrote on Facebook. “It should be at least Twinning’s [sic] Earl Grey or Fortnum and Mason’s Queen Anne Tea.”
The 39-year-old tycoon referred to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as “Old Girl”. He wrote: “I expect the Old Girl to have more fine taste than that. She should definitely not advice [sic] when it comes to Tea at least.”
He said saving money was no excuse for serving Lipton tea and pointed out that a box of 20 Twinings teabags could be bought at a local supermarket for $13 (£9).
The state dinner on Tuesday night was held for Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s prime minister, in the first visit by a head of government since Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party took power at the end of March.
Aye Ne Win’s comments were derided on social media. “Seriously? Cheap is when one’s family bankrupts the entire Myanmar [Burma] economy,” wrote May Thu Khine, referring to Ne Win’s reign.