Green tea has recently gained popularity in the United States due to its tremendous health benefits. For centuries people in India and China have been consuming it. The total consumption of green tea around the world is close to 20%, and the other 78% is for black tea. The bush Camellia sinensis is the source for most of the tea in the world other than herbal.
Some of the top benefits of green tea are –
- Cancer prevention – The polyphenols present in the tea help body fight and kill cancer cells
- Weight Loss – Not still clinically proven but people swear by it
- Good for heart and as it lowers cholesterol – It has been proved that people who consume it in the beverage or capsule for had a reduced LDL cholesterol levels
- Reduces risk of stroke – As per study it has been proved that drinking green tea reduces the chances of stroke in adults
- Helps in type 2 diabetes – Some studies indicate that people who drink this tea have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but nothing substantial has been proved yet
- Enhances brain’s cognitive functions – It could help people with neuropsychiatric disorders and ones suffering from cognitive impairments
- Can also help in inflammatory skin diseases
Green tea Contains
- Caffeine – 20-45 mg in 8 ounce cup
- Polyphenols – 20-45% (anti-carcinogenic & anti-inflammatory)
- Catechins – 60%(antioxidants)
Top 10 Best Green Tea Brands in 2024
Twinings of London Pure Green Tea Bags
The brand behind this tea Twinings are in the business since 1706. There is very less of bitter taste even if you leave it for a bit long. It has a bit strong flavour and sometimes can be termed as bold too. You get a little floral undertone in the taste and sometimes a smal bit of honey like taste. The smell is very pleasing too. Very small bit of occasional residue is left behind in the cup which is not very significant. Some of the top varieties of tea it offers areas below –
- Darjeeling
- Earl Grey
- English Breakfast Black
- English Breakfast Decaf
- Irish Breakfast Black
- Lemon & Ginger
- Pure Camomile Herbal
- Pure Green
- Pure Peppermint Herbal
Price: $55.12
Bigelow Green Ginger with Probiotics
The tea comes with Ganeden BC30 probiotics (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30). This improves the absorption and utilization of protein in the body. This helps in muscle health and is primarily beneficial for people dependent on plant proteins which are low in leucine.
Top flavors available are –
- Earl Grey
- Green Tea
- Green Tea with Ginger
- Jasmine
- Mango
- Matcha Green Tea
- Mint
- Organic Green Tea
- Peach
- Pomegranate
- Variety Pack
- Wild Blueberry & Acai
It is gluten-free and has zero calories. It also comes with Kosher Certification i.e the brand complies with a strict policy of kosher food laws. The tea is delicate, has no bitter taste, and is flavorful.
It is available in these sizes –
- 18 Count (Pack of 6)
- 20 Count (Pack of 6)
- 40 Count (Pack of 6)
Price: $30.99
Matcha Green Tea Powder – Superior Culinary
The tea is produced in the Uji region of Japan. The matcha is produced from Tencha leaves which are kept below sunlight for 3-4 weeks. The umami flavor comes from the rich amino acids in the green leaves. It is prepared in a traditional Japanese way which has been mastered for hundreds of years. It contains 30-35g of caffeine in each serving. The L-Theanine present in it enhances concentration and relaxes the body. Some of the primary ingredients are –
- Chlorophyll
- EGCG
- Minerals
- Fiber
- antioxidants
It further works as a natural detox agent. The other benefits are immune system enhancement, appetite suppression, boost in metabolism, and promotes skin radiance.
Price: $9.99
Diet Lipton Green Tea, Citrus
This is brewed green tea flavored with citrus flowers and is iced. The packet contains 12 bottles of 16.9 ounces. It should always be taken iced and does not show any noticeable aftertaste. Few people might find the lime flavor bit bold. Berry flavor is preferred by most people, but at the end of the day is a matter of taste.
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Hexametaphosphate
- Green Tea
- Ascorbic Acid
- Phosphoric Acid
- Potassium Sorbate
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
Price: $4.98
Numi Organic Tea Ginger Lemon
It is a caffeine-free herb tea with a green tea blend. CO2 decaffeination is an almost chemical-free process and does not deplete any of the tea’s health benefits. The tea is cultivated primarily in the Himalayan foothills of India. Below are some of the top organic ingredients present in it –
- ginger
- decaf green tea
- lemongrass
- licorice
- lemon verbena
- lemon myrtle
Some of the available flavors are –
- Ginger Lemon
- Gunpowder Green
- Jasmine Green
- Matcha Toasted Rice
- Mate Lemon
Price: $9.17
Lipton Green Tea Bags Flavored with Natural Flavors Cranberry Pomegranate
This tea is made from green tea, cranberry, and pomegranate. It contains flavonoids which help in keeping the heart healthy. It is 100% Rainforest Alliance certified, which means it meets all the standards. Let us have look at some of the important data in every 8oz serving –
- Caffeine – 35 milligrams
- Flavonoids – 150 milligrams
Now you can get 200-500mg of flavonoids by drinking 2-3 cups of this green tea. This will go a long way in helping keep your heart healthy and following other dietary guidelines. Let’s have a look at some of the top ingredients of this tea –
- Chamomile Flowers
- Cinnamon
- Citric Acid
- Cranberry Juice
- Hibiscus Flowers
- Lemon Peel
- Licorice Root
- Roasted Chicory Root
- Soy Lecithin
Price: $8.49
Tiesta Tea – Fruity Pebbles, Loose Leaf Strawberry Pineapple Green Tea
One of the primary benefits of drinking this type of tea is the boost it gives to the metabolism. The Strawberry Pineapple flavor could be enjoyed with either sugar or honey. This tea is very good for weight loss as it curbs your appetite and works as a metabolism booster. Some of the primary benefits of drinking this tea are –
- Lessens fatigue
- Anti-oxidants that slows aging
- Healthy immune systems
- Contains fiber, catechist, and polyphenols
It comes in a lot of popular flavors. Let’s have a look at some of them –
- Fruity Pebbles
- Peaches N’ Green
- Pineapple Blues
- Lean Green
- Chinese Jasmine
Price: $4.71
The Republic of Tea Brain Boost Supergreen Green Tea
Apart from great taste, the tea is gluten-free, organic, sugar, and carb-free. You get pure green tea with black currants or fresh berry flavor. Also, expect a mild touch of honey in a cup of refreshing tea. The whole lot is packed in an airtight container that maintains freshness. It is straightforward to prepare tea. Lean Green Tea helps in weight loss. The tea helps in curbing the appetite and reduces food cravings. If you want to cleanse the body, go for Detox Green Tea.
Just heat the water and bring it down from the flame before it boils. Pour the water into a cup with a teabag and let it soak for 3 minutes. If you are using full-leaf tea, leave it for 3-4 minutes.
Some of the top flavors available are –
- Brain Boost SuperGreen
- Detox Green Supergreen
- Immunity SuperGreen
- Lean Green SuperGreen
- Serenity SuperGreen
Lets have a look at some of the top ingredients –
- Organic green tea
- Organic Ginko
- Organic green tea matcha
- Gingo extract
Price: $13.75
VAHDAM, Green Tea Leaves from Himalayas (50+ Cups)
If you want pure green tea with all the natural health benefits without any additives, then go for this product. It is grown on the hill of the Himalayas. It is low in caffeine and is great for detoxing and cleansing. Below are some of the primary reasons you should buy this –
- Natural Antioxidants
- Flavonoids
- 100% natural
- Vegeterian
- Gluten free
Above all, you get it in the raw form with the least processing. You generally get full tea leaves with a small number of sediments.
Price: $14.99
Imozai Organic Green Tea Bags
A cup of green tea harvested in China contains 20-30mg caffeine. To prepare the tea, first boil the water, and just before it boils, pour it into a cup with a teabag. Leave it for 3 to 4 minutes before starting to sip. You can sweeten it with honey. You might also want to try iced tea with money if you prefer to avoid sugar.
Below are some of the flavors of tea that are available with their caffeine content –
- Organic Puerh Tea – 5-15mg
- Organic Oolong Tea – 30-40mg
- Organic Green Tea – 20-30mg
- Organic Black Tea – 50-80mg
- Organic White Tea – 15-20mg
Price: $8.49
FAQ on Green Tea
1. How Long to Steep Green Tea?
All types of teas other than herbal tea come from Camellia sinensis. Through osmotic diffusion, the tea gives out different compounds to the water when poured over it. The tea aroma gets mixed with the water first. Next in line are caffeine and antioxidants(flavonols and polyphenols). In the end, tannins that make tea bitter get mixed with the liquid.
The temperature also plays a significant role in the compound extraction from the tea. The high water temperature helps dissolve the desired compounds from tea in water than cold or warm water.
Lets have a look at some of the scenarios which might decide the steeping time for tea –
- Healthy Tea – 2.5 to 5 minutes
- Tea for Caffeine – 3 to 5 minutes
- Taste – 1 to 3 minutes
2. When is the best time to drink green tea?
Some people drink green tea multiple times throughout the day in order to loose weight fast which might not be always right. The timing and quantity of the green tea one consumes also has an effect on how fast it will give result.
- It is always better to have this tea in the morning or before a workout session.
- Caffeine and L-theanine are present in green tea so one can easily replace regular tea or coffee with it without any withdrawal symptoms.
- Do not take it after the meal. The compounds found in the tea might block the body’s absorption of certain minerals like iron, copper, and chromium.
- To make it healthy, add a teaspoon of honey or some lemon juice.
3. What is the best green tea to buy?
This is a bit complex as it depends on what outcome you want. You can get the list of the top 10 brands from the article above. We listed down below the top 5 brands as per our research in April 2020. This list is not in order –
- Twinings of London
- Bigelow
- Harney & Sons
- Matcha Wellness
- Lipton
