For thousands of years, people across the world have turned to the mild, earthy flavors of green tea. Not only can green tea be a soothing beverage, equally good served hot or on ice, but it also makes a great addition to smoothies and other concoctions. What's more, nutrient-rich green tea has been linked to a wide range of health benefits, including anti-inflammation, improved brain function, and more.
With so many green tea products to choose from, which options are right for you? Should you pick a matcha tea product? Loose tea leaves or something pre-bottled? No matter what your preferences are, we're happy to recommend the best green tea to suit your lifestyle.
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The Best Green Tea - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Green Tea: Rishi Tea Sencha Organic Green Tea
- Best Matcha Green Tea: Pukka Supreme Matcha Green Tea
- Best Loose Leaf Green Tea: Tea Canyon Loose Leaf Green Tea
- Best Organic Green Tea: Zen Tea Organic Green Tea Bags
- Best Decaf Green Tea: Yogi Tea Green Tea Pure Decaf
- Best Bottled Green Tea: Honest Tea
- Best Powdered Green Tea: Waka Unsweetened Green Tea
- Best Budget Green Tea: Vahdam Himalayan Green Tea
Best Overall - Rishi Tea Sencha Organic Green Tea
SPECS
- Servings per container: 15
- Key ingredients: Sencha organic green tea
- Caffeine level: Low
Mild in both its flavor and its caffeine content, the Rishi Tea Sencha Organic Green Tea is a great choice for beginners and enthusiasts alike. This is a great tea to have on hand for sipping and savoring, whether for comfort on a cold day or iced to help hydrate yourself for a workout session. We love it for the great value, the earthy taste, and the sustainable business practices, right down to the eco-friendly packaging.
What We Like
- Great flavor, balancing sweetness with umami
- Excellent value
- A great option for sipping and savoring
What We Don't Like
- Not recommended if you want a variety of flavors
- Not recommended if you're looking for more caffeine
BUY: Rishi Tea Sencha Organic Green Tea
Best Matcha Green Tea - Pukka Supreme Matcha Green Tea
SPECS
- Serving per container: 60
- Key ingredients: Sencha green tea, Pin Ho Wild Jade green tea, Indian green tea, and Jeju Island Emerald Matcha green tea
- Caffeine level: Low
Looking for a matcha blend that will supercharge your athletic performance? With each Pukka bag, you'll get a winning combination of Chinese Sencha, Indian Oothu, and Vietnamese Suoi Gang, plus plenty of essential, natural herbs. The Pukka Supreme Matcha Green Tea comes in plastic-free tea bags and is 100 percent ethically sourced. It's great for sipping, but can also be an amazing, health-boosting ingredient for your next baking project.
What We Like
- Variety of ethically-sourced flavors
- Excellent value
- Plastic-free tea bags
What We Don't Like
- Not recommended if you're looking for more caffeine
- Many prefer matcha in powdered form, not tea bags
BUY: Pukka Supreme Matcha Green Tea
Best Loose Leaf Green Tea - Tea Canyon Loose Leaf Green Tea
SPECS
- Serving per container: N/A
- Key ingredients: LongJing Tea
- Caffeine level: Low
Prefer loose-leaf tea to tea bags? Brew a cup of Tea Canyon Loose Leaf Green Tea, one of the best-tasting authentic Chinese teas we've come across. This organic, hand-processed tea comes in a beautiful container and offers a spectrum of antioxidants and other vital ingredients. The earthy flavor pairs well with fruits and pastries, making it a refreshing option no matter the occasion and no matter the time of day.
What We Like
- Earthy flavor
- Organic, hand-processed leaves
- Beautiful reusable container
What We Don't Like
- Not recommended if you're looking for flavor variety
- Brewing loose leaf isn't quite as convenient as using tea bags
BUY: Tea Canyon Loose Leaf Green Tea
Best Organic Green Tea - Zen Tea Organic Green Tea Bags
SPECS
- Serving per container: 135
- Key ingredients: Organic green tea
- Caffeine level: Low
The Zen Tea Organic Green Tea Bags is our recommendation for anyone who wants the holistic health benefits of organic green tea in convenient tea bags. With 135 packets, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck with this well-priced box. Additionally, the tea itself represents an antioxidant-rich, all-natural blend, free of any artificial ingredients. The flavor is fresh and herbal, providing an invigorating start to your morning or a refreshing mid-morning break.
What We Like
- All organic and free of artificial ingredients
- Excellent value
- Fresh, herbal flavor
What We Don't Like
- Not recommended if you're looking for flavor variety
- Not recommended if you're looking for high caffeine content
BUY: Zen Tea Organic Green Tea Bags
Best Decaf Green Tea - Yogi Tea Green Tea Pure Decaf
SPECS
- Serving per container: 96
- Key ingredients: Organic green tea
- Caffeine level: None
Green tea is known for having a relatively low caffeine content, both compared with black coffee and with other varieties of tea. But if you want to sip on something that's been fully decaffeinated, look no further than to the Yogi Tea Green Tea Pure Decaf. Get the refreshing flavor and rich antioxidant content you want from your green tea, without any fear that it's going to keep you up at night. We also love that this is a fully organic, non-GMO product, and that it comes in a compostable tea bag.
What We Like
- Fully organic and non-GMO
- Compostable tea bags
- Great value
- Rich in antioxidants
What We Don't Like
- Not recommended if you're looking for flavor variety
- Not recommended if you're looking for a little caffeine pick-me-up
BUY: Yogi Tea Green Tea Pure Decaf
Best Bottled Green Tea - Honest Tea
SPECS
- Serving per container: 5
- Key Ingredients: Organic brewed green tea, organic lemon juice
- Caffeine level: Low
The ritual of steeping a tea bag can be cathartic in and of itself. But for times when you don't have time, or prefer something cool, try Honest Tea. This brewed green tea is unsweetened and lemon is added for a smooth, natural, and slightly tart flavor. Pure filtered water ensures that you're tasting the tea itself. This is a great option to keep on hand in the fridge, as it definitely hits the spot on a hot summer day.
What We Like
- No need to brew
- Great for when you need something quick and cool
- Smooth and slightly tart taste
What We Don't Like
- Some people will prefer sweeteners to be added
- Not as good a value as tea bags or loose-leaf products
Best Powdered Green Tea - Waka Unsweetened Green Tea
SPECS
- Serving per container: Up to 200
- Key ingredients: Kenyan and Chinese green tea leaves
- Caffeine level: Low
Want to try something other than the conventional tea bag? Consider a powdered option; with just a pinch, you can make your own delicious green tea concoction. We love the Waka Unsweetened Green Tea powder best of all, as it provides a natural, holistic experience—no sweeteners or additives, just 100-percent organic green tea leaves. You can get some great flavors out of this powder, including some bittersweet notes that can pair well with pastries and desserts.
What We Like
- Great earthy flavor
- Very good value
- All organic, with no added ingredients
What We Don't Like
- Not as convenient as tea bags
- Not recommended if you want a flavor variety
BUY: Waka Unsweetened Green Tea
Best Budget Green Tea - Vahdam Himalayan Green Tea
SPECS
- Serving per container: 50
- Key ingredients: Himalayan green tea
- Caffeine level: Low
It's usually pretty easy to load up on tea without breaking the bank, but even so, Vahdam Himalayan Green Tea represents an especially good value. You'll get a minimum of 50 cups out of this value-priced tea, which contains nothing but pure Himalayan tea. A great option for anyone who's looking for a pure, unadulterated product for a modest price point.
What We Like
- Very good value
- All organic, with no added ingredients
- Ethical, carbon and plastic neutral, and fair-trade
- Works well for detoxes
What We Don't Like
- Flavor is nothing to write home about
- Not recommended if you want a flavor variety
BUY: Vahdam Himalayan Green Tea
What to Look for in Green Tea
Variety
Newcomers may wish to sample a few different varieties of green tea, determining which variety is most closely aligned with their taste. Sencha is the most common variety and is very mild in its flavor, but there's also gyokuro (which tastes sweeter) and matcha (primarily used in baked goods), among others.
Caffeine
Green teas can vary in their caffeine content, though it's usually somewhere between 30 and 50 milligrams—fairly mild compared to black coffee or other types of tea.
Ingredients
Naturally, when shopping for tea, you'll want to be mindful of any other ingredients added to provide flavoring, including different types of spices. With bottled green tea, be on the lookout for added sweeteners.
Sourcing
Where are the green tea leaves harvested? Are they being sourced ethically and sustainably? You can also try different sources to experience varied flavor profiles.
FAQs About Green Tea
What time is the best time to drink green tea?
Studies suggest that to get the optimal health benefits from your green tea, the best time to drink is in the morning, preferably just before a workout. Reach for a cup of green tea in place of your morning coffee, then hit the gym!
Does green tea reduce belly fat?
Green tea does not directly reduce belly fat, though it may have a very minor impact on your metabolism. But because it's lower in calories than other beverages, and can power your workout performance, it may offer some indirect weight-loss benefits.
How much caffeine is in green tea?
The amount can vary, but green teas are generally very light on caffeine, usually offering somewhere between 30 and 50 milligrams. The recommended daily intake of caffeine is a maximum of 400 milligrams, which translates to about eight cups of green tea.
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