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One of the best ways to start your day is with a cup of hot tea to invigorate the senses and get a nice caffeine boost. Some teas have more health benefits than others, and green tea is one of the most elite types for total body wellness.
Below we are featuring some of the best green tea sources around. We are all familiar with the possible benefits of green tea that include but are not limited to: boosted immunity and rich in antioxidants.
Green tea comes in all different forms as well and we have included the ever-popular go-to tea bags and discs, loose-leaf versions, and Keurig’s easy pop-in and brew K-Cups. There are also organic and non-organic versions, eco-friendly options, and a ready-to-drink pure iced green tea that we threw in for good measure.
Comparing the Top Green Teas of 2024
Bigelow Classic Green Tea — Classic Choice
This classic green tea comes in a pack of six boxes for a total of 240 bags. This brand uses only hand-picked tea from high elevation gardens which are then gently processed to bring out the natural flavor that people have been enjoying for centuries. This tea is blended carefully to ensure it is not too harsh and not too grassy with a smooth and delicate flavor that is easy to drink and enjoy with your favorite sweetener, or alone.
VAHDAM Organic Green Tea — Award Winning
This set of 100 single-serve,100% organic tea bags makes for convenience when serving and freshness when storing. This loose-leaf tea is made from all-natural ingredients and is unique as it is packaged in a pyramid-shaped nylon tea bag which is individually enveloped and sealed at the source to ensure the freshest cup. This award-winning tea brand also only uses ethical, direct, and fair trade practices, and all ingredients are sourced from different states around the country.
FGO Organic Green Tea — Editors Pick
This premium set of 100 green tea bags is the perfect way to start any morning. Certified organic, this green tea is blended and filled into hemp fiber bags that are free of dyes, glues, and bleach and have no staples, strings, or any extra waste. This tea is made similar to other green teas and should be steeped with heated water for 2-3 minutes based on taste preference and can be sweetened with your favorite sweetener including honey or lemon. It can also be enjoyed as-is for the meaningful and healthy experience it is meant to be.
Twinings of London Green Tea — Honorable Mention
If you own a Keurig Machine, these green tea K-Cups are a great option. Switch out your daily coffee for a boost of antioxidants while still getting your daily caffeine hit and it’s as easy as popping one of these cups into the brewer and pressing the brew button. This tea is a blend of some of the finest green teas with just the right amount of flavor for some great-tasting tea that tastes as smooth and earthy as freshly brewed.
VitaCup Green Tea — Best Instant Sticks
Next up, we have these instant packets of green tea from VitaCup. One of the best things about this tea is that it's so quick and easy to make. Everything you need is contained in the simple stick pockets, so you'll be ready to enjoy a great-tasting and health-boosting green tea in no time at all. These tea packets are also very lightweight and portable, perfect for slipping into your pocket or bag to take along with you to work or other places. In terms of content, each packet contains matcha, moringa, B vitamins, and other key ingredients to detox your body, boost your metabolism and provide a vital shot of energy to help you get through the day.
Pure Leaf Iced Tea — Also Consider
If ready-to-drink is more your speed, then this 12 pack of brewed iced tea is one of the best options around. This tea is unsweetened with no artificial sweeteners or flavors, allowing you to customize it to your liking, and is made from nothing but the most authentic green tea leaves with no powders or concentrates to worry about.
Buying Guide: Green Tea
Not every green tea brand you get off the shelf will give you the most relaxing and calm drink. When you are choosing the top green teas in 2024 to give yourself the perfect kickstart to a day or initiate a healthy dose, there’s so much you need to know about the product. Plus, you want to invest in a green tea pack that comes to life as soon as it hits the boiling water to invigorate your senses with a crisp and fresh flavor. So, in this buying, you will find all the tidbits to get yourself a fresh cup of steaming hot tea.
Say Hello to Premium-Grade Green Tea
If you are a true tea connoisseur, the green tea you get off the shelves won’t satisfy your cravings for a fresh and herby steaming cup. Instead, the premium-grade green teas have a subtle flavor profile and nuances that you wouldn’t find in run-of-the-mill brands.
What is premium green tea?
Green tea is popular average in Asian cultures, which has also become immensely famous in the western world and is widely known for its medicinal properties. The green tea leaves come from the plant called Camellia sinensis. The green tea leaves do not go through complete oxidation, like black tea. Instead, the fresh leaves are processed via roasting, steaming, or pan-frying to imbibe a grassy and earthy aroma typical of green tea.
What does premium grade green taste like?
You might wonder what the hype is about high-quality green tea that substandard tea can’t compete with. Green tea manufactured and processed with high-quality standards has a sweeter and aromatic taste; plus, you won’t find the bitter after taste typical to industrial blends. The fresh and herby flavor of premium quality green tea has a bright and smooth finish that lingers on your tongue. An excellent cup of green tea has a viscous consistency and is not extremely watered down.
Get to Know the Parameters for the Perfect Green Tea
There are too many varieties and selection choices when you hunt to find the top green tea; here are a few factors you shouldn’t ignore.
Explore the green tea varieties
A mere label mentioning ‘green tea’ isn’t enough. Since green tea comes in various varieties and cultivars, you need to find the blend that suits your flavor profile. There are more than hundreds of green tea varieties to choose from. Chinese and Japanese tea cultivars are more popular as both countries are the largest producer of green tea. Among tea enthusiasts, some popular green tea varieties are dragon well, sencha, bancha, gyokuro, and matcha. Each green tea variety has its distinct texture, flavor, and color. So, the green tea variety you choose depends on your personal preference.
The perfect packaging
Proper packaging is one of the most crucial factors for the best green tea. It is recommended to pick green tea blends with airtight and properly lined sealable packaging. A well-packaged product won’t get stale and will last around a good 12 months. When picking green tea, always look for the product’s packaging and manufacturing date.
Get acquainted with the origins of your green tea
Much to people’s surprise, there is much difference in taste, texture, and color of the brew depending on the geographical location where the green tea was originally harvested. You will notice subtle differences in your green tea beverages based on the green tea's origin. For instance, Japanese green has a herby and soft flavor profile due to the steam processing of the leaves. Whereas roasting tea leaves is a common practice in China that imparts a smoky and toast flavor in your drink.
Find your preference of green tea
Just like diverse flavor profiles, green tea also comes in many shapes and sizes. The different tea formulations also affect the cost of green tea. For instance, whole leaves or loose tea is costlier than tea dust or teabags. On the other hand, the whole leaf green tea gives richer flavor nuances and tastes fresher with its premium grade material. In contrast, the tea bags are affordable and perfect if you want a quick and convenient cup of steaming green tea.
Determine the green tea quality
Green tea has become a common occurrence in everyday households. But, finding the best green tea quality isn’t a piece of cake. You have to consider various factors regarding green tea’s processing and harvesting aspect to procure a high-quality product. For instance, how green tea is grown and harvested, followed by the processing practices, determines its quality. Overheated roasting, delayed processing, over-oxidation, and improper packaging are indicators of low-quality green tea.
Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea has some of the most amazing benefits, and here’s the rundown.
The rich antioxidant source
Green teas are rich in antioxidants, a great nutrient source for good and healthy skin. Additionally, this antioxidant-fueled drink helps fight free radicals in your body that can cause various signs of aging and health discrepancies.
Perfect stress buster
A steaming cup of herbaceous green tea is the perfect way to destress your body and calm your nerves after a hell of a day. The polyphenol levels in the green tea give your tired body the energy boost it needs and tackle the stress-inducing secretions in your body.
Improves your overall health
Green tea is a highly preventive measure to keep your physical health in check. For example, a warm cup of green is responsible for keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure in check. Plus, it's a great detox drink to rid your body of harmful chemicals while also reducing the risk of clogged arteries.
