Organic Green Teas

Green tea is not a herbal tea, although a lot of people who drink herbal teas also enjoy green tea. Green tea is made from the same type of tea plant that black tea is made from (Camellia sinensis), however unlike black teas, green tea is not left to oxidise, so it retains many of its original antioxidant properties.

Always choose fresh, organic and high-quality green teas. Tea Tonic offers a number of premium green tea products, including organic loose-leaf green tea, organic Matcha green tea (powder form), Berry green tea, and Organic Genmaicha green tea.

Green tea contains a number of compounds that may benefit your health, including antioxidants, flavonoids, magnesium, B vitamins and folate.

Green tea is also said to have beneficial effects on dental health, as the catechins it contains can inhibit the activity of certain damaging agents on the teeth and gums. Catechins also are natural antioxidants, and antioxidants can help prevent cell damage. In addition, green tea is rich in polyphenols, which can help reduce inflammation.

There’s also research suggesting green tea may have anti-cancer properties, help reduce cholesterol, manage type 2 diabetes, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, however more research is required before these claims can be said to be conclusive.

Proven health claims aside, fresh green tea certainly contains antioxidants, so at the very least, you can drink it for the benefits antioxidants provide.

Finally, the caffeine content in green tea is less than in coffee, with a 240 mL serving of coffee containing 96 mg of caffeine and the same serving of green tea containing only 28.8 mg of caffeine (according to a USDA survey). So if you are caffeine-sensitive, green tea is a better option for your daily beverage than coffee.

Green tea is a refreshing drink to consume, and is enjoyable whether brewed hot or cold. To get the most benefit from drinking green tea, it’s important to buy high-quality green tea that is fresh. The older the product, or the more it has been processed, the more likely it is that it will have lost some of its beneficial properties by the time you drink it.

The recommended amount of green tea per day is anything between three to five cups, although you can drink less of course, and if you enjoy the taste but don’t want the strength, you can brew your tea weaker by using smaller amounts of tea.

If you drink green tea daily, you may notice improved brain function, due to the caffeine in the drink. If you’re swapping milk-based hot drinks out for green tea, you may also notice an improvement to your breath, as milk tends to stick to the teeth and contribute to the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which can create odours.

At Tea Tonic, we mainly want our customers to just enjoy a good cup of tea! So, we suggest you just enjoy green tea for tea’s sake! Get yourself a nice teapot and cup, get some quality organic loose leaf green tea and an infuser, and enjoy the slow and calming process of brewing that perfect cup of tea!

You can drink green tea at any time of the day, however be mindful that it contains caffeine, so if you have it in the evening, it may keep you awake. If you’re particularly sensitive to caffeine, then you may want to stop consuming green tea prior to the mid-afternoon mark, so that the effects of caffeine have time to wear off before bedtime.

If you aren’t particularly caffeine sensitive, then green tea is a great palate cleanser after dinner. It’s also said to have benefits for your teeth and gums, which is useful after a meal, so feel free to have it in the evening, and perhaps just brew it a little weaker.

It’s best not to drink green tea on an empty stomach, as the tannins it contains can increase the acid in your stomach. This can lead to tummy aches for those with sensitive stomachs. For those with peptic ulcers or acid reflux, drinking green tea on an empty stomach may aggravate the condition.

It’s suggested that you have a little something to eat before you drink your green tea first thing in the morning, or at the least, drink it at a weaker strength.

Note, there are certain medications green tea may interfere with, so if you have a health condition, check with your doctor about whether it is safe for you to drink green tea.

There has been research concluding that green tea may have a small impact on weight loss, but not enough effect to be clinically significant.

Green tea contains caffeine, and catechins—a type of flavonoid and antioxidant—and both these compounds are able to speed up the metabolism. This may be why there is an impact on weight, as a faster metabolism means you burn more calories when you are at rest.

Regardless of whether or not green tea has inherent properties that help reduce weight loss, it does not contain calories, and you usually don’t add sugar or milk to it. This means that if you swap your usual milky and sweetened coffees or teas out for green tea, it’s possible you could see a gradual and minor impact on your weight, if weight loss is your aim.

Green tea is minimally oxidized, resulting in a light, grassy flavour with subtle sweetness. Black tea, on the other hand, is fully oxidized, giving it a robust and bold flavour. The processing methods and oxidation levels are what differentiate the taste profiles of green tea and black tea. To learn more checkout our article on Green tea vs Black tea.