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Green Tea Review 2024
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Summary

  • What is green tea?

    Green tea is made by lightly steaming freshly cut leaves of Camellia sinensis. It is higher in antioxidant catechins (polyphenols) such as EGCG than black tea. It is sold in many forms such as tea bags, loose teas, matcha powders, bottled teas, and as supplements containing extracts with high concentrations of catechins. Green tea also contains caffeine — about half as much per cup as in coffee (see What It Is).
  • Health benefits of green tea:

    Health benefits are generally associated with catechins in green tea, most notably EGCG. Benefits include a modest reduction in LDL cholesterol, reduced growth of uterine fibroids and associations with lower risks of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. These benefits are generally associated with consumption of 3 or more cups per day. Studies with green tea supplements typically provide 200 mg to 300 mg per day. The evidence regarding weight loss and memory benefits is mixed and may relate to the caffeine in green tea (see What It Does).
  • What did CL's tests of green tea products find?

    Our tests (see What CL Found) found shockingly little EGCG (only about 9 mg per serving) in two products, which were, therefore, Not Approved for quality by ConsumerLab. All other products had higher levels (29 mg to 118 mg per serving). Supplements (sold as capsules) provided an enormous range of EGCG — from just 40 mg to 470 mg per serving.
  • Which is the best green tea?

    We chose Top Picks in several categories. Our Top Picks among green tea in tea bags stood out for having great flavor and high amounts of EGCG at modest cost. Our Top Pick for ceremonial matcha powder costs just 1/3 the price of another matcha powder and provides the same high-dose of EGCG. We chose moderate-strength and high-strength Top Picks among green tea supplements. Green tea leaves can accumulate toxic lead and arsenic, but most products had little to none. Even those containing the highest amounts are unlikely to pose a health risk to adults, but pregnant women may wish to avoid them.
  • Green tea safety, side effects, and drug interactions:

    Green tea can interfere with a range of drugs. Liver toxicity is a concern with high doses of EGCG from green tea supplements, particularly if not consumed with food. Green tea contains a small amount of fluoride and regularly consuming very large amounts of green tea can cause fluorosis, a condition that makes bones and teeth brittle. Avoid excessive green tea when pregnant. Don't drink very hot tea, as this has been associated with higher risk of gastric cancer (see Concerns and Cautions). Be aware that plastic (nylon) tea bags may release microplastics as well as reduce levels of EGCG in tea (See ConsumerTips).

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Green tea brands of tea bags, matcha powders, and supplements compared in this review

View Larger Image Arizona_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Arizona Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey

View Larger Image Bigelow_Green_Tea_Classic-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Bigelow Green Tea Classic

View Larger Image Celestial_Seasonings_Decaf_Green-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Celestial Seasonings Decaf Green

View Larger Image GNC_Herbal_Plus_Green_Tea_Complex_500_mg-Green_Tea-small.png

GNC Herbal Plus Green Tea Complex 500 mg

View Larger Image H-E-B_Herbals_Green_Tea_Extract-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

H-E-B Herbals Green Tea Extract

View Larger Image ITO_EN_Unsweetened_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Ito En Unsweetened Green Tea

View Larger Image Jade_Leaf_Organic_Ceremonial_Matcha-Teahouse_Edition-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Jade Leaf Organic Ceremonial Matcha - Teahouse Edition

View Larger Image Kirkland_Signature_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Kirkland Signature Green Tea

View Larger Image Life_Extension_Decaffeinated_Mega_Green_Tea_Extract-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Life Extension Decaffeinated Mega Green Tea Extract

View Larger Image Lipton_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Lipton Green Tea

View Larger Image Numi_Gunpowder_Green-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Numi Gunpowder Green

View Larger Image Pique_Sun_Goddess_Matcha-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Pique Sun Goddess Matcha

View Larger Image Rishi_Tea_and_Botanicals_Matcha_Super_Green-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Rishi

View Larger Image Stash_Decaf_Premium_Green-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Stash Decaf Premium Green

View Larger Image Tazo_Regenerative_Organic_Zen-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Tazo Regenerative Organic Zen

View Larger Image The_Republic_of_Tea_Decaf_Peoples_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

The Republic of Tea Decaf People's Green Tea

View Larger Image Trader_Joes_Organic_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Trader Joe's Organic Green Tea

View Larger Image Traditional_Medicinals_Organic_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Traditional Medicinals Organic Green Tea

View Larger Image Twinings_of_London_Green_Tea-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Twinings Of London Green Tea

View Larger Image Vitacost_Green_Tea_Extract-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Vitacost Green Tea Extract

View Larger Image Yogi_Green_Tea_Pure_Green_Decaf-Green_Tea-2024-small.png

Yogi Green Tea Pure Green Decaf

You must be a ConsumerLab.com member to get the full green tea test results along with ConsumerLab's Top Picks and tips on how to choose and use green tea. You'll get results for 21 green tea products including brewable green teas, matcha powders, and green tea extract supplements. Twenty of these were selected by ConsumerLab.com and one other passed the same testing in CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program. In the review, you'll learn: 
  • ConsumerLab's Top Picks for brewable and bottled green teas, matcha powders and green tea supplements based on quality, value, and even taste
  • Which products passed or failed our tests and why
  • How much EGCG, total catechins, and caffeine is in each product
  • Why contamination with lead, cadmium and arsenic is a concern, and what our tests showed
  • Price comparisons showing how to get a green tea product with EGCG at the lowest cost
  • Clinical information about the proposed health benefits of green tea, such as lowering cholesterol, weight loss, memory and cognition, cancer prevention and more, and dosage
  • Cautions and potential side effects for green tea -- including drug interactions, concerns with plastic tea bags, a warning for women who are pregnant or nursing, liver toxicity, and effects on bones and teeth 

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Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.