The 6 Best Organic Green Tea Brands

Next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. In the U.S., almost 80% of households have it in their kitchens and more than half of the population drinks tea on a daily basis.

Green tea which accounts for only 15% of the market, has gone up by 60% over the last 10 years. 

Although the green tea obsession may seem like a recent phenomenon, the brew has been used for centuries in eastern cultures in Asia.

Let’s dig in into the origins of this highly coveted tea, how to find high quality green tea, and meet some of the best green tea brands to try.

History of Green Tea

According to legend around 2700 BC, green tea was accidentally discovered by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung when some leaves from a nearby shrub blew into his pot of boiling water.

Shen Nung, a devoted herbalist, decided to taste the infusion and found the flavor refreshing.

At first, green tea was only available to the upper class of Chinese society before it became accessible to the public. 

Dutch traders were introduced to the tea during a visit to Asia and eventually spread the custom of tea drinking to Europe and America in the 16th century.

What’s the difference between green tea and black tea?

Both teas come from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The difference is in the processing – with black tea, the leaves are first rolled and then exposed to air to trigger the oxidation process.

Whereas green tea leaves are processed immediately to prevent oxidation, retaining their lighter color.

Health Benefits of Green Tea

Apart from the unique, pleasant flavor, green tea is touted for its amazing health benefits. Here are some of the ways green tea can be part of a healthy lifestyle

• Enhance Weight Loss: Green tea is commonly talked about with weight loss and burning fat.It contains caffeine (24–40 mg per cup) and a potent antioxidant called catechin. Research suggests that both of these elements speed up metabolism and increase fat oxidation. Additionally, tea acts аѕ an appetite suppressant and can keep cravings at bay.

• Prevent Cancer: Green tea is packed with polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that can prevent the formation of free radicals that cause cancer. A study revealed that drinking 10 cups of green tea per day delayed cancer onset by 7.3 years for female patients. That said, there is no conclusive evidence that green tea can help to cure cancer. 

• Lower risk of heart disease: Avid green tea drinkers have a lower heart disease risk.This was proven by a Japanese study of 40,530 people. Participants who drank more than five cups of green tea a day had a 26% lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke, and a 16% lower risk of death compared to people who drank less than one cup a day.

• Reduce Stress and Improve Sleep Quality: Caffeine, L-theanine, and EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) found in green tea can boost the happy hormones in your brain. These include serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood, sleep, and emotion, and cortisol, which helps the body deal with stress. There are over 21 reviewed studies show that drinking green tea can reduce anxiety and help promote sleep quality and quantity.

• Maintain healthy skin: If you desire flawless and glowing skin, sipping green tea can get you closer to that dream.Studies have shown EGCG present in green tea has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that could improve acne and oily skin, prevent UVB light-induced skin disorders and minimize signs of aging.

• Lower risk of type 2 diabetes: People who are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes could benefit from drinking several cups of green tea a day. A research review published in the Diabetes and Metabolism journal showed a 33% reduction of developing type 2 diabetes in subjects who drank six or more cups of green tea a day, as compared to those who drank less than a cup per week.

• Strengthen bones: As we age, we lose bone mass or density and become more prone to develop osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. Fortunately, green tea has bioactive components that can strengthen bone formation and prevent bone loss.  A study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who drank 3 cups of green tea a day were 30% less likely to receive a bone fracture than those who drink a cup or less each week. 

• Increased life expectancy: With so many health benefits cited, it’s not surprising that green tea lovers live a longer, healthier life. In 2020, researchers found that over 100,000 Chinese adults who drank green tea at least three times a week lived on average 15 months longer than those who didn't drink green tea.

How to Buy Good Quality Green Tea

Ready to drink your way to better health? There are plenty of green tea brands, but not all of them are created equal. 

In fact, some teas have been found to have traces of pesticides and heavy metals like lead and cadmium. 

These chemicals can be released into your tea and expose you to a host of serious health issues.

For this reason, it’s important to always check the source of your green tea and ensure it has been grown with people and planet in mind.

Organic green tea is not just good for your health, it prevents harmful chemicals from entering the environment and protects farmers who cultivate it.

To easily identify organic green tea look for the USDA Organic certification symbol or if you're shopping farmers market as about organic ingredients.

6 Organic Green Tea Brands to Try

These are some of the best organic green tea brands that prioritize the farmers and people in their supply chain, sustainable agriculture, organic practices, and great taste. You're sure to find some high-quality teas on this list.

This post does contain some affiliate links which means if you choose to make a purchase we may receive a percentage, but at no additional cost to you!

Equal Exchange Fair Trade Organic Green Tea

If you’re looking for a green tea brand with a social conscience, Equal Exchange’s organic tea is a great choice. Their tea is certified organic and ethically sourced directly from democratically-organized groups of growers from Potong Tea Garden in Darjeeling, India.

This brand is part of the Fair Trade Federation ensuring fair treatment of farmers and individuals throughout the supply chain. You’re bound to find a flavor to warm your soul thanks to their wide variety of flavors including ginger, jasmine and mint.

Steep their green tea bags for two to three minutes to get an incredible start to your day!

Equal Exchange tea can be purchased online for $18.60 per box or keep your eyes open at your local grocery store.

Pique Tea: Organic Tea Crystals

Pique Tea creates unique teas that are rooted in research and results. This tea brand sources exquisite high quality ingredients – which have been exhaustively tested and Triple Toxin Screened for purity and bioavailability.

Pique Tea comes in the form of tea crystals.

They source organic loose leaf grade tea leaves and then Cold Brew Crystallize them for up to 8 hours to extract all the beneficial compounds. So no tea bag when brewing this tea!

Their green tea selection include Matcha, Ginger Fasting Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Passionfruit Green tea, Mint Sencha Green Tea, and more.

Their green teas range in price from $16-$40.

Art of Tea Inspired by Travel

Art of Tea hand blends and custom crafts organic teas and botanicals in California.

Their teas are carefully selected directly from growers, each one offering a unique story.

The seeds that formed the foundation of Art of Tea were first planted in 1996 when Steve Schwartz began his journey of extensive study in preventative medicine at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico.

Since then, Art of Tea has become a leading purveyor of organic and specialty teas.

Art of Tea’s organic green teas include matcha teas bags, wellness green tea, cleansing green tea, and more. These organic teas range from $20-$40.

Traditional Medicinals: A Certified B Corp Tea Brand

Traditional Medicinals is a tried and trusted tea brand, and their green tea is no exception.

From field to cup, they pride themselves in providing medical-grade green tea to deliver maximum health benefits. 

Enjoy their vast selection of flavors including ginger, lemongrass, peppermint and dandelion.

Traditional Medicinals is a certified B Corp company, which means they put people, planet, and partners first before profits. What’s not to love? Their tea can be purchased for around $5 a box.

Public Goods Affordable Organic Green Tea

Public Goods is on a mission to make nearly everything in your house healthier and more sustainable, including your tea.

Besides being high-quality, their green tea is certified organic, vegan-friendly and free of gluten and additives.

Each batch is hand-picked and gently steamed to preserve nutrients and the tea’s light, airy flavor. You’ll feel energized and refreshed with every sip.

Public Goods organic green tea can be purchased at the affordable price of $3.50 a box.

Public Goods gets bonus points for planting one tree for member that joins their membership program too!

Choice Organics USDA Certified Teas

Choice Organics has been creating high quality teas since 1989 when they became the first American tea producer to use exclusively organic and non-GMO ingredients and they continue that commitment today.

As a USDA certified brand they take pride in each tea bag and work directly with growers to source some of the finest ingredients.

Offering a range of green teas their products can be purchased at select grocery stores and online. This organic tea can be purchased for around $12 a box.

Yogi Tea

Yogi believes it's about more than just creating deliciously purposeful herbal tea blends.

This USDA certified organic tea brand believes that with every ingredient they source, and every cup of tea they make, it's important to support quality, sustainability, and social responsibility on a local, national, and global level.

Yogi has different varieties of green teas including pure green tea, blueberry green tea, kombucha green tea, and more.

Yogi tea can be purchased for around $8 a box. This popular brand can be found online as well as in select stores.

Republic Of Tea

As a socially and environmentally responsible business, Republic of Tea is dedicated to sharing their prosperity by developing products to support worthy organizations, including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the Whole Planet Foundation.

This tea brand is also part of The Ethical Tea Partnership.

They have a wonderful page explaining more about their sourcing which includes tea from China, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and more.

The Republic of Tea has different types of teas including loose tea leaves and tea bags.

The People's Green Tea is beautifully hued, delicate tea is celebrated for its refreshing, smooth flavor and incredible health benefits.

The true essence of this tea will energize harmony and spirit. Their teas can be purchased around $13 a jar.

How to Brew Green Tea

Most general green teas will tell you to steep the tea in hot water for around three minutes.

However, when brewing your cup of tea it's important to consider a few factors to ensure the best taste.

Different types of green tea have different instructions, so if you're not sure the best practice for your specific tea I encourage you to do a bit of research.

• Did you choose loose tea leaf or tea already in a tea bag?

• Did you choose green tea powder or traditional green tea?

• What type of green tea did you choose? Matcha? Fukamushi Sencha? Gyokuro?

For me personally, I enjoy loose leaf tea and I like to add a bit of honey, so that I can still enjoy the natural flavors.

I think green tea makes a great caffeine boost for the afternoon as it's lower in caffeine than coffee and the perfect pick me up for that time of the day .

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