8 Best Organic Green Tea to Reap Most Health Benefits
Green tea is the perfect healthy beverage to sip year-round. You can drink it as a cool summer drink, a warm winter beverage, or a healthy and refreshing post-workout refresher. Green tea also has less caffeine per cup, making it a healthier alternative to your daily coffee.
And if you’re looking to switch from endless cups of coffee or regular green tea and need something just as delicious, then organic green tea could be it for you. Our list of the 8 best organic green tea is sure to make your body and your taste buds sing.
What Is Organic Green Tea? Why Organic Green Tea Is Better?
Green tea is made from buds or fresh tea leaves of Camellia Sinensis without the oxidation process. Unlike regular green tea, organic green tea is grown without using fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides.
Organic Green Tea is Healthier
Green tea contains natural antioxidants like catechins. These are known to reduce cell damage, lower cholesterol, prevent cancers, and help weight loss, fat-burning, help stomach infections, flu, cold, and indigestion.
According to a study, organic green tea can have up to 60% more antioxidants than regular green tea and provide more health benefits.
Doesn’t Contain Harmful Substances
Although fertilizers and pesticides are eliminated during tea processing, some residues are still present on the leaves. Since these substances are water-soluble, they can contaminate the green tea during steeping which can be harmful for health.
On the other hand, organic green tea doesn’t contain any of these artificial pesticide or herbicide residues on the leaves.
8 Best Organic Green Teas for 2021
The list compiled here presents organically grown tea brands that have certifications for organic processes without using harmful fertilizers or pesticides like the rainforest alliance and fair trade along with features like zero GMO, gluten-free, etc.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If anyone makes a purchase by clicking on these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Ocha & Co. Organic Sencha – Loose Leaf Japanese Green Tea
The Good
- Mild, sweet & rich flavor
- Vacuum Sealed Packaging
- Loose leaf tea
- Great price
The ‘Not So Good’
- None
Japanese sencha green tea is the most common green tea consumed by Japanese people. Sencha is renowned for its buttery texture, earthy aromas, and grassy flavor which sets it apart from any other green tea.
The flavor of this tea is slightly grassy and naturally sweet. You don’t have to add sugar. Even adding sugar might ruin the amazing flavor of this tea. Unlike the pale or yellow color of other green tea, the color of sencha is a deep green when brewed.
The processing of sencha prevents oxidation and preserves the green color and flavor of the tea along with the antioxidants to provide you most health benefits.
These loose-leaf sencha green tea come in a vacuum-sealed package for convenience.
The sencha green tea should be brewed at a lower temperature for a short period. Otherwise, it might turn out bitter. Follow this guide to brew sencha green tea to get the best result. It can be the best green tea you’ve ever tasted.
Quantity: 100 grams
Organic Green Tea by FGO – Best Decaf
The Good
- Non-GMO
- Decaffeinated
- Packed in a resealable bag
- Great for combining with other blends
The ‘Not So Good’
- Subtle/flat flavor
- Product quality issues
- Slightly Bitter
FGOrganics (FGO) sources and provides a variety of USDA-certified organic products. One of which is certified organic decaf green tea. The packaging has a foil lining and the tea bags are made with abaca and hemp fiber. The 100% raw decaffeinated green tea leaves are sourced from China. It’s an earthy blend that offers the benefits of its plant-based antioxidants and zero additives.
What’s more, the tea bags are biodegradable and free from strings, staples, and wrappings, making the entire product safe for the environment.
One bag is made to be used with 8 ounces of water, so it is enough for making one cup. This tea contains about 20% to 30% of the caffeine found in a single cup of coffee.
The ingredients, packaging of tea bags, and caffeine contents are all displayed on the bag itself. With this much transparency, we couldn’t help but be super satisfied with this brand. It is 100% recommended for users who like their tea and its history completely clean.
Quantity: 20 or 100 tea bag options. 4-ounce or 1-pound packs are also available.
365 by Whole Foods Market – Best Flavor
The Good
- Non-GMO verified
- Steaming process
- Plastic-free tea bags
The ‘Not So Good’
- No strings on tea bags
- The taste might be too mild for some
- Bitter
Made using methods and processes that promote and follow sustainable standards, 365 by Whole Foods Market has gained a certification from the Rainforest Alliance.
The tea is sourced from tea estates in China, where it is hand-picked and then steamed. The steaming procedure ensures the leaves do not oxidize any further after being picked and helps retain their flavor and color at that stage.
It has a delicate aroma and robust flavor. But make sure that you store the tea in air-tight containers or Ziploc bags if you want to retain that delicious scent and flavor as they don’t come individually wrapped.
The one reason we love this tea is because of the undeniable freshness that you can immediately taste. The steaming does help lock in its flavors. If you are a tea connoisseur, then this one’s a must-have at home! Though we admit it might be a bit bitter for others. However, that problem can be easily resolved by just a dash of honey or a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Quantity: 70 tea bags
Imozai Organic Green Tea – Best for Beginners
The Good
- Gluten-free
- CERES certified
- Great price
The ‘Not So Good’
- Weak
- Issues of string falling out
The Imozai Organic Green Tea is sourced from plantations in China. The tea bags are individually wrapped for convenience. This makes it one of few green tea brands that you can take along with you to the office or when traveling. It has a decent taste for organic green tea that both beginners and tea connoisseurs can appreciate. The caffeine content is also low at 20-30mg for each cup.
Imozai Green Tea is also CERES certified. The Certification of Environmental Standards (CERES), Germany, defines standards for organic products and provides inspection services. With both USDA and CERES certifications, there’s no questioning the purity of this tea.
For tea drinkers that are looking for a refined light taste, this is a perfect choice. The packaging is good enough that you can safely keep a stock of these tea bags in your office for a refreshing drink after lunch.
Quantity: 100 tea bags
Newman’s Own Organics Green Tea – Best for Aroma
The Good
- Tasty
- Profits go to charity
- Gluten-free
The ‘Not So Good’
- 1 bag makes only half a cup of tea
- Ingredients not available
Newman’s Own Organics is a subdivision of the Newman’s Own brand. The company division produces only organic products for the health-conscious.
Their Organic Green Tea is USDA and QAI certified and comes in a 100-count box. Inside, the tea bags are all individually wrapped in a paper cover, and no tea dust falls out of the bag when you are making your tea. Newman’s Own is known for its natural tea bags that are made from Manila hemp and abaca in a chlorine-free bleaching process.
The tea has a light grassy taste that is delicious without needing any added sweeteners. If you’re trying to get off of your coffee addiction, this could be an excellent choice since one cup contains about 50% of caffeine. This tea is also great for those who enjoy a strong scented tea as Newman’s Own has a really powerful scent that you should be able to tell right away when you open the box.
The best thing is this tea and tea bag are both organically made. If you want a gluten-free organic tea to switch from your coffee addiction, then this tea is perfect for you.
Quantity: 100 tea bags
Vahdam, Organic Himalayan Green Tea Leaves – Best for Weight Management
The Good
- Pyramid-shaped tea bags
- Low caffeine
- Fully developed flavors
The ‘Not So Good’
- Bitter
- Issues with packaging
The VAHDAM brand products are known to be climate and plastic-neutral, meaning they do not leave carbon and plastic footprints on the planet. The premium quality tea range is grown at their Avant Garde tea facilities in India. These gardens are at a high elevation, and this gives the tea leaves time to grow and develop flavors fully before they are plucked.
To ensure the freshness of the tea, the products are packaged fresh and directly shipped to your doorstep. A cup of VAHDAM green tea contains 20-30mg of caffeine, which is half the amount you would find in a cup of coffee.
What’s interesting is that their tea bags are pyramid-shaped that store the loose leaves without tearing. Pyramid bags also provide a rich flavor by allowing the water to flow through easily.
This could easily also be the second-best tea on our list, as it scores high in terms of packaging and freshness. However, there were some issues with the tea bags falling apart. If that issue is taken care of, then the VAHDAM Himalayan Organic Green Tea can easily become an everyday favorite.
Quantity: 30 or 100 tea bag options
Uncle Lee’s Tea – Best for Whole Leaf
The Good
- Quality
- Value for money
- Whole leaf tea
The ‘Not So Good’
- Issues with broken/loose bags
- Bitter notes
- Sharpness
Uncle Lee’s Tea is sourced from the Fujian Province in China. It is the second product grown at a high elevation on this list. A single box of Uncle Lee’s tea consists of 100 tea bags inside, all individually wrapped. It is also ECOCERT, France certified.
Ingredients include organic green tea leaf, organic lemon peel, organic West Indian lemongrass leaf, and organic lemon myrtle leaf oil on gum Arabic. All these unique flavors come together to create a balance of crisp texture and bittersweet flavors.
The tea bags contain whole tea leaves, making them a premium brand on our list.
If you’ve been on the lookout for organic whole-leaf green tea, then this is it. Though we’d also categorize it as one of the most flavorful teas on our list. With its flavorful ingredients of lemongrass and lemon peel, you can add more diversity to your tea collection.
Quantity: 40 or 100 tea bag options
Traditional Medicinals – Best for Variety of Flavors
The Good
- Affordable
- GMO-free
- Variety of flavors
- Gluten-free
The ‘Not So Good’
- Very small tea bags
- Issues with tea bag packaging
- Bland
Traditional Medicinals has a long history of offering sustainable wellness products. Apart from organic teas, they also offer herbal dietary supplements, natural health products, and traditional and OTC medicinal products.
Each box of Traditional Medicinals Organic Green Tea contains 16 tea bags that are individually wrapped, compostable, and non-GMO verified. The one drawback though is that the bags fall apart when allowed to steep.
Sourced from tea gardens in Darjeeling, India, their green tea comes in 5 delectable flavors lemongrass, ginger, dandelion, matcha, and peppermint. The caffeine content is 20 mg. The tea is USDA and fair-trade certified.
Like most other tea bags on the market, this one too needs more work, considering how the bags break loose after soaking. However, it is overall the best product with such a variety of flavors. If you don’t like your tea plain and grassy, definitely give one of the Traditional Medicinal teas a try!
Quantity: 16 tea bags
Buying Guide: How to Find the Best Organic Green Tea?
Ingredients
Ingredients are important to check, especially if you’re allergic, as some brands may add flavoring or herbs in their tea blends. Don’t assume teabags contain only tea. From our observation, brands are more likely to add additives to their tea.
Also, learn the difference between natural and organic. You might find the label “natural” on some tea. But it doesn’t mean the tea was grown organically. It only means that the tea doesn’t use any artificial ingredients for color, scent, and flavor.
Certification
Different products can have different certifications. As your reasons for buying organic tea are different, so are the certifications you should be looking for. The USDA and the ECOCERT are two of the top certifications across the world.
Form
Tea bags, loose-leaf, or ready-made drinks are all available on the market today. While these choices are mainly about convenience, they can also tell you about the quality of the tea.
Loose tea leaves retain the best flavor since they are picked fresh. Whereas ready-made drinks will have added flavoring to make the drink tastier. Tea bags are cheaper than loose-leaf tea, which tells you that price is equal to quality when it comes to any type of tea.
Color
Green tea is different from black tea in color. If your green tea turns brown or black, you know it’s gone bad or hasn’t been preserved right. This is due to the chlorophyll that remains intact in green tea leaves and undergoes an oxidation process in black tea. Therefore, all tea drinkers must consider the color of the tea they are drinking. This will affect the quality and the price of the tea as well.
Batch Size
Green tea tends to go stale very quickly. The fragrance, taste, and freshness all diminish over time. So, purchase a small box if you’re not a frequent drinker. Small boxes are also cheaper so you can switch easily if you don’t like a brand.
Shelf Life
Green tea has a shelf life of 1 year. This means they need to be consumed within 12 months from the time they are picked. Some brands guarantee fresh stocks and provide products within this timeframe.
Tea Bag Material
Paper, cotton, plastic, and natural materials are all very commonly used to make tea bags. However, consumers are now more aware and brands have started to switch to more eco-friendly and zero-plastic products. You don’t need to worry about this as we have only included the best materials for tea bags in our list.
FAQs
What is the Best Decaf Green Tea?
The best decaf tea is the Organic Green Tea by FGO. Decaf green tea is the same green tea without its caffeine compounds. You can check our list to find the best tea for your health or sleep issues.
How Much Caffeine Content Is Normal for Green Tea?
On average, 1 cup (245mg) of green tea can contain approximately 25-50mg of caffeine depending on the type of green tea. If you’re looking to reduce caffeine content, then look for green tea with 20-30mg of caffeine on our list.
What Is the Best Time of the Day to Drink Green Tea?
For those switching to green tea from coffee and for those trying to get some health benefits, the best time to drink green tea is in the morning on an empty stomach. You can drink a cup as soon as you wake up, after a workout, or as part of your breakfast.
How Much Green Tea Can You Drink in a Day?
It depends on your purpose. If you’re looking to drink green tea for weight loss, 2-3 cups a day should be good. You can drink more but it’s best to limit your green tea intake to 3-5 cups.
Can Green Tea Help You Sleep Better?
Yes and no.
Drinking green tea is relaxing but not right before you hit the bed. It contains small amounts of caffeine and L-Theanine, which is known to keep you awake. So, drink green tea for better sleep but not for two to three hours before bedtime.
Conclusion
If your experience of drinking green tea has been something like drinking plain tea leaf juice, then you haven’t had the pleasure of a decent cup of green tea yet!
With our list of organic green teas that are not just healthy but also tasty, you are sure to have a more enjoyable experience this time around.
Tell us your favorite organic green tea in the comments below.
About the Author
Lori Bogedin is a health and wellness writer and editor of TwigsCafe.com. She is in the restaurant business since 1999. In 2016 she was named one of the "Top Women in Business" by Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
