With varied health benefits, green tea is now officially the substitute for black tea, coffee, and other beverages. Green tea has a number of nutrients and powerful antioxidants that have positive results on the body.
A few of the benefits of regular consumption of green tea is stress reduction, uplifting moods, and energy, and weight management.
There are multiple options of green tea available in the market, it can be a daunting task in choosing the best one. In this article, you will find all the important information required before buying green tea.
How Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight?
Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages in the world. It contains antioxidants and plant compounds that are good for health. This popular health elixir is considered to burn fats & fight an array of health conditions
With marketing gimmick and attention grabbing brand names that includes “Slim Tea”, “Fat Burner”, a large group of population drawn to drink the green tea to loose weight.
But does it help to do what various brands promising to do? Read on to understand whether green tea can help in losing weight or not.
Contains ingredients that help lose fat
One of the important components of green tea is caffeine.
A cup of green tea holds less caffeine when compared to a cup of coffee but it still holds enough to have a mild effect. Caffeine is a stimulant that helps in burning fat and improves exercise performance. (1)
Oxidative stress can increase the fat levels in blood which promotes inflammation and leads to high blood pressure. Anti-0xidant in green tea can help to reduce the inflammation, slow downs fat absorption in the cells and decrease blood fat levels.
One study conducted with 56 obese people with high blood pressure shown the positive outcomes when they given 379 green tea extract on daily basis for three months. (2)
After three months it has been observed that the daily consumption of green tea (without any additives like sugar or milk) can help to boost anti-oxidant status and significantly reduces blood pressure, blood fat levels, & cholesterol.
Green tea even has loads of antioxidants, one of which is catechins. Studies show that the number of antioxidants increases in your bloodstream with one cup of green tea.
It also has epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant that boosts metabolism.
Can help burn fat
To burn fat, it is essential for the body to first break down the fat cells and allow it to enter the bloodstream. Studies have stated that the active compounds present in green tea can help boost this process.
The major antioxidant in green tea, EGCG can help hold back the enzyme that breaks down the process. When the enzyme is held back, the hormone responsible for this process – Norepinephrine increases. (3)
The increased level of norepinephrine then allow the fat cells to breakdown more fat which will then be release in the blood and utilized as a source of energy by various cells, primarily by muscle cells.
Increases fat burning during exercises
Green tea extract has been linked to increased fat burning capacity particularly during exercise. This means that if you drink green tea and then exercise anytime during the day, the chances of fat burning increases.
A study stated that men who consumed green tea before exercise burned more fat than men who didn’t.
Boosts metabolism
To your surprise, your body is constantly burning calories. Even when you are not doing anything, your cells are functioning and require energy.
Many studies suggest that taking green tea can help you burn more fat even when you are resting. A study suggests that consuming green tea can boost your metabolism and thus burn more fats daily but it depends on person to person.
How to Choose a Green Tea in India? – Buying Guide
It is important to consider a few points before buying green tea because there are many options available in the market and thus it can be overwhelming. The buying guide below will help you consider essential points while buying which will help you choose the right one.
Buy fresh
Ensure to buy fresh green tea only. The main reason behind this is that green tea does not stay fresh for too long, a maximum of 6 months. In order to reap all the benefits out of this amazing health drink, make sure to buy green tea that is fresh.
You can even extend its shelf life by refrigerating for a few months.
Content
You might be thinking, there is nothing to look for in the content list of green tea. Well, you are wrong. The amount of the main antioxidant that is found in green tea – epigallocatechin gallate varies from brand to brand.
Check the labels and purchase the one that has the maximum amount of antioxidants.
Avoid sugars
This is something you need to be very careful of. There are many varieties of green tea available in the market other than the loose tea leaves like iced green tea.
The iced green tea mixture includes sugar in it. This adds unnecessary calories and is a big no especially if you want to lose weight. Make sure not to add sugar to your green tea to ensure you get all its benefits and can lose weight.
Loose leaves
Studies carried out by consumerlabs.com have proved that loose green tea leaves have more amount of EGCG which is beneficial for weight loss.
So, if you found the brand that sells the green tea in the form of loos leaves, grab it!
Green tea source
No matter the medium from where you buy green tea, make sure to always check the source. Most shops store green teas that are cheap quality to increase their profit margin.
It is wise to spend some time and know about the manufacturer and source to ensure you buy the best one.
Green tea variations
If you or someone in your family doesn’t like the taste of original green tea then you can opt for variations like home, tulsi, etc. Before you choose to buy these variations, make sure to check the content for no sugar and other nasties.
Price
Green teas are available at different prices depending on the brand and the source. It is wise to fix a budget and consider other points in this buying guide before making the purchase so that you do not end up spending a lot.
Top 10 Best Green Tea in India
Here are the best green tea brands in India to buy online –
1. Girnar Detox Green Tea
Girnar brand was launched in the 1970’s and has become one of the largest tea connoisseurs since then.
Girnar Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks that not only is beneficial for your health but also tastes good. If you are looking for the best variety in green tea, then the Girnar Detox Green Tea is an ideal option.
This green tea has a number of other ingredients like spices and herbs in it with of course green tea. It includes tulsi, ginger, close, cinnamon, rock salt, citric acid, black pepper, asafoetida and cardamon.
This tea is made with the finest ingredients and is superb for bloated stomach, cough and cold.
The Girnar Green Tea is pure vegetarian with an amazing aroma. It has zero fats, zero calories, 150gms sodium, zero sugar, zero protein and 1gms carbohydrates.
Each pack comes with 36 tea bags. All you need to do is infuse the tea bag in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes and then it’s ready to be enjoyed.
2. Lipton Honey Lemon Green Tea Bags
Lipton is a British brand, owned by the giant- Unilever. If you are looking for a green tea that will help you maintain your healthy lifestyle, then the Lipton Honey Lemon Green Tea is an ideal option.
It not only has the benefits of green tea but also lemon and honey. The later ingredient add an extra punch the taste of this green tea variant.
This green tea tastes amazing, comes with a refreshing aroma as well as other health benefits. In case you wish to lose weight and are looking for a solution, then this green tea can help you burn fats.
If you think the green tea contains artificial flavors, then you are mistaken. It only contains natural flavors of honey and lemon which makes it more healthy and comforting. It can also help you keep your heart healthy, protect you from cardiovascular diseases and put a glow to your skin.
This tea box contains 100 tea bags and all you need to do is steep the bag in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Tetley Green Tea Bags – Ginger, Mint and Lemon
Tetley was founded in 1837 in England, but since 2000 it is wholly owned by Tata Global Beverages. Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks to maintain your health.
If you are overwhelmed with the same old green tea taste, then this variant of green tea with mint, lemon and ginger is amazing and refreshing.
The Tetley Green Tea is rich in antioxidants and many other nutrients that help you stay fit. It makes your body strong to fight the regular cough and cold as well as stress.
It is a 100% vegetarian item and contains zero sugar, 19gms protein, 92Kcal of energy and 4gms of carbohydrates. This variant is made of high quality green tea leaves and contains all natural flavors of ginger, mint and lemon. All you need to so id steep one bag of green tea in hot water for 2 minutes to get the perfect refreshing taste.
4. Lipton Pure and Light Green Tea Bags
Lipton is a British brand, owned by the Unilever. It is one of the most popular green tea brands in India.
If the regular strong green tea taste does not suit you, then you can try this Lipton Pure and light Green Tea, that has a light taste.
The box comes with 100 tea bags. Consuming this green tea regularly can help you get many benefits like glowing skin, protects against cardiovascular diseases and helps lose weight.
The green tea is power-packed with catechins, around 4.5 times more than the regular black tea. It is 100% vegetarian and has 0 calories.
It is made without any additives, artificial flavors and preservatives. All you need to do is steep one tea bag in hot water for 2 -3 minutes and a delicious cup of green tea is ready.
5. Organic India Tulsi Green Tea
If you are looking for an organic green tea that has multiple health benefits, then Organic India’s Tulsi Green Tea is the best option.
It is made with 100% certified organic ingredients like green tea leaves, Krishna Tulsi, Rama Tulsi and Vana Tulsi.
This product is loaded with antioxidants and essential nutrients like 0.08gms fat, 0.04gms protein, 0.27gms carbohydrates, 0.04gms sugar and 2.06Kcak energy per cup.
If you are looking for a green tea that will help in detoxification, then this Organic India’s Tulsi Green Tea is an ideal choice. It can promote immunity and help your cardiovascular system to stay healthy.
The energy boosting green tea can even help you in weight loss. All you need to do is take 1 teaspoon of leaves and pour in boiling water. Stir it for 3 minutes and then strain it to enjoy the delicious flavor.
6. Organic India Tulsi Green Tea Organic Ginger
If you are bored of having your regular green tea, then the Organic India’s Tulsi Green Organic Ginger is a flavor that you will love. It has a very refreshing and unique flavor that most tea lovers are fond of.
Green tea is full of antioxidants that helps you relax, reduce stress and also strengthen your immune system. Regular consumption of green tea also improves your digestion and increases metabolism.
Some nutritional facts of the tea per serving are as follows – 0.1gm fat, 0.260 carbohydrates of 0.034 is sugar, 0.070 protein and 2.160Kcal. You can drink this green tea hot or iced, as per your liking. It can be consumed at any time of the day.
7. Onlyleaf Chamomile Green Tea
If budget is not a constraint and you want the highest quality green tea, then the Onlyleaf Chamomile Green Tea is an ideal option to choose. It is made with pure and highest quality green tea as well as chamomile.
The green tea contains all important nutrients like 3.5gms carbohydrates, 17.50gms protein, zero sugar and fat and 87.50Kcal energy in 100gms of green tea.
This green tea is made of 100% natural ingredients and is loaded with antioxidants that helps your body with better digestion, relaxation and sleep. The tea does not contain any artificial color, sugar or favor.
Consuming the tea will not only help reduce stress but is also effective in reducing menstrual pain and muscle spasm. Also, if you have insomnia, then this tea can help you have a relaxing and good night’s sleep.
The box contains 25 tea bags and you only need to brew one bag in a cup of boiled water for 3 minutes before consuming.
8. Onlyleaf Rose Green Tea
If you are tired of having the regular green tea daily, then this Onlyleaf Rose Green Tea is an ideal option. This green tea only has unbroken green tea leaves that retain the flavors to ensure you get the best taste.
All the ingredients used in the tea are 100% natural and do not contain any additives or artificial flavors. Rose in the green tea contains vitamin a and e, that hydrates and tightens the skin. It also helps to make your skin softer and reduces dark circles.
You can make the most of the green tea twice. This means that you can steep the 1 green tea twice unlike other tea bags. All you need to do is steep the tea bag in boiling water for 2 minutes and your green tea is ready.
9. Typhoo Pure Natural Green Tea Bag
Typhoo is a 100 year old British brand that stepped in India in 2008 and has been one of the most trusted tea brands since then.
The green tea contains all the essential nutrients as well as antioxidants that help you lose weight and achieve your fitness goal.
The green tea contains 8g protein, 18.5g carbohydrates, 105.5Kcal energy and zero fat per 100g green tea. It does not contain any artificial colors, flavors or sugar and is also preservative-free.
Brewing this green tea is similar to others. You need a full cup of hot water and steep the bag in it for around 4 minutes and your healthy cup of refreshing tea is ready.
10. Vedaka Green Tea Natural
If you are looking for a natural flavor green tea, then this Vedaka Green Tea is a good option. It is rich in antioxidants that help fight toxins in the body. This green tea includes highest quality hand picked leaves sourced from India.
The tea does not contain any additives. It is sugar-free, preservative-free. One box contains 100 tea bags and brewing a cup is simple. All you need is 2 minutes. Steep the tea bag in hot water for 2 minutes and it’s ready.
Types of Green Tea
Before we delve into the best products, it is crucial to know the different types of green tea available in the market, to ensure you choose the right one as per your fitness goals and taste.
Jasmine Green Tea
Jasmine green tea is one of the most popular green tea flavors in the world.
Not all jasmine teas are the best. You might have come across low-quality teas that are made using artificial flavors. While a good quality jasmine tea is the one that is naturally scented using jasmine flowers.
There are no compulsion brewing requirements when it comes to jasmine green teas like other varieties. This type is best made with water that is below boiling point and you only require to infuse for a few minutes.
Genmaicha Green Tea
This type is a blend of Japanese green tea with puffed brown rice. The flavor of this green tea is roasty, sweet, and very enjoyable.
A very famous variation of this type of green tea is the Matcha-iri-Genmaicha, which is a beautiful concoction of Genmaicha and Match green tea.
If you would want strong rice flavor, then just pour hotter water. On the other hand, if you want mild rice flavour, then add cooler water.
Houjicha Green Tea
This type of tea is a roasted Japanese green tea that is made using tea leaves along with stem or sometimes only stems. The Houjicha green tea is a milder version of green tea as it is lower in caffeine when compared to the other variations.
It has a woody flavor that most coffee drinkers love and can be brewed well at different temperatures and times when compared to most other green teas.
Sencha Green Tea
Sencha is Japan’s most famous green tea. The flavor of this type of green tea is seaweed-y and vegetal.
The tea can taste bitter when made with boiling water. Thus the right temperature to obtain a smooth and sweet sencha would be 70 degree Celsius to 75 degree Celsiusaf and infused for 30 to 45 seconds.
Bancha is a popular alternative to this type of green tea, which is similar but has an earthy flavour. Bancha is affordable than Sencha and can also be enjoyed with meals.
Matcha Green Tea
Matcha is shade-grown and powdered, unlike most other green tea variations.
Traditional matcha tea is made using matcha powder and whisked with warm water. You do not use boiling water with matcha.
Other than having it as a tea, you can even mix it with other drinks like smoothies since it is powdered and easily blendable. This type has a bittersweet flavor. You can guess the quality of matcha with its flavors. A sweeter version is considered high quality while a low-quality matcha will be bitter in taste.
Moroccon Mint Green Tea
This type was traditionally a smooth mix of Chinese gunpowder green tea along with fresh mint leaves, boiled in hot water, and sufficient sugar.
Today, you will find a number of variations of Moroccan green tea blends in the market. They use dried mint instead of fresh mint leaves and may also replace gunpowder green tea with Bancha, Houjicha, or other green tea variations.
Dragonwell Green Tea
The Dragonwell is also known as ‘Lung Ching’ or ‘Long Jing’ and is one of the most popular Chinese green teas in the United States.
Usually, this variation is very expensive but if you would want an affordable option, then the ‘pre-rain’ version is available.
The flavor of this type of green tea is mild and sweet. The best way to prepare the best version of Dragonwell Green Tea is with below boiling water and infused for 2 to 3 minutes.
Kukicha Green Tea
Kukicha is a Japanese green tea that is steamed and made using the twigs of the tea plant.
This tea is low in caffeine and its flavor is sweet and vegetal. If you do not like to keep a check on the water temperature or the brewing, then Kukicha is an amazing green tea option for you.
Gyokuro Green Tea
Just like Matcha, the Gyokuro green tea is also a share-grown Japanese green tea that has an amazing green color. It has a unique umami flavor.
To achieve the best and the smoothest flavor, make Gyokuro green tea with water below boiling level (65 to 70 degrees celsius) and short infusion time of around 15 to 25 seconds.
Bi Luo Chun Green Tea
This type of green tea is also known as Pi Lo Chun or even the Snail Spring. It is one of the most popular green teas in China.
When you brew the tea at a low temperature, a high-quality Bi Lou Chun green tea has a smooth, sweet, and vegetal flavor that most people love.
FAQ’s about Green Tea
How much green tea should you drink daily?
It is optimal to drink three to five cups of green tea everyday but you need to understand how your body reacts. If the body reacts in a negative way then you should stop consuming.
Green tea helps in lowering the risk of numerous diseases like:
- Stomach cancer
- Oral cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Diabetes
- Pancreatic cancer
- Heart disease
Does green tea reduce belly fat?
Studies have shown that green tea helps in burning fat, particularly belly fat. It contains catechins that help to increase metabolism and burn more fat.
It even has a significant effect on the visceral fat that is linked to various diseases like diabetes, liver disease and heart disease.
Is green tea healthier than coffee?
Green tea and coffee have their own set of benefits and these are the two most popular drinks in the world. Tea and coffee lovers will argue on making their favorite drink the best but the argument still goes on.
No doubt coffee has its own benefits but green tea wins the game by offering loads of antioxidants to the table.
Conclusion
Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks and there is no doubt in this fact. It is loaded with antioxidants, helps you reduce stress, and also weight loss.
There are many types of green teas available in the market and thus we have listed the best ones in the article. You might be looking for it in the market but finding it tough to choose the right one because of the numerous options available.
This is why we have listed a detailed buying guide that will help you understand your needs. To make your search simpler, we have also listed down the top 10 green teas available in the market to help you make an informed decision.