A Tea Obsessive Reveals Her Favorite Green Teas (2024)

Do you enjoy fresh rain on grass? Then try this light, lively, almost juicy sencha that steeps into an all-around enjoyable cup. The larger tea leaves in the pyramid-shaped sachets are definitely an upgrade on the dusty dregs often found in lower-quality tea bags.

Rishi Tea sources its sencha from Kagoshima prefecture of Kyushu, where farmers follow strict growing procedures. The leaves for this type of green tea are steamed (whereas most others are roasted), resulting in a bright and mouthwatering brew. Think of steamed asparagus vs. roasted asparagus.

The sachets themselves are organic biodegradable and plant-based. Compare that to non-biodegradable tea bags and sachets, which may be made with bleached paper, plastics and nylon — leaching microplastics and chemicals when dunked into hot water. The packaging and organic sourcing contribute to a higher price point but we think you'll agree it's worth it.

Serving size: 1 sachet | Servings per container: 15 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: Yes | Price per serving: ~$0.67

If cost is a concern, Bigelow nets out to just 20 cents per tea bag and is widely available in most grocery stores across the U.S. The steeped tea is smooth, without the bracing bitterness that some dislike in green teas. However, the flavor is much milder compared to other brands.

Each tea bag comes wrapped in a foil pouch, which helps keep out moisture. The tea bags themselves are not organic or biodegradable, however Bigelow is Certified B Corp, which means that the company meets high standards of verified social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

The package does not specify the temperature of the water for steeping (ideally 160° to 175°F for green tea). This is important to note because brewing green tea in boiling water (212°F) will burn the tea leaves and extract bitter flavors.

Serving size: 1 tea bag | Servings per container: 20 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving: ~$0.20

The gunpowder in the name refers to the pearl shape the tea leaves are rolled into but this brew also delivers a lot of bang for your buck. Just one bag produces a brisk, assertive and robust cup of tea for about 44 cents.

While tea bags from other brands may be bleached and contain plastic, the ones from Numi are biodegradable, unbleached and made from non-GMO Manila hemp fiber. The green tea inside the bags is Fair Trade Certified™ organic and sourced from a single origin (Jiangxi, China).

While a steep time of two to three minutes is suggested on the package, no specific temperature for the water is provided (we recommend 160° to 175°F).

Serving size: 1 tea bag | Servings per container: 18 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: Yes | Price per serving: ~$0.44

For the Rolls-Royce of green teas, look to gyokuro, one of the rarest and most prestigious types of tea in the world. Sourced from Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, Ocha & Co. gyokuro is rich and nutty with a sweet, concentrated umami. The company ships small batches of tea weekly from Japan so each vacuum-sealed bag is super fresh.

The shading process for gyokuro results in tea leaves that are less bitter and higher in caffeine (120 to 140 milligrams per cup vs. 95 milligrams for coffee) but with a lower yield. The labor involved in production also commands a higher price tag.

The cost for this tea is $1.75 for one serving, which is higher than most loose-leaf green teas but on the modest end for gyokuro, which can fetch up to $75 for one cup! Keep in mind, however, that you can re-steep the leaves three to five times after the initial steep.

Serving size: 5 g (0.18 oz) | Servings per container: 20 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No, but certified organic by Ecocert Japan | Price per serving: $1.75

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Lush and emerald in color, Kyoto-based Ippodo Ummon matcha looks like gorgeous green velvet in the glass. If the appearance doesn't seduce you, the fragrant aromas and rich flavor will. The Ummon also has a deep umami minus the astringency and chalkiness of many other brands, which makes it more approachable for those new to matcha.

The powder is finely milled and whisks easily without clumping, even when prepared with cold water for iced matcha. Each tin is fresh and vibrant, thanks to the small batch production — though that can lead to shortages in supply and week(s)-long wait times to order.

All these perks, however, come with a hefty price tag for Ippodo Ummon, which clocks in at $3 per serving. If that's too much for a self-splurge, consider adding this tea to your birthday and holiday wish lists for the ultimate in tea luxury.

How do the health benefits for matcha compare to those for green tea? "Matcha is nutrient-dense, providing higher concentrations of antioxidants and other nutrients since you consume the whole tea leaf in powdered form," explains Agyeman.

"Matcha also contains more caffeine and L-theanine, which can support focus and provide a steady energy boost," adds Agyeman. "However, because it is more potent, it’s best to drink matcha in moderation to manage caffeine intake."

Serving size: 2 g (1 tsp) | Servings per container: 10 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving: ~$3

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For a more affordable matcha that still tastes great, look to Jade Leaf, whose organic ceremonial teahouse edition was a 2023 Good Housekeeping Tea Awards winner. At $1.66 per serving, this matcha makes a smooth, pleasantly grassy cup (hot or iced) yet is not so prohibitively priced to preclude it from culinary use, like in smoothies, cookies and other baked goods.

The matcha is sourced directly from tea farmers in the Uji and Kagoshima regions of Japan, which helps keep the retail price modest.

Compared to our splurge pick for matcha, the powder was not as finely milled and, therefore, clumped a bit more when whisked with water. That's not a dealbreaker — it just means the matcha requires a little more time and elbow grease to prepare.

Serving size: 2 g (1 tsp) | Servings per container: 15 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: Yes | Price per serving: ~$1.66

Savory and nutty with aromas of salty sea air, this sejak variety of green tea has a real sense of place. It's sourced from Jeju Island in South Korea, where the volcanic soil and surrounding seas contribute a delicious complexity to the organic tea leaves, which are eventually steamed and roasted.

DavidsTea sejak is only available as loose leaves, which stand up to re-steeping several more times after the initial steep without losing much flavor.

When it comes to caffeine per cup, this tea contains 40+ milligrams, which is more than the 25 to 35 milligrams found in most other green teas.

Serving size: 2.5 tsp | Servings per container: 15 to 20 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No, but certified organic by Ecocert Canada | Price per serving: $0.70 to $0.93

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As with coffee, when you remove caffeine from tea, you're also removing some of the flavor and body. That said, Harney & Sons decaf sencha manages to retain more flavor than most other caffeine-free green teas.

Compared to conventional sencha, which is bright and lively, this decaf version is lighter-bodied with a more roasted, grassy flavor.

Harney & Sons uses carbon dioxide to extract the caffeine from this green tea. This method has been found to retain most of the antioxidants in green tea (more than 90%) vs. the ethyl acetate process, which retains less than 20% of the antioxidants.

It's a terrific choice for an after-dinner tea or for those looking to reap most of the health benefits from green tea without the caffeine buzz.

This decaf green tea is only available in loose-leaf form, which makes it more expensive than most brands available in tea bags and may be inconvenient for some.

Serving size: 0.1 to 0.13 oz | Servings per container: 15 to 20 | Ingredients: Decaffeinated green tea | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving: ~$0.62 to $0.83

When you're too busy to even put on a kettle for tea, this grab-and-go option from Ito En is a savior. Bold and refreshingly dry, Oi Ocha tastes as close to homemade iced green tea as you can get from a bottle.

The crisp, clean flavor is due to just three simple ingredients: purified water, green tea and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Compare that to other packaged iced green teas, which may contain high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, sodium polyphosphates and calcium disodium EDTA.

Because it's a prepared product, it will cost more than something you make it home. Another downside is that it's only available in a plastic bottle.

Serving size: 8 oz | Servings per container: 2 | Ingredients: Purified water, green tea and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving: ~$1.00

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