Green tea is one of the most popular types of tea. It has a complex flavor profile that many people find unique.
If you’re new to green tea, try a few different varieties until you find your favorite. You can always sweeten it with honey, which dissolves well in hot water.
Sweet
Green teas offer a wide variety of flavors depending on the leaf type, processing method and harvest time. The flavor can be grassy, toasty, vegetal, sweet or nutty. These flavors can be enhanced with additional ingredients like flowers, fruit or herbs.
We recommend choosing organic green teas whenever possible, as pesticides can be absorbed through the leaves and into the water. Look for USDA Organic and Fair Trade certified products to guarantee the highest quality. Choice Organics’ premium Natural Jasmine Green Tea is a great example of a delicious, high-quality green tea with just the right amount of caffeine. This tea is smooth and mellow with a delicate jasmine flavor that goes well with any food and also drinks just as well with lemon and honey or agave.
Try pairing your green tea with holy basil (tulsi) or ginseng for a healthy boost of both flavor and health. These herbs have been linked to strengthening immunity, boosting energy, lowering stress and regulating blood pressure. You can even try a savory Green Tea such as Genmaicha, which is a blend of green tea with popped brown rice. This creates a nutty, mildly coffee-like flavor and can help balance out any bitterness that can occur from steeping your tea too long.
Bitter
Bitter flavors are often associated with green tea. This is due to catechins, the antioxidants that give green tea its healthy properties but also can have a bitter taste. Bitter flavors can also come from brewing too long or with poor water quality. The best way to avoid bitterness is to use good quality tea leaves and brew at the right temperature for your specific green tea.
Teas such as genmaicha, bancha, hojicha and kukicha are less sensitive to high temperatures so can be brewed at around 140 degrees without getting overtaken by bitterness. It's important to respect the brewing time for your tea too as over brewing extracts too many catechins and can leave a bitter tasting cup.
To help balance the bitter undertones in a cup of green tea, adding some type of sugar can be helpful. Honey is a good choice as it tastes sweet and dissolves easily in hot water. Granulated sugar doesn't work well in green tea, so we recommend staying away from that if you're trying to avoid bitterness.
Floral
Whether you prefer the scent of flowers, or simply enjoy a soothing herbal blend, floral green teas are an excellent choice. Tea blends that combine flower petals and herbs like jasmine, rose, lavender, or chamomile are known for their stress-relieving properties, and many offer wellness benefits as well.
This tea combines the fresh grassy taste of shade-grown green tea with natural orange oil and marigold petals for a smooth and mellow flavor. It's great for those who love the grassy taste of green tea but find it too strong or tannic, and it pairs well with sweeteners like honey.
This blend is ideal for those looking for a refreshing and healthy alternative to sugary drinks, with the added benefit of mood-boosting and sleep-promoting chamomile. It also has a milder flavor profile than other floral teas, making it more versatile for drinking throughout the day.
Citrus
Green tea is often blended with natural citrus flavors to create a light and refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. This tea has a variety of health benefits including helping to boost metabolism and reduce the risk of certain diseases.
The bright zesty flavor of orange and lemon makes this a great choice for anyone who enjoys a little bit of fruit in their drink. This tea also has a hint of sweetness that helps to balance out the bitterness of the green tea leaves.
This herbal tea blend is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for a pick-me-up without all the added calories of sugary tea drinks. This tea has the perfect amount of caffeine to keep you going through your day, but also provides a nice blend of minty and sweet flavors that will satisfy your cravings.
When making any type of tea, it is important to use high quality water. This will help to improve the flavor of your tea and protect your teeth from damage. Also, try to avoid using tea bags, as they tend to have less flavor and can be more bitter than loose leaf tea.
Herbal
Green tea is a great choice for people who want a natural energy boost but don’t have much tolerance for caffeine. It is also known to promote weight loss and improve mental alertness.
There are many different kinds of herbal green teas. Some, like Tulsi green tea, are a harmonious blend of earthy green tea with holy basil (Tulsi) which is revered for its medicinal properties. Others, such as Genmaicha, are made by mixing green tea leaves with roasted brown rice kernels to add a delightfully savory flavor.
Some herbal green teas contain high amounts of antioxidants, especially L-theanine, which helps to reduce stress levels. Another option is lemongrass and spearmint infused green tea, which adds a delicious zing to your cup of joe. Finally, a kombucha green tea is an excellent source of probiotics which can help with digestive problems. It also contains a good amount of caffeine and is rich in Vitamin C. You can find this type of tea in most health food stores.