The best green tea tastes herbaceous and flavorful without being bitter. To achieve this, brew the tea with water that’s a bit hotter than usual and avoid adding sugar or milk.

This green tea from Choice Organics is smooth and sweet, with notes of melon and apricot. It’s also fair trade and organic!

Genmaicha

Genmaicha, also known as brown rice tea or popcorn tea due to the tiny popped rice kernels that appear in the brew, is a blend of green tea and roasted brown rice. It is often drunk as an alternative to standard green tea because it has a low caffeine content. It is a hearty and savory infusion, with a nutty flavor and slight sweetness thanks to the brown rice. This tea is a popular Japanese beverage that is enjoyed by many people worldwide.

Genmaicha contains the health benefits of both green tea and brown rice, and has less caffeine than other types of tea. It is full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It also helps boost metabolism and has a natural calming effect. It can even help lower blood pressure and improve digestion.

The story of genmaicha is that it was first created in Japan as an affordable tea option for people with modest incomes. Adding brown rice to the green tea helped make it more filling, and allowed the tea to last longer. It has also been referred to as “people’s tea” or “poor man’s tea” because it was originally consumed by the working class.

Drinking genmaicha can help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes that can cause irritability, fatigue, unhealthy food cravings, and binge eating. It can also help with weight loss, and may even aid in lowering cholesterol levels. It is rich in selenium which can improve circulation and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Jasmine

Twinings blend the finest green tea with a delicate scent of jasmine flowers to create a fragrant brew that soothes the senses and delights the taste buds. The result is a light green tea that has an exquisitely delicate flowery taste and aroma that makes it one of the world’s most popular flavours of green tea.

Like all green teas, this jasmine variety is full of antioxidants, polyphenols and ECGC that help fight free radical damage to cells, which can lead to heart disease, type-2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Plus, it’s naturally low in calories and can increase your metabolism and aid weight loss.

To brew this tea, use about a teaspoon per cup and steep in boiling water that is slightly cooler than boiling (around 160 to 180 degrees). Using loose leaf over tea bags is ideal as the leaves can expand and fully infuse.

As with all green teas, be careful not to oversteep, as the leaves will become bitter quickly. Drink this tea on its own, without milk or sugar, to enjoy the delightful floral flavours of the tea and the soothing effect it can have on both mind and body. Interestingly, studies have found that white tea and Jasmine green tea can balance blood sugar levels and may prevent the neurological effects of diabetic neuropathy. This is attributed to the amino acid L-theanine, which increases the production of Gamma-aminobutyric acid, known as GABA, in the brain, decreasing stress and anxiety while promoting relaxation and sleep.

Matcha

Matcha is a green tea powder that's usually whisked into hot water. It's often used as a base for green tea lattes and also sprinkled over shaved ice (kakigori) or blended with milk for matcha-jio, a traditional Japanese drink. It is known to boost energy and promote concentration and clarity. Matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine, which in combination with caffeine improves alertness and increases mental acuity but without the negative side effects of coffee.

The antioxidants in matcha can help prevent oxidative stress, which can cause cell damage and is associated with aging, cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. This happens when oxygen-free radicals in your body overwhelm the body's natural antioxidant defence system. Studies show that drinking matcha regularly can help to reduce oxidative stress and keep your cells happy and healthy.

Adding matcha to your diet can also support the liver, which is responsible for getting rid of toxins and processing nutrients. It has been shown to lower cholesterol, which may be helpful in preventing high blood pressure. This is because the plant compounds in matcha called catechins can help reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol and raise HDL "good" cholesterol. This is why some people prefer to drink matcha as a way to naturally lower cholesterol levels.* (1).

Honey

Green teas have delicate flavors that pair well with mild honeys like acacia, clover, and fireweed. These pairings are ideal for promoting wellness and overall health, as both are natural sweeteners and offer a wide range of antioxidant benefits in small doses. For example, green tea and honey help reduce bad breath by killing bacteria. This combo also helps prevent cardiovascular disease and flu symptoms by fighting viruses and bacterial infections.

Aside from its anti-ageing properties, the umami flavor of green tea can enhance foods and even savory dishes, adding a hint of sweetness to them. This savory flavor can also be experienced when paired with honey in a green tea latte or matcha chai.

Green tea and honey is a healthy beverage that is popular among many people due to its numerous health benefits. The combination of these two ingredients has been proven to be effective in weight loss, improving skin health, boosting the immune system, and even treating certain diseases. However, if you are planning to add honey into your cup of green tea, choose a high-quality monofloral variety to ensure that you get the most out of its beneficial properties. Also, try to avoid putting too much sugar as this can overpower the natural taste of green tea and make it too bitter. Instead, opt for a natural sweetener like stevia leaves or honey to add sweetness to your cuppa without adding too many calories.