Green tea

What is green tea?

Green tea is made from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis, the same plant from which black tea and matcha also come. The plant part that is used is the leaf. The difference from black tea lies mainly in the processing: the leaves for green tea are heated quickly and barely fermented, which preserves the fresh, green colour and taste.

Green tea has a light, sometimes slightly grassy or bitter taste, depending on the variety and the way of brewing. You will come across it as loose tea, in pyramid tea bags and as a loose herb. In some blends green tea is combined with herbs such as mint, lemongrass or jasmine for a milder taste.

It is good to know that green tea naturally contains caffeine. As a result it is not a drink you have carelessly and at any moment of the day, certainly not just before going to sleep. Green tea can be a pleasant part of a mindful routine, but it is not a medicine and not a replacement for medical care. So always read the label and the warnings before you use it.

Traditional use

Green tea is traditionally used within daily tea rituals and refreshing tea moments, with a particularly long history in countries such as China and Japan. In many tea cultures a cup of green tea is a familiar part of the day, for example in the morning or as a calm moment in between.

These applications are traditional in nature and say nothing about a medicinal effect. It is important to keep that distinction sharp: a long tradition of use does not mean that a tea treats, prevents or cures a condition. People often choose green tea for its fresh taste and the calm ritual, as part of a mindful lifestyle.

Because green tea naturally contains caffeine, it is drunk by many people at a moment when they enjoy an awake, alert feeling within their routine, for example during the day. This is a description of how people fit the tea into their day and not a medical claim. If you want a calm evening routine, you often choose a caffeine-free herb instead.

What people look to this herb for

• I am looking for a refreshing daily tea
• I want a calm tea moment with a familiar ritual
• I am looking for a tea for the daytime with an awake feeling within my routine
• I love the fresh, green taste of tea
• I want a tea that fits within a mindful lifestyle

These are reasons why people search, not promises or diagnoses. Green tea is not a treatment for complaints and not intended to address anything in the body. With persistent, severe or worsening complaints, consult a doctor instead of relying on a tea, certainly if you take medicines or are sensitive to caffeine.

How is green tea used?

Green tea comes in various forms, each with its own application:

• Tea: loose green tea leaves poured over with hot, but not boiling water; water that is too hot quickly makes the taste bitter.
• Pyramid tea bags: pre-packaged tea for convenience, often with a measured amount of leaf.
• Loose herb: loose leaves to weigh out yourself or process in a blend.

Many people pay attention to the water temperature and the steeping time, because green tea becomes bitter with water that is too hot or steeping that is too long. Bear in mind that more cups also means more caffeine; so spread use across the day and avoid large amounts late in the evening.

Always follow the usage advice on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount. We deliberately do not mention dosages: these are on the packaging of the specific product and may differ per product. Do not drink green tea in large amounts close to a meal if you are watching your iron uptake, and do not use it long term in high amounts without expert advice.

Why lifestyle remains important

A tea such as green tea works best as part of a broader, healthy routine, not as a standalone solution. A cup of tea can mark a calm moment, but the foundation remains a balanced lifestyle.

• Varied, fibre-rich food
• Drinking enough water
• Enough sleep and rest
• Regular exercise
• Attention to stress balance

A food supplement is no substitute for a varied diet, a healthy lifestyle or medical advice. Precisely because green tea contains caffeine, it helps to look at your own rhythm: enough water alongside the tea, and not too much caffeine late in the day, so that your night's rest is not put under pressure.

When to be cautious

Green tea naturally contains caffeine and is not suitable for everyone. As a result caution is in order and green tea is not intended for unlimited use. If in doubt, always first consult a doctor or pharmacist.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: limit caffeine and do not use green tea without consulting a doctor or midwife.
• Sensitivity to caffeine: if you are sensitive to caffeine, be restrained; you may experience a restless or jittery feeling.
• Heart complaints or high blood pressure: caffeine is a point of attention here; first consult a doctor.
• Sleep problems: do not drink green tea late in the day, because the caffeine can disturb your night's rest.
• Medication use: caffeine can be a point of attention with certain medicines; consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• Iron uptake: large amounts of tea with a meal can reduce the uptake of iron from food; drink tea between meals instead.
• Children: because of the caffeine, not suitable for children without advice.

If you experience complaints such as palpitations, restlessness or poor sleep, reduce use and consult a doctor if in doubt. A tea is no substitute for medical advice.

What green tea does not do

It is important to keep realistic expectations. Green tea is not a medicine, not a miracle cure and not a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases. Around green tea, hefty promises about losing weight or detoxing sometimes circulate online; we deliberately do not adopt these, because they do not fit with honest and realistic information.

Green tea does not detoxify the body as a medical fact. The body has its own natural processes via the liver, kidneys and intestines, which do their work without a specific tea being needed for it. Herbs and tea can at most fit within a mindful routine, but do not replace these processes and do not solve complaints. So hold on to a healthy lifestyle and seek medical advice for persistent or recurring complaints.

Green tea in supplements

In tea and supplement form green tea appears as loose tea, in tea bags or as part of a broader blend, sometimes combined with herbs such as mint or lemongrass. In these it mainly contributes its fresh character and the natural caffeine. If it is combined with other herbs, each of those herbs has its own points of attention; so look at the whole ingredient list. The exact composition and amount are always on the label of the product concerned.

So always read the full ingredient list and the warnings before you choose a product, certainly because green tea contains caffeine and is not suitable for everyone. If in doubt, when taking medication, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, first consult a doctor or pharmacist. Via our Herb Guide and the page about quality and safety you can calmly read on, so that you make a mindful choice that suits your personal situation.