Tea is one of the most popular drinks on earth. It’s made from dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. You can enjoy it hot or cold, with or without milk and sugar. There are many varieties of tea available, including black, green, and white teas. Among the healthiest is green tea, a less processed form of tea relative to black tea.
Green tea is a refreshing and tasty drink with more health benefits than almost any drink you can put in your cup or glass. The health benefits of green tea arise from its high content of polyphenols, compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Some studies suggest green tea could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and help with weight control.
Costs Can Add Up Quickly
The drawback is you must drink substantial quantities of green tea to get the health benefits. Most studies suggest drinking between two and five cups of green tea daily to maximize the health benefits of this popular beverage. If you’re drinking this tea from bottles you get at the grocery store, the costs add up quickly.
In addition, bottled green tea only has a fraction of the polyphenols in freshly brewed tea. If you buy bottled green tea, you could spend quite a bit of money without getting the full health benefits this amazing drink has to offer.
Are you looking for less expensive ways to get your daily dose of green tea? Discover five ways to enjoy the health benefits without spending a fortune.
1. Avoid Bottled Tea
As noted, the processing bottled green tea undergoes removes a substantial quantity of the healthful polyphenols in the beverage. Research by Consumer Lab, an independent testing firm, found that the quantity of catechin antioxidants in green tea varied dramatically between bottles of green tea they tested. Some bottled tea had almost none.
Another study found that the polyphenols in bottled green tea degrade over time. Plus, bottled tea more expensive since you’re paying for the extra processing it must undergo as well as the bottle it comes in.
To get the quantity of green tea you need for health benefits, you’ll pay a pretty penny. Don’t be fooled by the fancy bottles and advertising, bottled green tea is not the best way to experience the benefits.
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2. Brew Your Own
Not only does brewing your own loose-leaf tea leaves offer the most benefits, it also maximizes the taste. The green tea in tea bags consists of mostly shavings and dust while loose leaf tea includes the whole tea leaf.
The quantity of polyphenols in whole tea leaves is higher than in tea shavings. Plus, the tea bag itself can absorb some of the beneficial polyphenols, so they don’t end up in your cup.
By brewing your own tea, you’ll experience a delicious cup of tea and reap the full health benefits of green tea.
3. Buy It at an Asian Market
Asian food markets are an excellent source of green tea, and they usually have a large variety to choose from. You can buy it in loose leaf form as well as in tea bags. Opt for the loose leaves to maximize the taste and health benefits this beverage offers. If available, buy organic tea leaves since many non-organic tea leaves retain traces of pesticides.
4. Brew the Leaves More Than Once
If you choose a quality green tea, you can steep the leaves up to three times and still get a quality cup of tea. Black and green tea usually holds up better to multiple steeps than lighter teas, like white tea.
Don’t be too quick to throw those leaves away after using them one time. There’s still plenty of taste and healthy polyphenols left after the first steep. It’ll save you money too!
5. Grow Your Own Tea Plant
Another way to save on green tea is to grow and harvest your own tea leaves. This will ensure you get the freshest cup of tea to enjoy too. You can find instructions for growing your own tea plant online.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to break the bank to get the remarkable health benefits of green tea. If you steep green tea leaves several times, your cost should be under 20 cents per cup. Enjoy sipping this tasty and healthy beverage!
References
- Chen Z, Zhu QY, Tsang D, Huang Y. Degradation of green tea polyphenols in tea drinks. J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jan;49(1):477-82. doi: 10.1021/jf000877h. PMID: 11170614.
- "Showing Results for Green Tea - ConsumerLab.com." https://www.consumerlab.com/green-tea/.
- "10 Evidence-Based Benefits of Green Tea - Healthline." 06 Apr. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-green-tea.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
