15 Best Green Tea Brands Ranked

The first green tea drinkers in recorded history likely came from ancient China, which is primarily considered to be its birthplace (via Britannica). Countries worldwide now produce and distribute different types of green tea, each with unique flavor characteristics. Traditionally, the beverage is grassy and slightly bitter, with a vegetal, earthy scent. Yet, the various processing methods and blends producers employ result in countless taste profiles. 

Green tea isn't just a delicious drink. According to dietitian Cynthia Sass (via Health.com), it is rich in antioxidants and may help stave off many health conditions. Sass cites studies indicating that green tea may effectively lower cholesterol and high blood pressure and protect against Alzheimer's and heart disease. 

Green tea's rising popularity means consumers have a range of brands to choose from, but some companies stand out from the crowd. These brands focus on responsible sourcing and positive environmental impacts. They also curate selections of some of the highest quality green teas available and create unique tea blends enjoyable enough to drink every day.

For true green tea connoisseurs, Mansa offers handcrafted teas that set it apart from other producers. Ashley Lim, a certified tea sommelier, founded Mansa to bring pu-erh teas to a broader audience. Max Falkowitz at Serious Eats describes pu-erh tea as a specially processed tea that ferments as it ages, giving it a unique, complex flavor. According to Falkowitz, young pu-erh teas have the same bright, verdant characteristics as green tea. However, they can be bitter or slightly sweet depending on the specific kind of tea used. In addition, pu-erh tea leaves can be brewed multiple times, with slight changes in flavor with each brew.

One of the most intriguing options Mansa offers is smoky pu-erh, a young tea available in three different vintages. L'appart, a Michelin-starred French restaurant in New York City, once featured this smoky, slightly bitter tea as a pairing with its tasting menu. It's available in standard loose-leaf packages or as a tea cake, a traditional format for pu-erh teas. This distinct brew isn't necessarily the best choice for someone new to the world of green tea, but it's a delicious option for those who want to expand their tea-drinking horizons.

Celestial Seasonings offers a wide variety of products that are a standard fixture in most grocery store tea sections. The company began in 1969 with a single tea blended from Colorado Rocky Mountains herbs. It is a pioneer in mainstreaming green tea for U.S. consumers, offering its first line of green teas in 1995. Today, the brand sells nearly a dozen green teas in hot and cold brewed options. Its original green tea is one of the lightest on the market because it is blended with mild white tea. This makes it perfect to serve iced or for anyone who dislikes the bitterness of more robust green teas.

The tea distributor also offers decaffeinated traditional and mint green teas. As for blends, its honey lemon ginseng is a great way to enjoy the reported health benefits of green tea with a mild, fruity flavor. Honey lemon ginseng includes green and white teas with lemon verbena, ginger, and ginseng. White tea is among the most mildly flavored teas and pairs nicely with the blend's delicate herbs. Although ginseng can sometimes have an earthy, bitter taste, this blend includes a natural honey flavor that provides a much-needed balance.

When it comes to tea, it's hard to argue with tradition. Twinings Of London is a tried-and-true brand for many tea lovers and lines the shelves of major grocery stores. The company began as a family business in 18th-century England and has grown steadily ever since. Stephen Twinings represents the tenth generation of this tea distribution family and serves as the Director of Corporate Relations for the international marketing department. The tea producer features an impressive array of products, including both hot and cold brew green teas.

Twinings of London is very accessible for those just beginning to enjoy tea. Its basic green tea has a pleasant, grassy flavor and is available in bags and K-cups. The brand also offers several green tea blends, including lemon or mint. Both options make a refreshing, fragrant cup of hot tea. For iced tea lovers, green and mint cold-brewed tea bags promise a fresh glass of iced tea in just five minutes. This blend infuses green tea with peppermint oil, giving it a crisp, cool scent. The Health Site reports that many people use peppermint oil to increase their energy, so this iced tea may be a helpful cure for an afternoon slump.

When accountant Annie Xiang decided to make a career change, she found an opportunity to give tea farmers a stronger voice in the production world. Elisa Xu interviewed the entrepreneur for Medill Reports Chicago and discovered that Xiang's tea company, Volition, focuses on building a connection between tea consumers and farmers. Volition specializes in single-origin loose-leaf teas sourced exclusively from China. Xiang is passionate about cultivating a sense of community, which is clear from the company's marketing content. Each tea variety features a note from the farmer who grew it and includes the story behind the tea and the family who produces it.

The brand's product line includes a limited selection of white, black, red, Wulong, and green teas. Both green tea options are worth trying, but High Mountain dragon well is especially delicious. This green tea has a bold, complex flavor with notes of chestnut and sugarcane. The leaves can be steeped four times, creating slightly different flavors with each batch. Volition is an excellent brand for tea drinkers who want to know the history behind their favorite beverage and prefer authentic, minimally processed tea. 

Hackberry Tea got its start as a small product line for Sagebrush Coffee but has since built enough of a following to become its own brand. The family-owned Arizona company specializes in small-batch loose-leaf teas, with unique artisanal blends that differentiate it from larger distributors. Some of its most noteworthy current green tea blends include creme brulee spice and cranberry pecan, both of which feature warm, festive notes that are perfect for the fall and winter seasons. For those who prefer a simpler blend, the jasmine love tea is a delicious combination of jasmine flowers and a clean, grassy green tea. 

All of the distributor's green tea options are excellent hot or cold, and the fruit blends are especially tasty paired with a sweetener. In addition to its selection of teas, Hackberry Tea also offers consumers resources about their favorite beverage. The tea education blog includes posts that cover a vast array of topics including how to make the perfect cup of iced tea and the origin stories behind several popular tea varieties. Tea connoisseurs can also learn about the health benefits of popular tea blend ingredients and get an inside look at some behind-the-scenes happenings at Hackberry Tea.

Small tea distributor Silver Tips Tea began in 1999 as a local tea house in Tarrytown, New York. The founder drew inspiration to start her business from visits to the Makaibari tea estate in Darjeeling, India. She learned the ins and outs of tea farming and processing and decided to offer these teas to connoisseurs in New York. To this day, Silver Tips Tea stocks multiple tea varieties from this estate, including oolong, black, and green. In addition to Makaibari varieties, the green tea line includes selections from other growers in China and Japan. 

Many tea companies offer fruity green tea blends, but Silver Tips Tea also sells combinations with unusual notes such as chocolate and almond. For example, its secret garden blend fuses sencha green tea with jasmine, peach, chocolate, and mint flavors. Delicate flower buds make this tea look as lovely as it tastes, giving it a sweet, floral scent when brewed. This tea is best enjoyed hot without sweeteners or milk. Silver Tips Tea also stocks gunpowder, sencha, dragon well, and several other varieties for tea drinkers who prefer unadulterated styles. 

Red Blossom Tea Company first opened its doors in 1985 as a family enterprise in San Francisco's Chinatown. According to Hoodline, current owner Alice Luong spent her childhood in her family's tea shop. However, the accountant-turned-entrepreneur believes there's always more to learn about the tea-growing process. Luong prides herself on sourcing high-quality teas directly from farmers. Unlike many distributors, Red Blossom Tea Company does not offer any flavored blends because it prizes the natural taste and aroma of its teas.

One of the highlights of the brand's product selection is its line of matcha. In particular, Lishan matcha provides a bold, intense taste that is less bitter than many other styles, owing its unique flavor to its place of origin. While most consumers are familiar with matcha from Japan, this one comes from tea leaves grown in Lishan, Taiwan. This tea makes an excellent matcha latte because it retains most of its flavor and aroma even when blended with milk. Red Blossom Tea Company offers sample sizes of its products, so tea drinkers can easily try different varieties to find their favorite.