Sip the Pounds Away: Your Guide to the Best Green Tea Brands for Weight Loss

April 19, 2023

Green tea has been linked to weight loss for a long time. Many people only drink this beverage because of these claims.

However, there is more to green tea and weight loss than meets the eye. Due to this, not all green tea brands are can get you the results you want.

Thus, if you want the truth about the best green tea brands for weight loss, just go through this post.

At the end of it, you will have a much clearer idea of what you should be buying.

The Role of Green Tea in Weight Loss

Do you know why green tea is supposed to help you lose weight?

Most people have no idea why this beverage has any impact on your body weight.

Since your goal is to pick the best green tea though, you first need to be aware of the exact role of green tea in weight loss.

Once you understand this, you will find it easier to pick out the top option.

The Caffeine Content in Green Tea

You are probably aware that green tea contains caffeine. On average, an 8-ounce serving contains around 25mg of caffeine.

Of course, the exact amount depends on the type of green tea you drink.

So, what does the caffeine content of green tea have to do with weight loss? Well, research has shown that caffeine plays a role in fat loss.

In particular, the caffeine in green tea helps to boost fat loss experienced during exercise. In short, it makes your workouts a great deal more effective.

Now, caffeine isn’t the only element of green tea that helps with weight loss. The presence of catechins is rather significant as well.

green tea in white ceramic mug

Catechins and Weight Loss

One of the main components of green tea is catechins. These are phenolic compounds that perform antioxidant activities.

The most notable catechin in green tea is Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, more commonly referred to as EGCG.

It is this component that plays a considerable role in aiding weight loss.

Let’s take a look at all the different ways the catechins in green tea help you shed pounds.

Interferes with Breakdown of Norepinephrine

A key element of weight loss is fat burning. For your body to burn fat, however, it must first break down the fat within the cell and then move these substances into the bloodstream.

Norepinephrine is one of the major hormones involved in fat burning.

However, when norepinephrine is broken down by enzymes, there is less of the hormone in the bloodstream. As a result, the fat-burning capabilities of the body are reduced quite a bit.

Fortunately, EGCG can inhibit the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine. In doing so, the antioxidant increases the amount of the hormone in the system.

Boosts Fat Burning During Workouts

The caffeine isn’t the only ingredient in green tea that makes your workouts more effective – catechins can help as well.

This is because the catechins help boost fat loss both when you are exercising and resting.

Thus, drinking green tea sometime before your workout could help you to lose more weight in the short run.

Helps to Get Rid of Harmful Visceral Fat

There are two types of body fat – subcutaneous and visceral fat.

Of the two, visceral fat is the most dangerous. This type of fat wraps around abdominal organs.

The main problem with visceral fat is that it can raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and Alzheimer's.

The good news, though, is that the catechins in green tea can help to get rid of visceral fat. So, you won’t just be losing weight, you will also be improving your health in general. 

The Synergistic Impact of Caffeine and Catechins

Yet another benefit of drinking green tea is that the caffeine and the catechins in the beverage have been found to have a synergistic effect.

This means that they work together to create a more potent fat burning effect! 

What You Should Know About Drinking Green Tea for Weight Loss

Now that you know how drinking green tea helps weight loss, you should understand how much you can consume.

Although green tea is a healthy beverage, it is important not to drink too much of it. The caffeine content in the tea can cause side effects.

Most experts would advise you to drink fewer than five cups of tea a day.

You should be especially mindful of your green tea consumption if you have been diagnosed with anemia, a bleeding disorder, liver disease, glaucoma, or IBS.

Always ask a medical professional if it is safe for you to drink green tea. Also, get their advice on how many cups you should drink a day.

How to Choose the Best Green Tea for Diets

As mentioned, there are specific components in green tea – catechins – that aid weight loss.

However, catechin levels aren’t the same for all types of green tea. A variety of factors determine how much of the antioxidant will be found in the tea leaves.

Thus, if you want to select green teas with the most catechins, look out for the following features:

Green Tea for Weight Loss

Sourced from Camellia Sinensis var. Sinensis

As you may know, there are two species of tea – Camellia Sinensis var. Sinensis and Camellia Cinesis var. Assamica.

Well, researchers have discovered that the Sinensis variety contains a greater number of antioxidants.  This is good news since this is the most common type sold.

Nevertheless, keep your eyes open for teas cultivated in Japan and regions of China outside of Yunnan.

Related Article:
Taking A Closer Look At Yunnan Tea

Look for Green Teas Grown in Shade

There is also evidence to prove that green teas grown in shade have more catechins.

It is presumed that this is because these plants don’t have as much access to sunlight. They need to find other sources for energy. Due to this, they rely on the nitrogen that is found in fertilizer.

One of the more common types of shade-grown tea is Gyokuro. Matcha is also grown in the shade and can be used to help with weight loss.

Teas Grown in Zhejiang Province

It is a good idea to pay more attention to where your tea is grown. Teas grown in Chinese Zheijang are found to have more catechins.

This is possible because the terrain in this area is ideal for Camellia Sinensis. As such, it can grow to be much higher in quality.

Steamed Teas

You may already know that the most common way to process tea is via pan-frying. Nevertheless, it has been determined that steamed teas have more catechins.

Therefore, if you can get used to the taste, this is something you should consider.

While there are some steamed Chinese teas, you are more likely to find Japanese versions as this practice is more common in the latter region.

Second Harvest Teas

Last but not least, second harvest teas tend to have higher amounts of antioxidants.

Nevertheless, it can be difficult to find brands that will advertise their teas as being from the second harvest.

This is because first harvest teas are more sought-after due to their pleasant and light taste. 

The good news though, is that second harvest teas are often a great deal more affordable.

The Top Green Tea Brands for Weight Loss

These are the best slimming tea brands you can choose for yourself:

Ocha & Co. Japanese Green Tea
1,600 Reviews
Ocha & Co. Japanese Green Tea
This is a high-quality, premium tea that contains several features ideal for a slimming green tea.

What We Like:

  • Deep-Steamed: this tea has been steamed for longer, allowing a greater number of antioxidants to be extracted from the leaves.
  • Youthful Leaves: the youthful leaves contain a higher number of catechins, boosting the weight loss properties of the tea.
  • Long-Lasting Freshness: the tea has been packaged to maintain its freshness, ensuring that it will last longer.

What We Don’t Like:

  • Mild Flavor: if you prefer a stronger cup of tea, you may not enjoy the mild floral flavor of this brand.
The Tao of Tea Pearl Green Tea
2,296 Reviews
The Tao of Tea Pearl Green Tea
If you enjoy a classic, strong green tea, then this is an excellent option to add to your weight loss diet.

What We Like:

  • Well-Sourced: these tea leaves are sourced from the Zhejiang province, automatically ensuring that you are consuming more antioxidants with each cup.
  • Can Be Re-infused: as these leaves can be re-infused, you will be able to draw more of the catechins, boosting the weight loss properties of the tea.
  • Great Flavor: this has a delicious smoky flavor so you get to enjoy a wonderful calorie-free drink instead of calorie-laden snacks.

What We Don’t Like:

  • Stems in Blend: there are stems in the tea which need to be strained out before you can enjoy the drink.
Tealyra Dragon Well Green Tea
360 Reviews
Tealyra Dragon Well Green Tea
If you have a more discerning palate when it comes to your green tea, you are sure to enjoy the flavor as well as the weight loss properties of this brand.

What We Like:

  • Cultivated in Zhejiang: this is another tea cultivated in Zhejiang, increasing the potency of the antioxidants in the drink.
  • Lovely Taste: this medium-body tea has a lovely aroma and taste, making it a delightful treat.
  • Fresh Quality: the freshness of this tea means that the catechins are well-preserved, making certain that there are more weight loss antioxidants in your beverage.

What We Don’t Like:

  • Not the Highest Quality: while this tea is well-sourced, it isn’t considered one of the more premium types of dragon well tea.
Valley of Tea Gyokuro Green Tea
948 Reviews
Valley of Tea Gyokuro Green Tea
This tea isn’t just great for weight loss, it is also a fantastic treat, especially if you are a fan of green tea.

What We Like:

  • Shade Grown: as this green tea is grown in the shade, it contains a greater number of antioxidants that can boost any weight loss program.
  • Delicious: there is a lot going on with this tea – it is sweet and refreshing but has a distinct umami aftertaste.
  • Incredibly Fresh: this green tea is well-preserved. As such, you can be certain that all the weight loss components have been similarly preserved as well.

What We Don’t Like:

  • Expensive: this tea is quite the investment and may not be right for people with lower budgets or who want to drink green tea regularly.
The Republic of Tea Supergreen Tea
8,138 Reviews
The Republic of Tea Supergreen Tea
This brand works to amplify the weight loss properties of green tea so that you can experience added benefits.

What We Like:

  • Numerous Types of Green Tea: this includes regular green tea and matcha which is a shade-grown tea that can boost fat burning.
  • Additional Fat Burning Ingredients: this tea also includes cinnamon and Garcinia Cambogia that has been proven to help with weight loss.
  • Easy to Brew: as these are tea bags, they are far easier to brew, ensuring that you can drink your green tea anywhere.

What We Don’t Like:

  • Unsuitable for Pure Green Tea Drinkers: due to all the flavors in this tea, you may not enjoy it if you prefer the taste of pure green tea.

This concludes our review of the best green tea brand for weight loss. Not all types of green tea will be equally suitable for fat loss. Thus, if you want the best results, you need to know precisely which types and brands to buy.

About the Author
Dr. Dheena Sadik
Dr. Dheena Sadik is a consultant Nutritionist and Dietician. She has over a decade of experience in the health and fitness industry.
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