The health benefits of green tea have all been uncovered over the years. These benefits can range from clearing up problematic skin to preventing cancer. Green tea is also found to have properties to boost circulation, slow the aging process and enhance weight loss. However, have you stopped and wondered if all types of green tea are created equal? A quick trip to a local supermarket will reveal that green tea not only comes in bags, there are also brands that come in cans or boxes of loose green tea. 

Now, more studies are being conducted to investigate whether these differences only stop at the packaging. Evidence indicates that bagged green tea is made from inferior-quality leaves that are basically leftover from processing loose green tea.  In the tea industry, these leaves are known as fannings. Not only that, blind taste tests have proven that there is a marked difference in the taste of bagged green tea compared to their loose leaf counterparts. Loose leaf green tea just tastes more superior and authentic in the same way that a freshly brewed cup of gourmet coffee tastes superior to instant coffee. This should not come as a surprise considering that the bagged tea is just from leftovers.

Also, findings have shown that smaller, broken down tea leaves in bags contain less flavor and essential oils compared to the bigger leaves packaged in cans or boxes of loose leaf green tea.  They also contain less amounts of beneficial antioxidants. Because loose green tea is exposed to less processing, many antioxidant benefits are still locked in every leaf of the product.

Then why are bagged green teas more readily available to consumers? In a nutshell – bagged tea is instant and therefore easier to prepare. Because loose leaf green tea is made from bigger and sometimes whole leaves, it takes more time to brew this product. Another factor that can be attributed to the popularity of bagged green tea is that it is relatively less expensive than loose green tea.

Choosing the type of green tea will depend on your needs, budget and priorities. If you are a busy individual who would like an instant cup then choose the bagged version. If you have a tight budget but would still like to take advantage of some of the benefits of green tea, then bagged brands should be enough. But if you are a stickler for authentic taste and very particular about quality then there are no question that nothing else can substitute for loose green tea.