Green tea is one of the most popular types of tea in the Philippines. It is usually enjoyed hot, iced, or in milk teas. It also has a distinct earthy and grassy taste that is refreshing and can be enjoyed any time of the day. But did you know that there are various kinds of green tea? Aside from that, it comes in different packaging, including loose-leaf, tea bags, and bottles.
But don’t be overwhelmed by the number of products you find online, as our buying guide, fact-checked and reviewed by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, will help you choose the best one to purchase. Not only that, but we have also provided a list of the 8 best green teas that come in different flavors and infusions.
Quick List - Top Green Teas
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Before delving into the other details and things to consider when buying green tea, it is important to know the different kinds first. In this section, we will differentiate the most common green teas variants in terms of their taste.
Sencha tea is the most common kind of green tea, especially in Japan. Its taste can be described as grassy and fresh with a mild sweetness and acidity. Compared to other green teas, sencha is light on the palate, making it a good choice if you want a refreshing drink.
Genmaicha is the Japanese term for brown rice tea. It is a combination of dried green tea leaves and roasted or popped brown rice. This gives the tea a toasted smoky flavor and a distinct aroma. Plus, it is more full-bodied and has a stronger flavor than other green teas.
Hojicha, a Japanese tea, translates to roasted tea. This is made by steaming and drying the tea leaves before slow roasting them at a high temperature, which reduces the bitterness and the caffeine content. The taste of hojicha is similar to genmaicha due to the roasting process but has the sweetness and hints of caramel in oolong.
Chunmee tea originates from the Jiangxi province in China. It translates to “precious eyebrows” in English because it resembles this body part. The taste is less sweet compared to other variants but has a nice, acidic kick to it. Because of its strong astringent quality, it is great to pair with sugar, honey, or milk.
Maojian, or Maofeng tea, comes from Henan, China, and is considered one of the finest green teas. The leaves are pan-fried, which gives them a fruity and grassy taste. As you sip this tea, you will first encounter a sweet flavor before the savory umami taste hits, making it a complex yet balanced beverage.
Green tea is versatile such that there are a lot of brands that sell different infusions. For that fruity sweetness, go for teas with lemon and berries. There are also jasmine and lavender infusions that add a floral hint to the grassy green tea.
If you want green tea that has simple flavors, a plain one is recommended so that you can appreciate the pure taste of tea. For a more refreshing drink, get green tea with mint. You can also consider buying a set that has different flavors for more variety.
Another thing that you should take note of is the packaging of green tea. In this section, we will be discussing the three types of packaging, namely loose-leaf, tea bags, and bottled teas, including their advantages and disadvantages.
Loose-leaf teas are for tea connoisseurs who already know their way around this beverage and would like to prepare them on their own. They come in resealable bags or jars that contain whole or slightly broken down tea leaves. The amount can vary from as little as 100 grams to as many as 1 kilogram.
Buying loose-leaf tea gives you the option to add infusions to your drink, which is a huge advantage if you like customizing it. However, you should have tea brewing equipment at home should you opt for this variant. If not, find a shop that sells both the tea that you like and tea sets with reusable tea bags.
Tea bags are easy to prepare as you can just leave them seeping according to the time and temperature indicated on the packaging. This type often contains dustings or fannings of tea. If you want to try loose-leaf tea but have not mastered the art of brewing yet, you may go for tea bags that contain loose tea leaves inside.
The number of tea bags inside a box or set varies, so you should get one based on your consumption. For unfamiliar flavors or brands, buy a box that has around 10 tea bags. On the other hand, you can purchase sets that have at least 25 or 50 bags for your favorite variants or if you drink tea regularly.
Aside from loose-leaf and tea bags, you can also have tea in bottles. They are usually enjoyed ice cold and are best paired with meals and snacks. The best thing about them is that they are readily available in convenience stores and groceries. This makes them ideal for those who are always on the go and do not have time to prepare tea.
The contents of the bottles can either be single servings ranging from 100ml to 300ml or 500ml to 1-liter ones, which are good for sharing. Though they might be labeled as tea, they usually have added sweeteners. If you find them too sweet for your liking, you can water them down or add more ice.
Tea brands have different ways to indicate the strength of their tea, with most using a numbered scale from 1 to 5 or from low to high. It is important to know the strength or caffeine level of the tea so that you know which one to get based on your preference.
Green teas that have high caffeine content are best consumed in the morning to give you an energy boost. Hence, they're a great alternative to coffee. On the other hand, low to medium strength teas are good to drink in the afternoon or towards the end of the day.
Lastly, go for decaffeinated teas if you want the signature taste of green teas minus the caffeine. Decaf teas are also great to drink at night when you're trying to wind down after a long day.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TWG Silver Moon Tea | ![]() | Relax and Refresh Your Mind With a Premium Tea Blend | |
2 | Teapigs Green Tea With Mint | ![]() | An Award-Winning Moroccan-Inspired Green Tea | |
3 | Twinings Green Tea Collection | ![]() | Have a Different Flavor of Green Tea Each Time | |
4 | The Tea Source MNL Cocoa Green Tea | ![]() | Contains Cocoa Beans for an Earthy Taste | |
5 | The Tea Source MNL Genmaicha | ![]() | Enjoy Restaurant-Quality Tea at Home | |
6 | Stash Decaf Premium Green Tea | ![]() | Decaf Tea That You Can Prepare Any Time of the Day | |
7 | Gold Leaf Oriental Blends: Sencha Green Tea | ![]() | Go for Sencha Tea for Something Classic | |
8 | Kirin Namacha Rich Green Tea | ![]() | Bottled Green Tea Enriched With Vitamin C |
Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without any tea from TWG! Their Silver Moon Tea is one of their best sellers in the Philippines because it is sweet, has a tinge of spice, and boasts a wafting aroma with the infusion of ripe southern fruits and vanilla to the blend of exclusive green teas.
It has low to medium caffeine content, so you can enjoy this beverage any time of the day. It comes in a haute couture tea tin that is not only visually pleasing but also preserves the freshness of the loose-leaf tea. Thus, it is the perfect gift for tea lovers. This product is also available in tea bags if you don't have tea equipment on hand.
A total of 23 products from Teapigs have been awarded at least one star in the Great Taste Awards 2020, with three stars being the highest recognition. This flavor of green tea has been given one-star for having a distinct flavor. That being said, this should be up there in your choices of green tea.
It is made with Chinese Chunmee green tea with peppermint leaves that adds freshness and a bit of sweetness. Drinking this is best when you need a pick-me-up to regain your energy after a tough school or workday.
In each box, you will get 15 "tea temples," which contain loose-leaf tea. This shape helps disperse the flavor into the water effectively. As for the packaging, absolutely no plastic is used. Everything from the box to the tea temples is made of sustainable materials.
Can't seem to decide which flavor to get? Then, you might want to try this green tea collection from Twinings! This set contains four tea bags, each of the five different flavors. You can first try pure green tea to taste its simple flavor. Next, go for the mint for a refreshing take on the plain tea.
You can also try earl grey tea which has bergamot extract, and lemon green tea for some fruity and citrusy notes. Lastly, jasmine green tea is best for moments when you are looking for that floral taste. Having a variety of green teas in one box will not make you sawa of a single variant because you can switch things up with the different types.
The Tea Source Manila can be your go-to source for one-of-a-kind tea blends, including this cocoa green tea! It contains Maojian tea that has a sweet and savory taste. This is complemented by the cocoa beans, which give the tea a deep earthy flavor and mild bitterness.
The sweet longan ties everything together, making it a product that's hard to resist nor replicate! With this cocoa green tea, you get a caffeine kick from the combination of green tea and cocoa. Plus, with its low caffeine content, you can drink this beverage any time you want!
This is available in 30g, 50g, and 100g zip bags and a 60g bottle. Aside from steeping this in hot water, you can also use this for cold brews. If it is your first time buying loose-leaf and you don't have the necessary equipment yet, you can also get teaware from the same shop.
Because we have to stay at home due to the ongoing quarantine, it makes us miss going out to eat at our favorite restaurants. Though you can still have food delivered, you would miss out on the ambiance, especially the free-flowing tea. Fret not, as the taste and aroma of this Genmaicha tea are reminiscent of dining in Japanese restaurants.
This beverage is usually paired with or drank after eating sushi or ramen to cleanse the palate before going for another bite or proceeding with a sweet dessert. By purchasing this item, you will be able to enjoy its toasted and nutty goodness in the comforts of your own home.
Sometimes, you want to drink green tea late at night but are wary of the caffeine that may interfere with your sleeping schedule. This product from Stash is decaffeinated but still has the signature nutty and grassy taste that we look for in a cup of green tea.
The tea leaves have undergone a process that uses carbon dioxide to naturally remove most of the caffeine content. Other decaffeinated teas have around 4mg, but this only has less than 2mg of caffeine per tea bag. With this, you can now enjoy green tea even before bed!
If you are looking for something with the classic taste of green tea, you can get this Sencha green tea from Gold Leaf's line of Oriental Blends. It is fresh, delicate, and doesn't have any infusions, so you can add sweeteners or milk to your liking.
Aside from making hot tea, you can use this for iced teas and milk teas. Just make sure to brew it hot first and cool it down before adding ice. Each tea bag is enclosed in individual envelopes to preserve the flavor and aroma. You can also bring a few packets with you during trips for fresh tea on the go.
This tea is suitable for people who have diet restrictions due to religious beliefs or food intolerances since it is Halal, sugar-free, gluten-free, and fat-free. You can also go for this product if you prefer green tea on the plainer end in terms of flavor.
Making your own iced tea will take time to brew and cool before putting it on ice. With this bottled green tea, you can just leave it in the refrigerator or freezer and you already have a cool drink ready anytime. This item is quite popular in Japan so you should definitely try it!
A huge advantage of this product is that it is not overly sweetened compared to other bottled teas. It still has the distinct aroma and natural taste of green tea with a tinge of sweetness and a hint of umami. Most importantly, the added vitamin C helps boost your immunity, which is essential during this time.
Want some more choices for your everyday cup of tea? We got you! Browse the best earl grey, ginger, and fruit teas through the links below. From here on, you will not be worried about running out of variants to try out! It's also great to have different types of tea at home to suit whatever taste goes well with your mood.
Author: Patricia Catimpo
Editor: Aprille Jarcia
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: TWG|Silver Moon Tea
No. 2: Teapigs|Green Tea With Mint
No. 3: Twinings|Green Tea Collection
No. 4: The Tea Source MNL|Cocoa Green Tea
No. 5: The Tea Source MNL|Genmaicha
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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