I am a big fan of green tea and I drink it regularly every day. My first choice of green tea is always organic, loose leaf green tea but I resort to green tea bags sometimes for convenience. So lately I’ve decided to try a popular green tea brand Twinings, to see what I think of their green tea and to compare it with other more expensive brands that I normally drink. In this review, you will find out what I liked and didn’t like about this tea.
About Twinings Pure Green Tea
Twinings green tea is sourced from China and India so the tea you drink is a blend from different locations and possibly qualities.
Twinings do state that they are highly experienced in the tea business as they’ve been picking the best leaves and buds for three centuries. They highlight that their “master blenders use their detailed knowledge (of these regions) to create this invigorating blend which is full of character and ready to brighten your day”.
The type of green tea they use for this blend is sencha which is mildly grassy, gentle green tea, known for its high antioxidant content. They steam and pan-fry sencha gently to create this refreshing, earthy blend.
Review
Packaging
Twinings green tea bags are sealed inside of a plastic foil which you will find in standard cardboard packaging. It’s a positive thing they are preserved with double packaging which is not something every brand does. This extra measure retains tea freshness and quality and also protects delicate antioxidants found in green tea.
Unfortunately, once you open the packaging, green tea bags are not protected anymore and will start to slowly degrade. It would be better if they were placed into individually wrapped tea envelopes but I guess that would drive the product price up so it wouldn’t be competitively priced anymore.
To stop the tea from losing its freshness, the best you can do once you open this tea is to put it into an extra plastic bag and seal it well, not allowing any air to get in.
Colour
When I brewed Twinings green tea for the first time, I was surprised when I saw its colour. It’s very yellowish, almost orange and not yellow-green like many green teas that I’ve tried. It’s not really an issue for me, it’s a mere observation.
Taste
If you brew Twinings green tea according to instructions (in not too hot water, for 2 minutes) you will get a pretty nice flavoured green tea. It’s mildly grassy and not bitter with a really good (quite strong) flavour. I do get a bit of astringency in my mouth afterwards but I am fine with it and doesn’t bother me.
Leave it for longer than 2 minutes and the flavour will definitely intensify. It gets slightly bitter, it’s definitely more grassy but not unbearable, it’s perfectly drinkable and still tastes good to me, unlike some other green teas which become way too strong and bitter.
How to prepare Twinings green tea
Boil some fresh water and let it cool slightly before pouring it into a teacup with one single teabag. Let it brew for a maximum of 2 minutes otherwise, you will lose that delicate taste.
When brewing longer than 2 minutes, Twinings green tea gets stronger and slightly bitter but it’s not as bad as some other green teas.
FAQs
Does Twinings green tea have caffeine?
Yes, just like any other green tea Twinings green tea also contains caffeine. The brand doesn’t measure the caffeine content in their green tea but you can expect to find somewhere between 30-50 mg of caffeine per 200 ml brewed cup which is standard for black, green and white teas.
Is Twinings green tea good for weight loss?
Yes, Twinings green tea can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism slightly. However, you need to drink at least 3 cups of green tea a day to notice any difference and also, you still need to watch what you eat and exercise. Just drinking Twinings green tea on its own and not making any changes to your diet or lifestyle will not help you lose weight.
Do Twinings green tea bags contain plastic?
Twinings still use the traditional heat seal teabags which were first introduced in the 1940s. This type of teabag uses a very small amount of plastic that is embedded into the paper to help seal the edges of the bag when they are pressed together and heated. Without this seal, the teabags would split open and release the tea leaves inside. So, yes, Twinings green tea bags do contain plastic although the brand is fully committed to making 100% of their range from plant-based materials. It’s not clear when that’s going to happen though.
Is Twinings green tea healthy?
Green tea is considered one of the healthiest drinks you can have and Twinings green tea certainly comes with health benefits, just like any other green tea. However, since the tea bags contain a small amount of plastic and the tea is not organic, this is not the healthiest green tea you can consume. For your health, it’s best to consume loose leaf organic green tea.