Green tea can be found on store shelves as loose leaf tea and in convenient tea bags. It enjoys use in some skincare and makeup products and is also available in supplement form. Green tea supplements can be found in either powdered leaf form (inside capsules) or as a concentrated extract.

After the leaves are harvested, they’re dried using a variety of techniques. It’s not uncommon for green tea leaves to be air dried or even pan fried in industrial-sized woks. Depending on the grade of green tea being made, the leaves can then be sorted by size, shape and other factors. The dried green tea leaves may also be further processed to make supplements.

Investigations made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have determined that catechin doses, from green tea extract supplements, in excess of 800 mg per day may pose health concerns including, but not limited to jaundice. Do not exceed the daily recommended dose on these supplements, and always consume with a meal.

Matcha green tea is a special, ceremonial grade powder made from green tea leaves which have been grown in a special way. Before the green tea plants are ready for harvest, the farmers cover them with a shade cloth. In response to the lower light conditions, the plant goes a much deeper shade of green. It is said to be much more highly concentrated than regular green tea.

The average cup of green tea contains between 30 and 50 mg of caffeine but because it contains L-theanine as well, it won’t doesn’t give the ‘caffeine jitters’ many wish to avoid.