Picked, heated, dried. No oxidation allowed.
Every tea type starts on the same plant, Camellia sinensis. What separates green tea from black is what happens right after picking: the leaves are heated almost immediately, which halts oxidation before it can start. That’s what keeps green tea’s color bright, its flavor grassy and vegetal, and its caffeine lower than black tea’s. Caffeine still varies by blend and steep time, but as a category, green tea sits in the middle: enough for a real lift, without black tea’s intensity.
Picked
Young leaves and buds are hand-picked, since the freshest, most tender growth makes the smoothest green tea.
Heated
Leaves are steamed or pan-fired within hours of picking, stopping the enzymes that would otherwise start oxidation.
Shaped
Rolling or shaping the heat-fixed leaves helps release flavor gradually once steeped, without breaking them down.
Dried
A final drying locks in the bright green color and grassy character before the leaf ever reaches a cup.
Sorted & graded
Leaves are sorted by size and quality. Some are milled all the way down to a fine powder: matcha.
One plant, two very different traditions.
Tea comes from a single plant, Camellia sinensis, native to China, and green tea is the style closest to its roots there. Japan grows its own green tea tradition on the same plant, most famously the shade-grown leaves that get stone-ground into matcha. Our own blends draw on both.
China
The origin of green tea itself. Smooth and clean, it’s the Fair Trade base of Bright and Earl-y, Rosemary Lemonade, and Killin’ It Green.
Japan
Home to shade-grown, stone-ground matcha. The whole-leaf source behind our Matcha.
Same plant, lighter touch
Whatever the region, green tea is defined by what doesn’t happen to the leaf: no oxidation, just heat and a fast finish.
Cooler water, shorter time.
Green tea scorches easily. Boiling water pulls out bitterness instead of flavor, so give it room to cool first. Use 1 teaspoon per 8 oz of water, well under boiling, and keep the steep short.
Hot
Heat water to 175–185°F and steep for 2–3 minutes. Any longer and the mint or citrus in a blend like Killin’ It Green or Rosemary Lemonade turns bitter instead of bright.
Iced & cold steep
For iced: steep 2 teaspoons in 8 oz hot water for 2–3 minutes, then pour over ice. For cold steep: add ½ ounce of tea (about 4 tablespoons) per 64 oz of cold water and refrigerate for 8–12 hours.
Whisked, not steeped.
Matcha is stone-ground from shade-grown green tea leaves, so instead of steeping and discarding the leaf, you’re drinking the whole thing. That means it doesn’t follow the steep times above.
How to prepare it
Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of matcha to a bowl or cup. Pour in 6–8 oz hot water at 160–175°F and whisk briskly until smooth and lightly frothy. For iced matcha, shake vigorously with cold water and ice. For a latte, whisk with a small amount of hot water first, then add steamed or frothed milk of choice.
Four ways to steep it light.
Bright and Earl-y
Our green take on a classic Earl Grey. Smooth green tea leads, bergamot brings bright citrus clarity, and roasted dandelion root adds subtle malt depth without the heaviness of black tea. This tea blend contains caffeine and is great for a clean, structured lift.
Rosemary Lemonade
Bright lemon hits first, crisp rosemary follows with a clean herbal snap, and a smooth green tea base keeps it balanced instead of bitter or jittery. This tea blend contains caffeine and is great for a steady lift without the crash.
Killin’ It Green
A bright green tea base leads with clean, grassy energy, spearmint cools the edges, and a subtle citrus note adds lift without overpowering the cup. This tea blend contains caffeine and is great for staying clear without feeling overstimulated.
Matcha
Stone-ground from shade-grown Japanese green tea leaves, so you’re drinking the whole leaf instead of steeping it. This tea blend contains caffeine and delivers a sustained lift with no sharp spike and no crash.
Go deeper on green tea.
Black Tea Vs Green Tea: Battle of the TeasHow the two actually differ, beyond just color.
Tea Term Tuesday: Let’s Chat About OxidationThe process black tea gets and green tea avoids.
Tea Term Tuesday: The Buzz About Caffeine in TeaWhat actually determines how much caffeine ends up in your cup.
Which Tea Helps You Focus (Without Burning Out)?Where green tea and matcha fit into a focus routine.
Tea Term Tuesday: SteepWhy green tea asks for cooler water and a shorter wait.
Explore the rest of the tea spectrum in our Tea Type Guide.
Steep something bright.
Four green tea blends, three steeped, one whisked. All built for a clean, steady lift.