Green tea is a unique and extremely popular variety of tea. It is well known for its wide range of health benefits.
Green tea contains polyphenols called catechins. These have strong antioxidant properties.
Amongst all the catechins that are present in green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most researched one. It is believed to provide the most health benefits.
A green tea extract is a supplemental form that has the concentrated extracts of the tea itself to provide the same nutritional benefits that one can get from drinking it as a beverage. Just one capsule has the same number of active ingredients as a cup of green tea.
Green tea extract is known to aid weight loss, reduce the risk of cancer, and promote a healthy heart, liver, and brain.
If you are someone who would like to enjoy the benefits of green tea but do not relish its taste, green tea extracts are the one for you. They are convenient, easy to use, and affordable.
Green tea extracts are available in the form of powders, liquids, tablets, and capsules, that can be bought online without a prescription. Here are our 6 favorite choices of green tea extracts.
Our Top Picks
1. Best Powder Green Tea Extract – BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract
2. Best Budget Green Tea Extract – Now Foods Green Tea Extract
3. Best Green Tea Extract With Vitamin C – Zenwise Health Green Tea Extract
4. Best Potency Green Tea Extract – Nature’s Nutrition Green Tea Extract
5. Best Gluten-free Green Tea Extract – Jarrow Formulas Green Tea
6. Best Decaf Green Tea Extract – Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract
Now let’s look at each of these green tea extracts in detail to find out why they are considered the best in their categories.
1. Best Powder Green Tea Extract – BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract
Powders are one of the favorite forms of supplements. They are convenient, last longer, and capable of direct absorption into the body. Powder forms of green tea extracts can be mixed into different beverages for ease of consumption.
About BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract
BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract is a unique supplement with only potent green tea extracts that provide all-round support for overall physical and mental well being.
This supplement delivers powerful catechins, nutrients, and natural caffeine that promote all-day energy to aid in workouts. They also keep the brain focussed and enhance the body’s antioxidant capacity to fight free radicals and keep diseases at bay.
Made in an NSF certified FDA registered cGMP facility in Nevada, USA, BulkSupplement subjects its raw material and final products to various tests to ensure superior quality, consistency, and safety.
What it Contains:
Each serving size of 500 milligrams has:
- Green Tea Extract – 500 mg
This supplement is standardized to provide 50% polyphenols.
BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract contains only one ingredient in a powder pack of 500 gm (17.6 oz) that can last for 1000 servings. It can also be purchased in bulk options of 1 kg and 5 kg.
As a dietary supplement, this product can be taken as a 500 mg ( ¼ teaspoon) dose once or twice daily. Many users have reported using it by mixing it in hot water, black coffee, protein shakes for easy consumption and potential benefits.
BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract is free of gluten, soy, dairy, corn, and yeast. It is also devoid of sugar and extra additives. The Company offers a 30-day return period with an appropriate refund in case of user dissatisfaction.
The Pros:
- A potent powder supplement with 500 mg per serving
- One pack can provide 1000 servings
- No sugar or additives
- 30-day return policy for customer satisfaction
Summary: BulkSupplements Green Tea Extract is a natural powder supplement with potent catechins and no sugar or additives. It provides great energy, helps in weight maintenance, boosts heart, and brain health for overall well being.
2. Best Budget Green Tea Extract – Now Foods Green Tea Extract
Budget-friendly supplements that don’t burn a hole in your pocket are much favored when it comes to choosing quality supplements. Brands that use high-quality ingredients to manufacture their green tea extracts and at the same time manage procurement and manufacturing costs pass on the benefits to the customer by producing effective yet low-cost supplements.
About Now Foods Green Tea Extract
Now Foods Green Tea Extracts is an extremely popular supplement. It is designed to deliver potential antioxidant benefits to fight free radicals and prevent damage at the cellular level.
Along with a natural 40% catechin content and 32 mg of caffeine, Green Tea Extracts also contain a sizable quantity of vitamin C. The ingredients’ combined result is good energy, lower stress levels, and enhanced immunity.
Now Foods is a family-owned company based in the USA and manufactures its Green Tea Extract at an NPA A-rated GMP certified facility. This low-cost supplement does not compromise on quality and uses non-GMO ingredients for maximum safety.
What it Contains:
Each serving of 1 veg capsule offers:
- Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) – 60 mg
- Green Tea Extract – 400 mg
Now Foods Green Tea Extract can be bought as a container of 250 capsules which can give 250 servings or last for 8+ months of supply which is high-value for your money. A pack of 100 capsules is also available for user convenience.
The suggested dosage is just one capsule daily with meals. The manufacturer recommends this supplement only for adults and advises against taking this supplement on an empty stomach or excessive doses of it.
Now Foods makes its Green Tea Extract as Kosher, vegan, and soy-free. This product does not use any allergens but is made in a facility that processes other products that may use these allergens.
The Pros:
- Budget-friendly price
- Combination of powerful green tea extracts and vitamin C
- 1 pack can provide 250 servings
- Kosher, vegan, and soy-free
Summary: Now Foods Green Tea Extract with a combination of powerful polyphenols and vitamin C, provides excellent antioxidant support for months, and that too at an extremely affordable price.
3. Best Green Tea Extract With Vitamin C – Zenwise Health Green Tea Extract
Ascorbic acid, commonly referred to as vitamin C, is one of the most essential nutrients that plays a multi-functional role in the human body. A well-known immunity booster, it can be added to green tea supplements to provide extra antioxidant support.
About Zenwise Health Green Tea Extract
Zenwise Health Green Tea Extract is a popular supplement with the goodness of green tea extracts and vitamin C for antioxidant support to maintain good skin, heart, and brain health.
With 98% polyphenols and 50% catechins equivalent to drinking 6 cups of tea, this supplement provides great energy and works as a strong immune and brain booster that ensures constant physical and mental well-being.
Zenwise Health Green Tea Extract is manufactured in the USA. It uses only 100% non-GMO ingredients that are subject to third-party verification for quality and consistency.
What it Contains:
Each serving of 1 capsule provides:
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) – 60 mg
- Green Tea Extract – 725 mg
Available as 120 count vegetarian capsules, this supplement can provide either 60 or 120 servings based on intake.
The manufacturer suggests taking one capsule up to two times daily depending on metabolism and requirement. The use of vegetarian cellulose capsules also makes it suitable for vegan consumption.
Zenwise Health’s use of natural, Kosher, and halal-free ingredients makes it safe for everyone to use. It is also free from soy and gluten. Green Tea Extract filled with potent plant-based nutrients and vitamin C assures tremendous health benefits and complete safety in consumption.
The Pros:
- A good potent combination of green tea extracts and vitamin C
- Catechin content per capsule is equal to drinking 6 cups of green tea
- Kosher and vegan-friendly
- Third-party tested
Summary: Zenwise Health’s Green Tea Extract, tested by third-parties for quality and safety, contains a combination of polyphenols and vitamin C that ensure adequate antioxidant power to benefit both physical and mental health.
4. Best Potency Green Tea Extract – Nature’s Nutrition Green Tea Extract
Potency refers to the content strength in a green tea extract such as the polyphenol and EGCG percentage. These define how powerful an extract can be to bestow good health benefits for overall well being.
About Nature’s Nutrition Green Tea Extract
Nature’s Nutrition Green Tea Extract is a top-class supplement that is loaded with the power of green tea extracts to provide excellent weight loss support, enhanced metabolic functions, and strengthened immunity.
Suitable for men and women, its gentle caffeine and naturally available L-theanine promote sustained energy throughout the day. The 75% polyphenol content and the 45% EGCG content work as powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals.
Made in a GMP compliant facility in the USA, Nature’s Nutrition only uses non-GMO ingredients to make its Green Tea Extract. This supplement is also lab-tested and certified by third-parties for purity and potency.
What it Contains:
Each serving size of 2 capsules contains:
- Green Tea 98% Extract (dried leaves) – 1000 mg
(Epigallocatechin 3P gallate EGCG and Polyphenol Catechins)
Nature’s Nutrition Green Tea Extract is available as a container pack of 120 capsules that can provide up to 60 servings. It can also be purchased in counts of 60 capsules or 240 capsules depending on the buyer’s convenience.
As a dietary supplement, 2 capsules a day can be taken in the morning along with meals for better absorption and effect. The capsules are vegetarian and made of vegetable cellulose.
Nature’s Nutrition uses only natural plant-based ingredients for its Green Tea Extract. This product is free of wheat, soy, milk, egg, shellfish, and peanuts. It also has zero additives, fillers, or artificial ingredients that make it a potent top-quality product fit for daily consumption.
The Pros:
- A highly potent dose of 1000 mg per serving
- Natural caffeine and L-theanine for all-day energy and a relaxed mind
- Available as a choice of 60, 120, 240 capsules
- Zero fillers, binders, and artificial ingredients
Summary: Nature’s Nutrition Green Tea Extract is a quality supplement with highly potent green tea extracts in veggie capsules. Free of fillers and artificial ingredients, it is an effective support for good energy, immunity, and wellbeing.
5. Best Gluten-free Green Tea Extract – Jarrow Formulas Green Tea
Gluten-free supplements are much sought-after not only by people who are sensitive to gluten but also to avoid general digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc.
About Jarrow Formulas Green Tea
Jarrow Formulas Green Tea is an all-natural supplement that contains pure green tea extracts to support cardiovascular health, good energy, and strengthened immunity.
A gluten-free product, this supplement has a minimum of 50% polyphenols and 30% catechins that help eliminate free radicals for protection from chronic diseases.
Jarrow Formulas manufactures its Green Tea in an NSF certified GMP facility in Santa Fe Springs, California, USA. It uses pure non-GMO certified ingredients that undergo stringent quality assurance tests for purity and safety.
What it Contains:
Each serving size of 1 capsule consists of:
- Green Tea, 5:1 water extract – 500 mg
Jarrow Formulas Green Tea is available as a container of 100 capsules. The capsules are made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), or hypromellose, a natural fiber of cellulose, is vegan and approved as safe.
The suggested intake is one capsule a day with food for maximum benefits. The caffeine content in each capsule is around 40 mg which provides adequate energy. Check with a practitioner about suitability if you have a medical condition or avoid if you are caffeine-sensitive.
Jarrow Formulas uses high-quality ingredients in making its Green Tea. Besides being gluten-free, it also does not contain allergens such as soy, dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts that makes it ideal, easy, and safe for consumption.
The Pros:
- 100% gluten-free
- 500 mg extract with 50% polyphenols
- HPMC vegetarian capsule
- Free from major allergens
Summary: Jarrow Formulas Green Tea is a supplement containing effective green tea extracts for good immunity and overall health. Free of gluten and other allergens it is safe and effective for daily consumption.
6. Best Decaf Green Tea Extract – Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract
Decaffeinated green tea supplements are those where the caffeine content has been minimized greatly to provide nearly the same benefits as normal green tea but without the common side effects of caffeine.
About Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract
Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract is a unique supplement that is designed to deliver the benefits of green tea but without the unpleasant side effects of caffeine.
Ideal for those who are caffeine-sensitive, this supplement contains 98% polyphenols that accelerate antioxidant activity to aid in better detoxification and stronger immunity.
Life Extension manufactures its Mega Green Tea Extract in the USA in a GMP compliant NSF certified facility. It uses certified non-GMO green tea (raw material) sourced from the Sichuan province of China that is thoroughly tested for quality and safety.
What it Contains:
Each serving of 1 vegetarian capsule holds:
- Green Tea Extract, Decaffeinated – 725 mg
Available in a container of 100 capsules this supplement can be used as a 3+ month supply. With 98% polyphenols and a potent 45% epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG), one 725 mg capsule is equal to the nutrients you can get from drinking 3 cups of green tea.
The recommended dosage is 1 capsule a day without food or as recommended by a practitioner. Being decaffeinated, each dose provides only about 3.6 grams of caffeine which prevents caffeine-related side effects such as restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, and addiction.
The capsules used in Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract are made of vegetable cellulose and hence suitable for vegetarians. It is also backed by a one year, full money-back guarantee for complete customer satisfaction.
The Pros:
- Potent 725 mg of decaffeinated green tea extract
- 98% polyphenols and 45% EGCG
- Contains only 3.6 mg of caffeine
- One year money-back guarantee
Summary: Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract is a supplement with potent decaffeinated green tea extracts in vegetable capsules for providing health benefits without the possible side effects of ingesting too much caffeine.
Risks and Side Effects of Green Tea Extracts
Green tea extracts are obtained from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant and are generally considered safe and beneficial for health. But like all supplements, they are not without the following risks or side-effects.
- Extracts may not possess the complete nutrients like that of regular green tea as some of the components may be lost while deriving the extracts. Also, the labeling for the specific nutrient or caffeine content differs as many brands use different processes in making the green tea extracts (1).
- Although green tea extracts provide health-benefiting polyphenols, catechins, phytonutrients, etc. they also contain caffeine, sometimes in undetermined doses.
Overconsumption of green tea extracts can increase caffeine content that may lead to insomnia, nausea, headaches, tremors, etc (2).
- Different brands assess their green tea extracts to be equivalent to drinking n number of cups of the green tea beverage. Taking more of a supplement may lead to the accumulation of contaminants in the body.
A study on green tea samples from different countries has indicated the possibility of heavy metal contamination. Hence it is concluded that it is safe to limit to 5 cups of green tea a week to avoid heavy metal accumulation in the body (3).
- Studies on green tea have shown that it is capable of both increasing or lowering heart rate. Green tea extracts are known to have stronger concentration and hence may not be suitable for people with blood pressure or irregular heart rhythm (4).
- Extreme and regular high doses of green tea extracts have the potential to cause liver injury within 3 months of ingestion (5).
- Green tea extracts can interfere with certain medications. Consult a practitioner before using any green tea supplement, if you are taking prescribed medications (6).
Summary: Green tea extracts are natural and beneficial for health. But unclear labeling, excess consumption, and combining green tea with certain medications/ medical conditions can pose serious risks and side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Green Tea Extracts Contain Caffeine?
Yes, green tea extracts contain caffeine as it is naturally present in green tea. The caffeine content is much lower than coffee and provides good energy. Also, green tea has another powerful natural component, L-theanine.
L-theanine is a natural amino acid that promotes a calming effect and counter-balances the effect of caffeine without strong side-effects.
Green tea extracts are available as decaffeinated versions too, meaning the caffeine content in these products is minimized and almost negligible. Those who want to avoid regular amounts of caffeine can use decaffeinated products to enjoy the benefits of green tea extracts.
What is the Ideal Dosage for Green Tea Extracts?
Green tea extracts are concentrated versions of green tea. While it is safe to drink up to 6 cups of green tea every day, the same may not apply for extracts. The potency of extracts of different brands varies with the nutrient contents.
It is suggested that while it may not be possible to identify exact EGCG doses that may be considered safe, extracts up to 800mg/ per day for 12 months have not indicated any hepatotoxicity and may be consumed for health reasons.
Can Pregnant Women Use Green Tea Extracts?
Green tea extracts possess good amounts of caffeine that are proven to pass through the placenta to growing fetuses. While tea or green tea consumption of 2 cups is acceptable, green tea extracts are not recommended as they have the potential to induce adverse effects.
The Final Note
Green tea, made from the Camellia Sinensis plant, is well known for its various health benefits. Green tea extracts made from the leaves are concentrated products that are available in supplement forms such as capsules, powders, and liquids.
Readily available without a prescription and easy to use for a variety of reasons, supplements with powerful catechin content and caffeine can deliver many benefits including good energy, weight maintenance, supporting cardiovascular health, improving cognitive functions, and boosting immunity.
Green tea can induce side-effects and is not suitable for people taking certain medications, having caffeine-sensitivity, cardiovascular conditions, blood pressure, etc, and hence can be taken under a doctor’s advice to avoid health complications.
Selecting reputed brands that aim at quality, purity, and adhering to clinically-approved doses can make green tea extracts provide the best health benefits for overall physical and mental well-being!