Black Tea vs Green Tea

It’s the ultimate question we will try to answer about Tea: Black Tea vs Green Tea, which is better? It’s also not a question easily answered as it very much depends on one’s perspective, as well as what one looks for in their morning cuppa.

Does taste and taste alone determine your choice-brew; or do you consider yourself particularly health-conscious while hoping to find a beverage that improves your everyday way of life? Either way – or perhaps in another way – the battle is on!

Green Tea vs Black Tea for Health

Green Tea, although Black Tea also fits the bill to a lesser extent.

All types of so-called “real” Tea (Teas to originate from the Camellia sinensis plant), including Green, Black, White and Oolong Tea, contain an abundance of beneficial antioxidants capable of combating free radicals in the body.

Free radicals are the product of natural, though harmful, human oxidation, which when left unchecked, can increase the risks of developing numerous chronic conditions, namely cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes.

Antioxidants, meanwhile, neutralise free radicals, which in turn slows down the oxidative process, ultimately reducing these risks.

Each type of Tea has its own take on an antioxidant “cocktail”. When it comes to Black Tea, the best-serving antioxidants are called theaflavin and thearubigin. When consumed as part of a healthy and active lifestyle, these components can, among other qualities, improve oral health, enhance cognitive function and support the digestive system.

But Green Tea has the trump card: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenolic catechin (in other words, one of the best kinds of antioxidant) that promotes healthy living in a multitude of ways. On average, one cup (approximately 240 ml) of brewed Green Tea contains up to 200mg of EGCG.

So, what exactly can it do? A recent meta-analysis of 13 Green Tea-related observational studies discovered that participants who drank the most Green Tea had a 28% lower risk of a coronary artery disease than those who drank the least Green Tea.

Furthermore, according to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Dermatology in 2000, the EGCG content in Green Tea affords some protection against a variety of skin disorders.

Want to find out more? Read our information blog, “Green Tea Benefits”.

Green Tea vs Black Tea for weight Loss

The struggle is real. We’ve all been there; you can’t fit into your favourite pair of jeans anymore, or you’ve noticed the return of the dreaded double chin.

When it gets cold outside, and particularly during the Christmas period, it seems to get even worse. But what’s the answer? As it turns out, both types of Tea can improve your weight management capabilities; however, Green Tea wins this fight overall.

This is, of course, providing one eats healthily and exercises frequently. Simply put, Green Tea doesn’t do all of the work for you. But, of course, so long as one leads an already-healthy and active lifestyle, one can also expect results from their cup of Green Tea.

Green Tea can boost the metabolism, according to the latest scientific research. The metabolism is essentially the process of food-energy conversion. Every time you eat, enzymes in the body’s cells break down food and turn it into energy. Ultimately, the faster your metabolism runs, the more calories you will burn. And the more calories you burn, the easier it is to drop those pesky pounds.

This is where Green Loose Tea comes into play. By boosting the metabolism through the frequent consumption of this brew, the body can burn fat quicker and more efficiently. So, say goodbye to that double chin and say hello again to your favourite pair of jeans with Green Tea!

Green Tea vs Black Tea for Popularity

Black Tea reigns supreme in this department, accounting for 78% of the world’s Tea consumption. Global Green Tea consumption, on the other hand, amounts to 20%, with the remaining 2% being the consumption of other Teas such as White Tea and Oolong Tea.

However, determining which Tea more often adorns cupboards and kitchen counters around the world isn’t as clear-cut as it may seem. While Black Tea remains the brew of choice in the West, Green Tea has maintained its grip in the East, namely in China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and the Korean peninsula.

Other countries may even prefer a different Tea all together, like Rooibos Tea in South Africa. Ultimately, it very much depends where in the world you are.

Green Tea or Black Tea for Taste

Ah, now things start to get complicated.

As most already know, tastes and aromas are entirely subjective but heavily influenced by an individual’s physiology. For example, someone who loves apples may hate pears, while someone else may feel the complete opposite!

In other words, there are some who like the taste of Green Tea more and others who prefer the flavour of Black Tea. It’s as simple as that. And you probably didn’t need to be told it, either. After all, we all have our preferences.

Enjoy notes of malt, chocolate, nuts or mild spice? Drink a type of Black Tea (Darjeeling Tea, for example, has a distinct muscatel taste, while Assam Tea has an unmistakably malty taste). Prefer grassy, astringent, herbaceousness? Choose a type of Green Tea (again, certain flavour notes apply to particular Green Tea varieties, similar to Black Tea).

Just about got your head around all of that? Good. Let’s make things even more complicated with our variety of Flavoured Black or Green Teas. Some flavours suit specific types of Tea more than others. For example, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and star anise often best suit Black Tea, with much focus on Chai Tea. “Softer” flavours such as elderflower and jasmine, meanwhile, are more commonly used in Green Teas such as our very own Green Tea and Elderflower and Jasmine Pearl Superior Tea.

Black Tea vs Green Tea, The Winner

The bottom line is this: we’re all significantly different, and all look for significantly different things from our morning brew. There is no right or wrong choice; all are as excellent as each other!

It may sound hopelessly cheesy, but here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, we like both types of Tea equally. We couldn’t possibly pick a winner ourselves, but perhaps you have an opinion?

Regardless of which Tea you eventually choose, rest assured knowing that we pack everything, Tea or Coffee, fresh to order here in our Kent-based factory, nestled away within the stunning vistas of the south-east English countryside. This not only ensures quality but also consistency in either Black or Green Tea!