Is flavoured green tea as healthy as normal green tea? page

[HERC0]

From the tea bag that is, not loose leaf! Does anyone know?

[Damiana]

If it contains natural flavoring like other herbs, then I would presume so. Not so much if it contains flavoring agents and other additives. Once you go loose leaf, though...the stuff that comes from tea bags taste like watery cardboard.

[HERC0]

Is loose leaf green tea easy enough to make at work without too much of a carry on in the staff kitchen??

[Damiana]

Use a ball infuser.

[HERC0]

Is this the kind of thing I'd be looking for?

Can't find it in the supermarket. How's the price?

[Lewis]

Is this the kind of thing I'd be looking for?

Can't find it in the supermarket. How's the price?

Pretty good, I'd say. You'd probably pay around the same for a pack of twenty teabags, which would weigh about 50 g. Less convenient than teabags, but better value.

EDIT

Oh, OK, you wouldn't at that site -- 25 teabags weighing 50 g for £1.69.

[Drumroll]

A lot of times, flavored tea mixes from tea bags contain "soy lecithin" as one of their "natural flavors" so my vote is no, not as healthy.

I just recommend people go loose leaf and don't look back. If you buy from the right providers and rebrew your tea, it's actually CHEAPER than tea bags most of the time.

[Drumroll]

Use a ball infuser.

No, do NOT use a ball infuser. EVER.

Most teas need to expand to their full size to release as many antioxidants and as much flavor as possible throughout your various steepings. Ball infusers don't give the tea enough room to do that, so the resultant brew is weak.

Also, I recommend getting a cheap candy thermometer so that you can ensure your various teas are being steeped at the correct temperatures.

For reference:

White tea - 170 F (2-3 minutes steeping time)
Chinese green tea - 175 F (2-3 minutes steeping time)
Japanese green teas - 160 - 170 depending on desired strength, I use about 165 (1-2 minutes steeping time)
Oolong - 190 - 195 F (2-3 minutes steeping time)
Black tea - 205 F (5 minutes steeping time)
Pu'erh - dump the boiling water right on (steep minimum 5 minutes, can go as long as you want to though)

[Lynna]

Depends on what you mean by flavored. I like to drink geen tea with jasmine and that's just what's in it green tea and jasmine.

[HERC0]

No, do NOT use a ball infuser. EVER.

Most teas need to expand to their full size to release as many antioxidants and as much flavor as possible throughout your various steepings. Ball infusers don't give the tea enough room to do that, so the resultant brew is weak.

Is there a good, convenient alternative to a ball infuser then? Convenience is key as I'd like to be able to brew this green tea at work with minimal fuss!