Frequently Asked Questions

What are the differences in green, white, oolong and black tea?

Green, white, black and oolong teas, “cha”, all are made from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Black tea leaves are oxidized during drying. This turns the leaves black and gives black tea a strong, robust flavor with a high caffeine content. Oolong tea is semi-oxidized and falls between green tea and black tea in flavor and caffeine content. Oolong has a smooth, mellow and fragrant flavor. Green tea is heat treated and dried immediately after harvest. This stops the oxidation process and keeps the leaves green. Green tea has a lower caffeine content and a mild and aromatic taste. White tea is the least processed. The young tea buds and leaves are picked, withered and air dried, then heat treated to remove more moisture. This results in the unique, subtle, fragrant, complex, slightly nutty flavor of white tea. Research varies on the caffeine content of white tea. Some show it to be very low and others higher.

What are the benefits of tea?

The processing methods of each tea create differences in flavor and affect or change the components of the tea, including the beneficial antioxidants and polyphenols. Each variety of tea differs in the type and content of these. Experts recommend drinking three or more cups of tea a day.

How much caffeine does green tea have? How does that compare to coffee and black tea?

Caffeine occurs naturally in all tea from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Caffeine content varies with the tea and brewing methods. Some reports are that green tea has approximately 15 to 50 mg of caffeine per cup, coffee has approximately 80-200 mg per cup, and black tea has approximately 40-90 mg per cup.

How much caffeine is in the Decaf Green Tea?

No more than 0.4% caffeine remains in Triple Leaf Decaf Green Tea. That means one tea bag (1900 mg) of decaffeinated green tea contains 7.6 mg or less of caffeine.

How do you brew green, decaf green, white, oolong, pu-erh, herbal and medicinal teas?

For all teas, see the individual teas’ product pages and click on Suggested Use and on Brewing Directions. Some are discussed below.

Hot teas Green, Decaf Green, Oolong and Cholesterid – Pu-erh Teas

Bring one cup of water to a boil, remove from heat, then poor water over a tea bag. Let steep 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bag, and squeeze it gently into the cup. To extract more of tea’s benefits, steep 5 minutes. Often, over-steeping green teas can make them bitter, but our green, oolong and Cholesterid – Pu-erh teas are very mild and have little bitterness, and you can steep them longer, according to your taste.

Decaf Green Tea with Ginseng and Ginkgo and Decaf Green Tea

We recommend steeping these teas longer, from 5-10 minutes, or longer, to get the full benefits of the herbs blended in these teas. These teas do not get bitter with longer steeping.

White Tea

Bring one cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat, and then pour over a tea bag. Let steep 3-5 minutes. To extract more of tea’s benefits and white tea flavor, steep longer. In Chinese tradition, white tea is brewed longer than green tea and can be re-brewed.

Herbal and medicinal teas

(These do not include Herbal Laxative and the diet teas. For those teas, see below and see their product specific pages.) Pour one cup of boiling water over a tea bag. Let steep 10-15 minutes, or longer. Squeeze the tea bag gently into the cup. Leave the tea bag in the cup as you are drinking the tea. To extract more of tea’s benefits, use longer steeping times. A tea bag can be re-used to extract more herbal benefits. The Ginger Tea and American Ginseng Tea are made from 100% pure root, and can be boiled for a few minutes, or simmered (on low heat) for 10-15 minutes, to extract more flavor and benefits. We recommend re-using the Ginger and American Ginseng tea bags a few times to get all their flavor and benefits.

How do I use and brew the medicinal teas?

For all teas, see the individual teas’ product pages and click on Suggested Use and on Brewing Directions. A few teas are discussed below.

Detox Tea

Suggested Use: As a daily beverage, use 1-2 tea bags per day.* For a stronger tea, use more tea bags and water, and drink more frequently.* For additional support, and a more complete approach, drink this tea along with Triple Leaf Herbal Laxative Tea, or any of our diet teas.*

Brewing Directions: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over a tea bag. Let steep 10-15 minutes or longer. Squeeze tea bag gently into the cup. Leave in cup as drinking, to gain more herbal benefits.* Drink 1-2 cups daily.* For a stronger periodic cleanse, drink 2 cups, followed by additional cups throughout the day, as needed.* Or, steep a few tea bags in 3 cups of water, keep warm, and drink over one hour.* Repeat during the day, as needed.* A tea bag can be re-used to extract more herbal benefits.* For a delicious change, try it with lemon and honey, or your favorite sweetener.

Cold & Flu Time Tea

Suggested Use: For best results, start drinking at the first sign of discomfort, and continue as needed.* For additional support, drink Triple Leaf green, decaf green or white teas.* Also enjoy Triple Leaf Ginger Tea during the change of seasons.*

Brewing Directions: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over a tea bag. Let steep 10-15 minutes or longer. Squeeze tea bag gently into the cup. Leave in cup as drinking, to gain more herbal benefits.* For best results, drink 2 cups, followed by additional cups throughout the day, as needed.* Or, steep a few tea bags in three cups of water, keep warm, and drink over one hour.* Repeat during the day, as needed.* A tea bag can be re-used to extract more herbal benefits.* For a delicious change, try it with lemon and honey, or your favorite sweeter.

Can I mix more than one tea in a cup?

That depends on which teas you want to mix. Some of our teas, including our Cold & Flu Time Tea are special Chinese formulas, which are better taken on their own.* Both the Sugar Balance & Women’s Tonic Tea with Dong Quai, and the Horny Goat Weed Tea, can be used together with the American Ginseng Tea for additional benefits.* We recommend using the Detox Tea by itself, or use it along with the Herbal Laxative Tea, or any of the diet teas.* You can drink the Detox one to three times a day or more, but suggested use for the diet teas or Herbal Laxative Tea is as needed, usually once a day after dinner or before bedtime for up to a week.* For longer use, consult your health care practitioner.*

How do the diet teas work?

All three diet teas are traditional herbal beverages used in China for generations. These teas were popular with those concerned with cleansing and digestion.* They contain senna, an herbal stimulant laxative.* When dieting, follow a balanced weight loss diet and the advice of your health care professional.* Be sure to include plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, juices and pure water.* These teas are not recommended for children, elderly, or sick people, or pregnant women and nursing mothers.*

Which diet tea should I take, Super Slimming Tea, Dieter’s Green Herbal Tea, or Ultra Slim Tea?

Each diet tea has a different formula to suit different uses and tastes. They all contain senna, an herbal stimulant laxative, and all three help promote cleansing * The Super Slimming Tea is our most potent and popular formula. It contains persimmon and papaya to help support digestion, and licorice root, known in traditional Chinese medicine as “The Great Detoxifier”.* The Dieter’s Green Herbal Tea contains naturally decaffeinated green tea and persimmon leaf to help support digestion.* The Ultra Slim Tea has persimmon, papaya and loquat leaf to help promote support digestion and to help soothe the stomach*. You can try each of our diet teas to see which one you like best.*

Which teas will aid in bowel movements?

Try Herbal Laxative Tea, Super Slimming Tea, Dieter’s Green Herbal Tea or Ultra Slim Tea.* Use these along with the Triple Leaf Detox Tea for additional support in cleansing.*

How do I use and brew the Herbal Laxative Tea and the diet teas?

For all teas, see the individual teas’ product pages and click on Suggested Use and on Brewing Directions.*

Do you chlorine bleach your teabags?

No, our tea bags are oxygen bleached rather than chlorine bleached, leaving no chemical residue.

Do you use recycled material and biodegradable inks on your packaging? Is your packaging recyclable?

Our boxes are made of recycled paperboard and printed with biodegradable inks. Our tea boxes, paper tea envelopes and the brochures inside the tea boxes are fully recyclable. Some teas are packaged in fully enclosed tea bag envelopes to help maintain their flavor. They are not recyclable.