Green tea at Stiftung Warentest: Many products contain pollutants, only two get the grade "good"
Created: 05/25/2022, 10:21 am
By: Juliane Gutmann
Stiftung Warentest tested 27 green teas and matcha teas for harmful substances.
The result is rather sobering.
Only two tea brands received the grade "good".
More and more research shows that green tea protects and strengthens the cardiovascular system.
"
The studies on green tea show that the catechins have a vasodilating effect and thus promote blood circulation
.
With this and other effects, the plant substances help to prevent deposits in the vessels (arteriosclerosis).
Green tea can thus reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure," says Professor Dr.
medical
Hans Hauner, nutritionist and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Deutsche Herzstiftung eV,
quoted on
Herzstiftung.de .
People also take advantage of the anti-inflammatory effect of green tea, for example in the case of arthrosis
.
And green tea is even said to have an effect against corona viruses, as a study shows.
The big catch: The “complete inhibitory effect on coronaviruses” was only achieved in the test tube.
"There are many natural or chemical substances that can inhibit viruses in the test tube," Professor Friedemann Weber from the Institute of Virology at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen is quoted as saying by ZDF.
That does not mean, however, that these can be transferred to real conditions.
Because of its stimulating effect, green tea is also considered a
healthy substitute for coffee
.
However, the quality of green tea can vary significantly.
Stiftung Warentest recently tested 27 products for harmful substances.
Green tea is considered a real health booster.
But be careful: the pollutants contained pose risks.
© Imago
Poll on drinking habits
Pollutants in green tea: Aluminum is also a problem
"We have currently tested 24 green teas for brewing and 3 matchas for critical substances, such as pesticides, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and aluminum.
Conclusion: There is a clear improvement compared to 2015,
but only two products perform well all round and are therefore test winners
,” says the Stiftung Warentest website.
Background: In 2015, more than half of the products tested were heavily contaminated with pollutants.
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The aluminum values in particular are sometimes very high
.
The problem: High levels can damage the nerves, kidneys and bones in the long term, according to the Stiftung Warentest.
The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, which is used to make green tea, absorbs the metal from the ground, the report said.
Above all, three tested products were clearly contaminated with pollutants
and should therefore not be consumed in excess:
Matcha tea organic from dmBio
Finest green tea from Teekanne
Organic green tea from Aldi Nord Fair
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Green tea with few harmful substances: the two winners
Only two brands were convincing in the Stiftung Warentest comparison of harmful substances:
505 Green Tea China Gunpowder Organic by Tee Gschwendner (Grade 2.1)
Organic green tea from Rewe Bio (grade 2.2)
All results of the Stiftung Warentest at a glance