Green Tea With Honey: How to Brew It and What to Expect
Green tea with honey is a daily ritual for millions of people. Green tea's grassy, slightly bitter flavor softens with a little honey, making it easier to enjoy for newcomers. Green tea has been studied for many possible health effects, with mixed results, and honey adds sweetness and aroma. This article explains how to brew green tea with honey for the best flavor, when to add the honey, what research says about green tea, and how much honey makes sense. For a matcha version, see matcha with honey.
For general education only, not medical advice. Our honey is a food and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What green tea is
Green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant as black tea. The leaves are steamed or pan-fired soon after picking to stop oxidation, which keeps them green and gives a fresh, vegetal taste.
Green tea contains caffeine, usually less than coffee, and catechins such as EGCG, which are the compounds most studied for health effects.
What research says about green tea
The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that green tea has been studied for weight loss, heart health, cancer prevention and more, but evidence is limited or inconsistent for most uses. Drinking green tea as a beverage is considered safe in moderate amounts.
Green tea extract supplements are different. NCCIH notes rare cases of liver injury linked to concentrated extracts.
How to brew green tea with honey
Boiling water can scorch green tea and make it bitter. Heat water to about 160 to 180°F, or let boiled water rest for a few minutes. Use about one teaspoon of loose leaves or one bag per cup. Steep one to three minutes, then remove the leaves.
Let the tea cool for a minute before adding honey. Warm, not scalding, tea keeps more of honey's delicate aroma.
- Water at 160 to 180°F
- 1 teaspoon leaves or 1 bag per cup
- Steep 1 to 3 minutes
- Cool slightly
- Stir in 1 teaspoon honey
Choosing a honey for green tea
Light, mild honeys like clover or orange blossom complement green tea without overpowering it. Bold honeys like buckwheat can clash with delicate green teas but may suit roasted green teas like hojicha.
| Green tea style | Honey that suits it |
|---|---|
| Sencha (grassy) | Light clover or wildflower |
| Jasmine green | Orange blossom |
| Genmaicha (toasted rice) | Wildflower |
| Hojicha (roasted) | Darker, richer honey |
| Iced green tea | Any light honey dissolved in a little warm water first |
Green tea with honey and lemon
A slice of lemon brightens green tea and pairs well with honey. Some research suggests vitamin C may help preserve catechins in the drink, though the practical effect is uncertain. Many people simply enjoy the flavor.
How much honey makes sense
One teaspoon of honey adds about 21 calories and 6 grams of sugar. If you drink several cups a day, those teaspoons add up. The American Heart Association suggests most women keep added sugars to about 25 grams a day and most men to about 36 grams.
Try reducing the honey gradually; many people find they enjoy green tea with less sweetness over time.
Caffeine in green tea
A cup of green tea usually has about 30 to 50 milligrams of caffeine, compared with around 95 in brewed coffee. If you are sensitive to caffeine, drink green tea earlier in the day.
Caffeine-free herbal options for the evening include chamomile tea with honey and rooibos tea with honey.
Green tea with honey for a sore throat
Warm green tea with honey can feel soothing for a scratchy throat. Honey has some evidence for easing coughs in people over one year old. Our article on honey for sore throat explains more.
Weight loss claims
Green tea with honey is sometimes promoted for weight loss. NCCIH notes that green tea's effect on weight is small at best. Honey adds calories, so this drink is best enjoyed for taste rather than as a weight loss tool.
Safety notes
Green tea can reduce iron absorption when drunk with meals, which matters for people with low iron. It contains vitamin K, which may matter for people on warfarin if intake changes a lot. Never give honey to babies under 12 months.
Iced green tea with honey
Brew green tea at double strength, dissolve honey into the warm tea, then pour over ice. Add mint or citrus slices for a refreshing summer drink. Our article on honey iced tea has more ideas.
Storing green tea
Green tea loses flavor quickly when exposed to air, light, heat and moisture. Store it in an airtight, opaque container and use it within a few months for the best taste.
The takeaway
Green tea with honey is a gentle, flavorful drink. Brew it at the right temperature, add honey once the tea cools slightly, and keep sweetness modest.
A honey for your teapot
Al Safa's raw honeys are never heated above hive temperature, so their aromas stay delicate in a cup of green tea.
Find a jar in our shop.
Sources
Outside health sources we used for this article. They open in a new tab.
- Green Tea: Usefulness and Safety · NCCIH (National Institutes of Health)
- How much sugar is too much? · American Heart Association
- Honey (drugs and supplements) · Mayo Clinic
Frequently asked questions
- Is green tea with honey healthy?
- Green tea is safe in moderate amounts, but evidence for most health claims is limited. Honey adds flavor and sugar.
- When should I add honey to green tea?
- After the tea cools slightly, so honey's aroma stays bright.
- What temperature should green tea be brewed at?
- About 160 to 180°F.
- Does green tea with honey help weight loss?
- Any effect is small, and honey adds calories.
- How much honey should I add?
- About a teaspoon per cup, and less as you get used to it.
- Which honey is best for green tea?
- Light, mild honeys like clover or orange blossom.
- Can I drink green tea with honey at night?
- Green tea has caffeine. Choose herbal tea in the evening if you are sensitive.
Al Safa Honey is a food producer, not a medical provider. Nothing here is medical advice, and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Talk to your doctor about any health concern. Never give honey of any kind to a baby under 12 months old.