Green Tea, Black Tea, Detox Tea: What’s Heart Healthy and What’s Not?

When it comes to heart health, what you sip can be just as important as what you skip. Some teas are packed with heart happy antioxidants, while others might sneak in extra sugar or caffeine that could do more harm than good, especially if you’re sipping them all day long.

Let’s look at 10 popular teas and their potential impact on your heart in order from best to worst.

1. Matcha green tea - a heart healthy choice

Matcha is loaded with catechins, especially EGCG, a powerful antioxidant shown to reduce blood pressure, lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and improve circulation. Plus, it provides a gentler caffeine boost that won't spike your heart rate the way coffee sometimes can.

Pro tip: Love matcha but don’t love the caffeine? Try our new decaf matcha. All the antioxidants with little to no caffeine.

2. Hibiscus tea - natural blood pressure tamer

Hibiscus tea has a tart, cranberry-like flavor and studies highlight it for its ability to lower blood pressure. It's rich in anthocyanins and other antioxidants that support blood vessel health.

Pro tip: Pre sweetened hibiscus blends might be loaded with sugar. Go for unsweetened or brew your own to control sugar content.

Hibiscus tea - a natural blood pressure tamer

3. Black tea - a mixed bag

Moderate consumption of black tea (1 - 2 cups a day) may support heart health thanks to its flavonoid content. But too much caffeine or added cream and sugar? Now it’s not so heart friendly.

Pro tip: Black tea comes in lots of types and flavors which makes it fun to taste test and find your favorite. Be sure to avoid sweet tea and teas with tons of added sugars and syrups. Instead, try adding a squeeze of orange or lemon to your home brewed black tea for a fun pop of flavor with added vitamins and antioxidants.

4. Green tea - classic cardiovascular support

Beyond matcha, traditional green tea is a heart health MVP. It’s been shown to improve cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and support artery function.

Pro tip: Aim for 3+ cups a day to see the most benefits, as noted in recent research on dementia and cardiovascular health.

Why green tea is a classic heart supporting tea

5. Chamomile tea - soothing but not a superfood

Chamomile may help with sleep and stress, both of which impact heart health indirectly. But it doesn’t have the antioxidant power of green or hibiscus teas.

Pro tip: To make chamomile more heart health friendly, try adding cinnamon or ginger to your chamomile tea. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, which has anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering properties and ginger improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and supports blood vessel health.

6. Oolong tea - the middle ground

Oolong falls between green and black tea in oxidation. It has some heart benefits, like improving cholesterol and aiding fat metabolism, but less research support to back its antioxidant effects than green tea or matcha.

Pro tip: Choosing the right Oolong makes a difference. Wuyi Rock Oolong is higher in theaflavins and polyphenols. High mountain or green style oolongs are higher in catechins and lighter in taste.

7. Yerba mate - energy with a warning label

Popular in South America, yerba mate is high in caffeine and polyphenols. Some studies show cardiovascular pros, while others suggest cons like it may raise blood pressure or heart rate in sensitive folks due to high caffeine content and stimulants like theobromine and theophylline.

Pro tip: Enjoy occasionally, and avoid it if you have hypertension or arrhythmia.

8. White tea - gentle but effective

White tea is minimally processed and contains antioxidants similar to green tea, though in smaller amounts. It’s a solid option for a gentle heart healthy brew.

Pro tip: White tea is delicate, so don’t use boiling water or your tea will taste bitter. Instead opt for water at a temperature of 175 - 180 degrees.

9. Detox teas - proceed with caution

Many detox teas contain laxatives, diuretics, or unregulated herbal blends. These can dehydrate you or strain your heart especially if you’re also restricting food. If it promises to “flush fat” or make you drop 10 pounds overnight, skip it.

Pro tip: Go for a natural, gentle, detox tea like Dandelion root tea or ginger and turmeric tea to boost liver function and help your body naturally filter out toxins.

10. Sweet bottled teas - big no no

Store bought teas (looking at you, peach green tea with 30g of sugar) can spike blood sugar and promote inflammation. Even if it’s green tea, black tea or white tea, that added sugar cancels out the benefits.

Pro tip: The same thing applies to heavily sweetened tea drinks from a cafe. Even something healthy like matcha or soothing like chai can become bad for your heart if you can’t control the sugar content. Making tea at home saves you money and helps avoid over sweetening!

The bottom line

Tea can be a powerful tool for supporting heart health but only if you choose wisely. Go for teas rich in antioxidants (like matcha, hibiscus, and green tea), and avoid the sugar bombs and over processed blends. Keep it simple and when in doubt, read the label.