Tazo Zen Green Tea (20ct filterbags)
Summary
Tazo Zen scores 30/100. Green tea + lemongrass + spearmint + lemon verbena is a well-thought-out blend — the catechin/L-theanine combination from green tea is one of the most studied wellness pairings in the literature, and the supporting herbs are clean. The score is dragged by two things: the 'natural flavors' line, and the polypropylene-heat-sealed filterbag shedding billions of nanoplastic particles per cup at brewing temperature (Hernandez et al. 2019; Banaei et al. 2024). Loose-leaf sencha gives you the same nutritional payload without the plastic load.
At a glance
Key ingredients 6
Polypropylene tea bag (Microplastic shedding)Very Bad
Tazo's standard rectangular filterbags are paper heat-sealed with polypropylene. Hernandez et al. 2019 (Environ. Sci. Technol., McGill) measured ~11.6 billion microplastic and ~3.1 billion nanoplastic particles released per cup from plastic-containing tea bags brewed at 95 °C. Banaei et al. 2024 (Chemosphere, UAB Barcelona) confirmed polypropylene bags shed ~1.2 billion particles per mL and demonstrated particle uptake by human intestinal cells in vitro. There is no established safe exposure threshold for chronic ingestion of polypropylene nanoplastics from food contact materials.
See more about Polypropylene tea bag (Microplastic shedding) →Natural FlavorsBad
'Natural flavors' is a regulatory catch-all (FDA 21 CFR 101.22) that can include dozens of undisclosed compounds, processing aids, and solvents. Adds nothing of nutritional value and erodes ingredient transparency.
See more about Natural Flavors →Green TeaVery Good
Green tea is rich in EGCG and other catechins, plus L-theanine (~25 mg per cup) which pairs with caffeine to produce calm focus. Multiple meta-analyses (Hartley et al. 2013; Yi 2017) show modest cardiovascular and metabolic benefits at habitual intake.
See more about Green Tea →Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)Good
Lemongrass contributes citral and geraniol with mild antimicrobial and digestive-soothing effects.
See more about Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) →Spearmint LeafGood
Spearmint contributes carvone and rosmarinic acid; aromatic, low tannin, and complements the green tea base.
See more about Spearmint Leaf →Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora)Good
Lemon verbena contributes verbascoside and citral. Small clinical evidence for antioxidant status improvement; pleasant aroma.
See more about Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) →Processing
Ultra-Processed Foods
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