If you’re a fan of green tea and its heart healthy benefits, then this article by Co.Exist may make you think twice before getting your fix of this beverage. According to “Does Evil Lurk In The Heart Of Your Green Tea?“, this seemingly innocent drink may contain significant amounts of lead — particularly bottled varieties and those coming from China.
A study done on several bottled, loose tea and tea bag varieties revealed different levels of lead contamination. According to the New York Times, there’s a downside to those cheaper teas: “The leaves in the Lipton and Bigelow tea bags contained 1.25 to 2.5 micrograms of lead per serving. The leaves from Teavana (a more expensive brad), however, did not contain measurable amounts.”
Fortunately, tea-lovers will be glad to hear that lead doesn’t make its way into the hot beverage and usually stays with the tea itself. It’s safe to have your green tea fix as long as you do not consume the leaves, as the tea bag itself is effective in filtering out the lead