Vitamin C content in dried and brewed green tea from the US retail market

BackgroundTea is the most consumed beverage after water in the world. Of the three main types of teas, namely black, oolong and green tea, the latter has been associated with a variety of health benefits, including cancer prevention, cardiovascular health, oral health and others, attributed to antioxidants activity as well as specific phytochemicals and nutrients it contains. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient, with a recommended daily intake of 60 mg, and higher intakes have been associated with numerous health benefits. Green and black tea are made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis but green tea is less processed than black tea. Vitamin C concentrations exceeding 250 mg/100g have been reported in the unbrewed leaves, based on scientific literature for mostly Japanese green tea. Different cultivars and processing and brewing methods could significantly impact vitamin C in tea as consumed, and data on vitamin C in green tea available in the U.S. retail market are lacking. The goal of this study was to ...