Tea is the perfect pick-me-up when you’re craving a drink that’s not as intense as coffee, lighter than juice, and more flavorful than water. In some cases, it can give you a much-needed caffeine boost, and in others, it can help you wind down after a long day. But sometimes, you just don’t feel like brewing it yourself, especially if you plan on drinking it cold — it just takes too much time to boil water, steep your tea, and wait for it to cool down before you’re finally able to drink it.
That’s where bottled teas come in. These days, there are seemingly countless options on the market, appealing to everyone from those looking for a sweetened beverage that’s only slightly lighter than juice to people who want a caffeine boost without drinking any sugar. But with so many different options on the market, you may not know which teas are worth trying and which are better left at the store.
Our tasting and ranking of 15 different bottled tea brands from worst to best can help you identify which brands you want to check out the next time you’re at the grocery store. For posterity, I chilled each tea before taste-testing them one by one over the course of a day and a half. Here are the results.
5. Saint James Passion Fruit and Peach Flavored Green Tea
Sometimes, beverage companies can be too heavy-handed with their added flavorings, which can be particularly unpleasant when it comes to tea. Many bottled teas tend to have a light, floral flavor that gets easily squashed under too many competing fruit flavors. But for Saint James Teas, that’s not a problem. The brand has a light touch when it comes to added flavoring, and the results are delicious. Choose from flavors like Pineapple and Mango, Blueberry and Raspberry, and Blood Orange and Hibiscus. Want to keep things simple? Just opt for the Original Green Tea with its touch of lemon.
For those who want a sip of summery flavor, though, it’s hard to beat the brand’s Passion Fruit and Peach Flavored Green Tea. Peach can be a tricky flavor to get right, but these fruity flavors come across so gently that you’ll want to chug the whole bottle on a hot summer day. The passion fruit adds a mild acidity that makes every drop that much more delicious.
4. Inotea Brown Sugar Bubble Tea with Tapioca Pearls
Bottled and canned bubble tea is often — and unfortunately — bad. The tapioca pearls are typically too small, and the tea itself rarely has the creamy richness you find in fresh bubble tea. But luckily, that’s not the case with Inotea’s offerings. The brand creates canned bubble tea that tastes almost as good as the stuff you’d get at an actual boba shop. Bubble tea lovers can sip their Inotea in a variety of different flavors, including Taro, Honeydew, Matcha Green Tea, and even Banana.
But for those who want to keep things classic, there’s the Brown Sugar flavor. It’s incredibly rich, creamy, and mouth-filling — exactly what you want from a good milk tea. The flavor of the tea itself is solid, although it’s somewhat masked by the drink’s generous amount of sugar. And the tapioca pearls? They have that bouncy — or QQ — texture boba lovers crave, although they’re not quite as delicious as fresh. Since it comes with tapioca pearls inside the can, it’s a good idea to shake it before opening to ensure the boba isn’t stuck to the bottom of the can.
3. Guayakí Yerba Mate Unsweetened Traditional Tereré
Sweetened and flavored tea can be delicious when done right, but sometimes, it’s better to keep things pure and simple. That’s the philosophy behind Guayakí Yerba Mate’s Unsweetened Traditional Tereré. According to the company’s website, this tea is designed for the “yerba mate purist” — someone who truly appreciates the flavors of mate (and the flavors are delicious). You might pick up some earthy notes in the bottle, along with a distinct zing of citrusy acidity. The flavor is concentrated, but the drink ultimately tastes light and refreshing. Lightly caffeinated, this is the ideal drink on a hot day when coffee feels like it would be too much.
Looking for something a little less simple? No worries. The brand also carries plenty of flavored products, like bottled Passion, Mint, and Raspberry Tereré. Guayakí’s canned options (some of which are sparkling) are also worth checking out for anyone who considers themselves a yerba mate enthusiast.
2. Trader Joe’s Unsweetened Golden Oolong Tea
Unsurprisingly, one of the best bottled teas on the market hails from Trader Joe’s. The popular grocery chain is known for its high-quality store-brand products, and its teas are no exception. You won’t find a ton of options available at Trader Joe’s, but one bottled tea that you absolutely have to check out is the store’s Unsweetened Golden Oolong Tea. Oolong tea is fuller-bodied and richer than an average green tea, but it’s lighter, milder, and more refreshing than your average black tea. When it’s chilled, it makes for the perfect sum
mertime refreshment, especially when you need a boost of caffeine. The flavor is quite pronounced and concentrated, but this tea is ultimately very drinkable. It won’t take long before you finish the entire bottle. Just don’t forget that it’s caffeinated!
Although Trader Joe’s may not have as many bottled tea options as some of the other brands on this list, its selection is definitely more than solid. Try its unsweetened green tea and black tea plus lemonade options — you won’t be disappointed.
1. Minna Lightly Brewed Sparkling Green Tea Pineapple Passion Fruit
If you want to taste a tea that transforms your idea of what tea can be, then you have to turn to Minna. It’s a brand that lightly brews teas and then carbonates them for a bubbly, light, and refreshing tea experience you won’t find from most tea companies. The impeccably designed labels present shoppers with flavors like Peach Yuzu, Orange Mango Black Tea, and Lime Hibiscus Rooibos Tea.
While every flavor in the lineup is worth a try, the Pineapple Passion Fruit Green Tea stands above the rest. Unlike some other brands on this list, you can actually taste the flavor of this tea despite it being so lightly brewed. The pineapple and passion fruit flavors aren’t greatly pronounced, but they offer just the right hint of flavor without any unnecessary sweetness. Add in the fact that these teas are actually bubbly, and it’s clear why this brand takes the top spot in this ranking. Although this isn’t the cheapest tea brand out there, its beverages are definitely worth the splurge.
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