Sip some of these teas each day and reduce your tooth and gum issues.
Good post. 👍
Bark eaters
Quite interesting, and yup, both compounds are in black and green tea (and there are some other chemical relatives in the mix as well.)
The difference between the two polyphenols is that the EGC has one fewer hydroxyl (OH) in the B (catechol) ring. A small chemical change can mean big differences in physiological effect, n'est ce pas?
Hmmmm.........I am 71, and have had only 1 cavity in the past 50 years. I also drink 1 liter of black tea every morning, with breakfast. Perhaps there is a connection.
Have you EVER seen an older buddhist monk with a complete set of teeth, or teeth that weren’t so ROTTEN you couldn’t bear watching them talk much less laugh?
This sounds like folklore BS to me.
Tooth problems have plagued me since I had baby teeth, lucky to have a tooth left in my fmouth. Spent many many $$$$$$$ on dentistry. (MD bills very low)
A few months ago , I got tired of coffee and switched to green tea. Tastiest brand is Yogi, it’s organic and Safeway sells it here. Of course AMZ too.
Maybe I should sweeten it with maple syrup. Sounds awful, but worth a try. Race to brush teeth right after.
My bad!
Thought it said tooth decay in bacteria...
Ah shoot, now they tell me.
Do the British drink green tea?
Tea without sweetening, that’s a hard row to hoe. Maybe chew on a clove instead.
I did a research on this a year or two ago. Whole foods has the green tea with the most polyphenols: here’s what the ai says specifically about the green tea in whole foods.
Whole Foods carries several types of green tea, including matcha, bagged, and loose-leaf options. If you’re seeking the green tea with the most EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) and other beneficial polyphenols, here’s what current research and product comparisons suggest:
Matcha green tea (especially ceremonial grade) and gunpowder/loose-leaf green teas typically have the highest EGCG content and overall catechin levels among green tea types. Among matcha, “culinary” grade sometimes has higher total polyphenols than “ceremonial” but both are excellent choices. However, studies show that certain gunpowder green teas (like Pure Leaf) also achieve exceptionally high phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, sometimes exceeding matcha, particularly when measured per gram.
Bagged green teas—especially mainstream brands like Allegro, Twinings, or Lipton (all of which are sold at Whole Foods)—often have catechin and EGCG levels not far behind matcha or gunpowder types, and sometimes even higher compared to low-quality matcha. They are also more affordable and convenient.
365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Green Tea is their house brand option—while specific EGCG numbers for this product are not listed, one recent scientific review included Whole Foods’ bagged tea among products analyzed. It showed moderate EGCG levels compared to matcha and gunpowder types, but still offers a meaningful polyphenol content, especially if prepared properly.
Overall, Pure Leaf gunpowder, culinary-grade matcha, and ceremonial matcha were found to have the highest EGCG levels (50–70 mg/g), while bagged options like Twinings, Allegro, or Lipton measured slightly lower but still significant at 40–46 mg/g.
In summary: If you want the green tea with the absolute highest EGCG and polyphenol content available at Whole Foods, look for:
Pure/certified organic matcha powder (prefer culinary or ceremonial grade)
Gunpowder green teas (sometimes labeled as such in bulk loose-leaf form)
Mainstream bagged organic green tea (like Twinings, Allegro, or 365) for affordability and moderate catechin content
For maximum benefit, use fresh, loose-leaf or high-quality powdered teas, and prepare them following optimal brewing instructions for catechin extraction—typically not too hot, and allowing for a longer steeping time.