Same day shipping! Orders placed before 12pm AEDT (Mon - Fri)

Sipping Safely - Heavy Metals In Teas And Why We Test

Since the late 1980s, green tea has been the focus of numerous health studies. 


Across the globe, the human race drinks more tea than any other beverage in the world second to water. 


So it's no surprise that we're obsessed with its potential health benefits. 


Clinical studies have shown that the polyphenols and catechins found in green tea may help prevent life-threatening diseases. 


Regular consumption of green tea can benefit conditions such as cancers, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardio vascular diseases.


But have you ever wondered if there's any bad stuff in the teas that your devouring several times a day?


Heavy metals in teas and how much is safe to drink

How toxic is your tea?

Green tea, renowned for its health benefits, can sometimes be vulnerable to contamination by pesticides and heavy metals.


Tea plants possess the unique ability to draw substances from the soil and accumulate them in their leaves.


This underscores the importance of understanding the origins of your tea, the processing methods employed by manufacturers, and even the composition of the packaging used. 


In an investigation conducted by Greenpeace China in 2012 and reported in the Financial Times, it was discovered that all tested tea samples from China contained at least three types of pesticides. 


Alarmingly, 14 out of the 18 teas tested harboured pesticides that maybe harmful for human consumption.

Buyer beware, safety first

When it comes to regular consumption of teas, be mindful and aware of who you choose to purchase from.


Buying teas from early harvest pickings would have absorbed fewer contaminants than lower grade teas comprising of older tea leaves that have absorbed more from the soil for a longer period of time. 


Similarly, while higher-grade teas generally exhibit lower toxicity, factors such as the specific farm of origin, harvesting methods, and the country of production play pivotal roles.


Organic certified teas ensures that rigorous standards and quality have been met by the governing bodies and give you the peace of mind that it is safe to drink.


It's worth noting that some teas from China and India generally exhibit higher contamination levels compared to those from Japan, a difference attributed to industrialisation and atmospheric pollution.

Purematcha Independently Test For Heavy Metals In Our Teas

At Purematcha, we take safety and purity seriously. The reports below show the heavy metal elements that we have tested. 

Elements

Units

Method

Result

< 0.05 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

0.019 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

0.077 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

<0.01 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

Sample test date: 07 August 2023
Report reference: RN1/400876
Testing agency: NMI (National Measurement Institute)

Elements

Units

Method

Result

< 0.05 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

0.014 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

0.085 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

<0.01 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

Sample test date: 07 August 2023
Report reference: RN1/400876
Testing agency: NMI (National Measurement Institute)

Elements

Units

Method

Result

< 0.05 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

0.015 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

0.089 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

<0.01 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

Sample test date: 07 August 2023
Report reference: RN1/400876
Testing agency: NMI (National Measurement Institute)

Elements

Units

Method

Result

< 0.05 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

0.011 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

0.078 mg/kg

NT2_46

Well below guidelines ✓

<0.01 mg/kg

NT2_46

Not Detected ✓

Sample test date: 07 August 2023
Report reference: RN1/400876
Testing agency: NMI (National Measurement Institute)

Tips for choosing safe and high quality teas

Arm yourself with the right knowledge to make your next tea purchasing decision a safe one! 

  • Buy organic certified teas

  • Check the country of origin for where the tea is produced

  • Choose brands that independently test for safety and purity

  • Choose higher grade, early harvest teas

  • Check that packaging such as tea bags are free from micro-plastics 

Matcha Teas

Save $0.00
Sold Out
Purematcha sampler tea set with matcha whisk bamboo scoop and tee sieve
$89.00$89.00
Save $0.00
Sold Out
Purematcha Favourites 4-Pack (40g) - Purematcha Australia
$45.00$45.00

What are you looking for?