New Product Friday
One of the downsides of many sweetened ready to drink teas is that they are packed full of added sugar. Even some of the more popular, “healthy” brands--like Pure Leaf-- contain between 25-40 grams of added sugar; just as much as a can of Coca Cola. Additionally, research presented during a 2010 American Chemical Society meeting showed that many ready to drink teas have fewer polyphenols than a standard cup of tea. (Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant that helps reverse the signs of aging, lower inflammation in the body, and might prevent against cardiovascular and neurogenerative diseases; and cancer.) Ryl’s latest line of teas—Raspberry, Lemon, and Peach—claims 200 milligrams of polyphenols (comparable to a cup of tea) and do not contain any added sugar. For purposes of simplicity, the Raspberry tea will be examined here.
Tea (Water, Tea)—Self explanatory
Tea Extract—Polyphenols are extracted by brewing tea and isolating them. They are then added to the beverage so that it can accurately claim a certain amount of polyphenols.
Natural Flavors—This would include any flavor chemicals derived from raspberries and/or any naturally derived flavor chemical (naturally derived=anything from a plant, fruit, vegetable, or spice)
RYL Sweetener (Monk Fruit Extract, Stevia Leaf Extract)—Monk fruit extract is from the monkfruit plant, which is native to China. Stevia leaf extract is the sweet molecules isolated from the stevia leaf. The combination of these sweeteners give a well-rounded sweetness profile.
Amino Acid (L-Theanine)—L-theanine is naturally present in all teas and is highest in green tea. On its own, it gives a sense of calm and relaxation. Combined with caffeine (like that found in tea), it provides focused energy.
Ascorbic Acid—Or Vitamin C. Vitamin C has a range of different benefits, but it is most known for its immune supporting properties.
Citric Acid—Naturally found in citrus fruits (especially lemons), citric acid gives citrus fruits its characteristic tart taste. Commercially, it is produced as a fermentation by-product of mold.
Final Evaluation
Ingredient Quality: B+. This beverage is gluten-free, kosher, and plant-based (but not vegan).
Ingredient Clarity: A-. L-theanine is a natural component of tea. It is unclear why it is being added separately when no claims on its amount or benefits are being called out.
Functional Benefit: B+. Polyphenols are a plant-based antioxidant that helps reverse oxidative damage and reduce inflammation in the body. Catechins (a class of polyphenols) have been well studied for their antioxidant benefits, as well as weight-loss, cardiovascular health, and cancer-fighting properties. ECGC (a class of catechins) is the most researched catechin. Typical effective dosages are between 100-460 milligrams for weight loss, improvements in cardiovascular health, and possibly improvements in brain health. This beverage claims 200 milligrams of polyphenols/serving (more than a standard cup of tea) and 60 milligrams of EGCG/serving (similar to a standard cup of tea, but less than the effective dosage). L-theanine and Vitamin C round out the functionality of this beverage. There is only 20% daily value of Vitamin C and although this is technically an “Excellent Source”, there are many other teas that contain higher amounts of this antioxidant. Most studies show effective dosages of L-theanine in the 100-200 milligram range. This beverage contains less than 50 milligrams of added L-theanine. Although the amount is comparable to a standard cup of tea, it is hardly enough to give the cognitive (increased focus) and relaxation benefits that it is typically associated with.
Nutritional Value: A. Most teas contain large amounts of sugar. At zero calories and no sugar, this beverage is nutritionally much healthier than other sweetened teas.
Overall Score: A-. Polyphenols help reverse the signs of aging by improving skin health and lowering inflammation in the body. Additionally, they might improve cardiovascular and cognitive health. Multiple studies have also shown that EGCG polyphenols have weight loss, cardiovascular health, and cancer-fighting properties. Although the EGCG dosage in this beverage is less than what has been studied, it is still similar to a standard cup of tea and certainly more than other ready to drink teas. The addition of L-theanine is interesting. All teas have varying levels of naturally occurring L-theanine. Although L-theanine has plenty of studied benefits, the amount that is purposely added is not enough to provide cognitive and mood benefits. It is unknown whether the combined L-theanine amount (natural occurring in the tea+ added individually) would be enough to provide any benefits. Additionally, the ingredient statement does not list the type of tea in this beverage. All tea beverages need to specify the type of tea that is being used (black, green, etc.), so it is unknown what type of tea is in this beverage. Although this beverage includes “an excellent source” of Vitamin C, at 20% daily value this is much less than what is seen in some other brands of tea. Despite these negatives, overall, this beverage is functionally comparable to drinking a cup of strong tea. Compared to other tea brands, this product is much better as it does not contain any added sugar while still providing significant antioxidants from tea. At $2.90/bottle, this is comparable to other tea brands and definitely worth purchasing, especially if you are an avid tea drinker.
Would you buy this product? Why or why not?