Herbal Teas & Extracts · Tea blend
Moroccan Mint Tea
Camellia sinensis with Mentha spicata · also called Moroccan tea, green tea with mint. Not an herbal tea in the strict sense, because it holds tea leaf.
Moroccan mint tea is green tea brewed with spearmint, often served sweetened. People drink it as a daily social drink, not as a remedy. No study has tested the blend itself, so the research here belongs to its parts: green tea (small, uncertain effects) and spearmint tea (small hormone studies in women). The main cautions are caffeine, sugar, lower iron absorption when drunk with meals, and very hot cups.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Moroccan Mint Tea
Moroccan mint tea is green tea with spearmint, often sweetened. No human study tests the blend, so we keep the findings for each part apart. Green tea gives small or uncertain results for heart risk factors, almost nothing for weight and inconsistent results for cancer. Spearmint tea alone lowered a male hormone in two small trials in women. The documented cautions are caffeine, sugar, lower iron absorption from a meal, and very hot cups.
What it is
Moroccan mint tea combines tea-plant leaf (Camellia sinensis) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). It is a true tea blend, not an herbal tea, because the tea leaf is in it. It is often sweetened. No source we read measured how much sugar, caffeine or catechin is in a glass, so we give no figures for the blend.
A 2020 review says Moroccans drink spearmint and Mentha viridis in tea infusions every day, and a 2023 review says Morocco has drunk green tea for centuries. These are statements about custom, not about health benefit.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- A 2020 review says Moroccans daily drink Mentha spicata and Mentha viridis in tea infusions.
- A 2023 review says Morocco, Japan and China have consumed green tea for centuries. That is about custom, not health benefit.
- No source we read gave a traditional medical use for the blend, so none is stated.
Studied for research
- Cholesterol (green tea part), low
- Blood pressure (green tea part), low
- Body weight (green tea part), low
- Death rates in drinkers (green tea part, an association), low
- Cancer risk (green tea part), insufficient
- Hormone levels in women (spearmint tea alone), low
- Knee osteoarthritis pain (spearmint tea alone), insufficient
Main compounds
- Catechins, mainly EGCG (green tea)
- Caffeine (green tea)
- Tea polyphenols
- Carvone and rosmarinic acid (spearmint)
Common forms
- Green tea and spearmint leaf brewed together, often with sugar
- Different from green tea extract capsules, which carry a liver warning
- Different from spearmint oil and spearmint extract capsules
Research links: NCCIH: Green Tea · Iron absorption with Moroccan green tea (abstract) · EFSA opinion on green tea catechins (abstract) · WHO: Healthy diet fact sheet · FDA: How much caffeine is too much · NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Camellia sinensis (green tea) with Mentha spicata (spearmint)
- Naming authority
- Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze; Mentha spicata L.
- Synonyms
- Mentha viridis (name used in the literature for spearmint)
- Common names
- Moroccan mint tea (English); Moroccan tea (English)
- Family or group
- Theaceae (tea) and Lamiaceae (mint)
- Classification
- Plantae > Ericales (tea) and Lamiales (spearmint) > Theaceae (tea plant) and Lamiaceae (mint family) > Camellia and Mentha > Camellia sinensis and Mentha spicata
- Native range
- Not checked.
- Habitat
- Not checked.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not checked.; Stems: Not checked.; Leaves: Dried tea leaf and mint leaf are the parts used.; Flowers: Not checked.; Fruit: Not checked.
- Cultivation
- Not checked.
- Harvest and processing
- Not checked.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Peppermint (Mentha x piperita); Note: A different mint. Peppermint findings do not apply to spearmint.; Name: Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium); Note: A different mint with its own serious toxicity; not the mint in this tea. Check the Latin name on the pack.; Name: Herbal teas with no tea leaf; Note: Because this blend holds tea-plant leaf, it is not an herbal tea in the strict sense, and it has caffeine.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not checked.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco (mint in tea) | A 2020 review abstract says Mentha spicata and Mentha viridis are daily consumed by Moroccans in tea infusions, and that mint species are used in seven regions of Morocco. | p33294657 |
| Morocco, Japan and China (green tea) | A 2023 review abstract says Morocco, Japan and China have consumed green tea for centuries. This is a statement about custom, not health benefit. | p37823174 |
| Origin of the blend and its ceremony | Nothing about when or how the blend began was found in a source read, so none is stated. | s-search-none |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) PubChem 65064 | catechin (polyphenol) | Tea leaf The main catechin in green tea (EFSA). One lab study measured it in a Turkish green tea brew; the amount depends on brewing. | Liver effects at high supplement doses; other actions not established in the sources read. 8 27 | Human data |
| Caffeine PubChem 2519 | methylxanthine | Tea leaf Green tea: 37 mg per 12 fl oz cup according to the FDA. None was found for spearmint leaf. | Stimulant. 32 | Authoritative guidance |
| Tea polyphenols | polyphenols | Tea leaf 492 mg of polyphenols in a 300 mL serving of traditional Moroccan green tea in one iron study. | Reduced iron absorption from a meal. 21 | Human data |
| Carvone PubChem 7439 | monoterpene ketone | Spearmint leaf (essential oil) Not found for a cup of tea. | A mild skin sensitiser in patch-test data. 20 | Human patch test |
| Rosmarinic acid PubChem 5281792 | phenolic acid | Spearmint leaf Not found for a cup of ordinary tea. | Studied in a special high-rosmarinic-acid tea for knee pain. 7 22 | Human data |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron absorption | n/a | Tea polyphenols reduced absorption of iron from a meal in women, even when absorption was raised by anemia. 21 | Human data |
| Steroid hormone synthesis (spearmint) | steroid-making enzymes (rat) | In rats, spearmint extract lowered steroid-making enzymes and testosterone. In women, spearmint tea lowered free testosterone in small trials. 5 13 | Animal and human lab marker |
| Energy use (hypothesis) | n/a | The Cochrane weight review says catechins and caffeine are believed to raise energy metabolism; it found almost no weight change outside Japan. 19 | Hypothesis by reviewers |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- No data for the blend in people were found.
- Distribution
- No data.
- Metabolism
- No data.
- Elimination
- No data.
- Bioavailability
- Unknown.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
A glass of the blend is a water infusion of tea leaf and mint leaf, usually with sugar added. Green tea extract capsules hold concentrated catechins, and the liver warnings belong to that form. Spearmint oil and spearmint extract capsules are other products. Results for one form cannot be read as results for another.
Nutritional composition
The blend is not a meaningful source of nutrients in the sources read, apart from any added sugar, which was not measured.
5 low certainty2 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 7 benefits and uses checked for Moroccan Mint Tea, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Cholesterol (green tea part)Low certainty
- Blood pressure (green tea part)Low certainty
- Body weight (green tea part)Low certainty
- Heart disease and death rates in drinkers (green tea part)Low certainty
- Cancer risk (green tea part)Not enough evidence
- Hormone levels in women with excess hair growth or PCOS (spearmint tea alone)Low certainty
- Knee osteoarthritis symptoms (high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea alone)Not enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
LDL cholesterolSystolic blood pressureFree testosterone
What is Moroccan Mint Tea good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the human evidence is. None of these results come from the blend itself: each says whether it is green tea or spearmint tea.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Cholesterol (green tea part)
Low certaintyPooled trials of green tea found small falls in total and LDL cholesterol, but a later review of shorter trials found no effect. Most trials mixed drinks with extracts, and none tested Moroccan mint tea.
3 studiesGreen tea drinks and green tea extracts, mixed. No amounts are given …
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2013 Cochrane review of 11 trials (821 people, 7 of green tea), a 2011 pooled analysis of 14 trials (1,136 people) and a 2020 review of 14 short trials (798 people).
Results
Cochrane (green tea trials): total cholesterol -0.62 mmol/L and LDL -0.64 mmol/L; the authors say few trials contributed and the green tea results were not stable. The 2011 analysis found total cholesterol down 7.20 mg/dL and LDL down 2.19 mg/dL, HDL unchanged. The 2020 review of short tea trials found no significant effect on blood fats or pressure. No trial of the finished blend (green tea with spearmint) was found, so this is a result for green tea, not for Moroccan mint tea.
Effect sizes as reported
Small average falls in two reviews; no effect in a third.
Why this rating
Small average effects, few trials, results not stable, drinks and extracts mixed, and the one review of short tea trials found nothing. Nothing tests the blend.
Form and dose studied
Green tea drinks and green tea extracts, mixed. No amounts are given here by design.
Who was studied
Healthy adults and adults at risk of heart disease. Nothing specific to people who drink Moroccan mint tea.
Limits
Mixed forms, abstracts only, no heart attack or stroke outcomes, and sugar and mint were not part of the trials.
Why researchers looked
Green tea is the base of the blend and the most-studied tea. Researchers asked whether tea catechins change blood fats.
Traditional use
Green tea has been drunk for centuries in Morocco, Japan and China (a one-line statement in a 2023 review abstract). That is a statement about custom, not about health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Not established
Not established in the sources read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Sugar added to the tea is a separate matter (see Safety). Extract capsules carry a liver warning that the drink does not share.
Blood pressure (green tea part)
Low certaintyA 2025 review of 36 trials found green tea lowered blood pressure by about 1 mmHg on average, with large differences between trials. A review of short tea trials found no effect.
3 studiesMixed green tea drinks and extracts. No amounts given by design.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2025 GRADE-assessed review of 36 randomised trials, the 2013 Cochrane review and the 2020 review of short tea trials.
Results
2025 review: systolic pressure fell by 1.08 mmHg (95% CI -1.98 to -0.18) and diastolic by 1.09 mmHg (-1.67 to -0.50), with very high differences between trials; the abstract does not separate drink from extract. Cochrane: larger falls in green tea trials, but few trials and not stable. 2020 review: no significant effect. No trial of the finished blend (green tea with spearmint) was found, so this is a result for green tea, not for Moroccan mint tea.
Effect sizes as reported
About 1 mmHg on average in the 2025 review.
Why this rating
A tiny average effect, very high differences between trials, drinks and extracts mixed, and one review finding none.
Form and dose studied
Mixed green tea drinks and extracts. No amounts given by design.
Who was studied
Adults; effects were larger in people with raised starting pressure in the 2025 review.
Limits
High heterogeneity, abstracts only, and the reviews do not cover tea with mint or added sugar.
Why researchers looked
Tea catechins and caffeine could affect blood vessels; trials checked for changes in readings.
Traditional use
No traditional blood pressure claim was found in a source we read.
Proposed mechanism Not established
Not established in the sources read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Caffeine can raise heart rate in sensitive people; see Safety.
Body weight (green tea part)
Low certaintyA Cochrane review found almost no weight change from green tea outside Japan. Nothing tests the blend, and the tea is often served with sugar.
1 studiesMany green tea preparations. No amounts given by design.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2012 Cochrane review of trials of at least 12 weeks in overweight or obese adults: six trials outside Japan (532 people) and eight in Japan (1,030 people).
Results
Outside Japan: weight difference -0.04 kg (95% CI -0.5 to 0.4). The eight Japanese trials were too different to pool (-0.2 to -3.5 kg). No trial of the finished blend (green tea with spearmint) was found, so this is a result for green tea, not for Moroccan mint tea.
Effect sizes as reported
-0.04 kg outside Japan.
Why this rating
Almost no effect outside Japan and inconsistent results inside Japan; many kinds of green tea preparation.
Form and dose studied
Many green tea preparations. No amounts given by design.
Who was studied
Overweight or obese adults.
Limits
Not a drink-only result and not about tea with mint or sugar.
Why researchers looked
Catechins and caffeine are believed to raise energy use, so trials asked whether green tea helps weight.
Traditional use
No traditional weight claim was found in a source we read.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis by reviewers
The Cochrane review says catechins and caffeine are believed to raise energy metabolism; it found almost no weight change outside Japan.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Sugar added to the tea is a separate matter; see Safety.
Heart disease and death rates in drinkers (green tea part)
Low certaintyIn eight Japanese cohorts, people who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had lower death rates than people who drank under one cup. This shows an association only.
2 studiesJapanese-style green tea as drunk in Japan. No amounts given by desig…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A pooled analysis of eight Japanese population studies: 313,381 adults, 52,943 deaths over an average of 17.3 years.
Results
Five or more cups a day versus less than one: all-cause death HR 0.90 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.94) in men and 0.82 (0.74 to 0.90) in women; heart disease HR 0.82 (men) and 0.75 (women); stroke-type death HR 0.76 (men) and 0.78 (women). No trial of the finished blend (green tea with spearmint) was found, so this is a result for green tea, not for Moroccan mint tea.
Effect sizes as reported
HR 0.82 to 0.90 for all-cause death.
Why this rating
Large, but observational, and in Japan only. It cannot show that tea is the cause, and it says nothing about tea with mint or sugar.
Form and dose studied
Japanese-style green tea as drunk in Japan. No amounts given by design.
Who was studied
Japanese adults.
Limits
Observational; confounding; may not apply elsewhere. NCCIH says the heart link is seen in Asian but not Western groups.
Why researchers looked
Large groups of drinkers were followed for years to see who died of what.
Proposed mechanism Association only
None shown. Tea drinkers may differ in diet, exercise and health habits.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Cancer risk (green tea part)
Not enough evidenceA Cochrane review of 142 studies found limited, inconsistent, low-certainty results. It does not show that green tea prevents cancer.
2 studiesGreen tea extract in trials; drinks in observational studies. No amou…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Cochrane 2020: 11 randomised trials of green tea extract (1,795 people) and 131 observational studies (over 1,100,000 people).
Results
Overall cancer incidence RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.07, three studies) and cancer death RR 0.99 (0.91 to 1.07, eight studies) in observational data, both low certainty. Results conflicted between study designs for several cancers. The authors call the evidence limited and inconsistent. No trial of the finished blend (green tea with spearmint) was found, so this is a result for green tea, not for Moroccan mint tea.
Effect sizes as reported
Confidence ranges include no effect.
Why this rating
Inconsistent results, mostly extract in trials and observational data in Asian groups; low certainty.
Form and dose studied
Green tea extract in trials; drinks in observational studies. No amounts given by design.
Who was studied
Adults, mostly in Asia for the observational studies.
Limits
Observational studies cannot prove cause; nothing tests tea with mint or sugar.
Why researchers looked
Catechins from tea have been studied in the lab, which led to trials and population studies.
Proposed mechanism Not established
Not established in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Very hot drinks are a separate risk; see Safety.
Hormone levels in women with excess hair growth or PCOS (spearmint tea alone)
Low certaintyTwo small trials of spearmint tea alone found lower free testosterone in women with excess hair growth. This is a lab result; objective hair growth did not clearly improve. It was not tested in the blend, and green tea was not part of these trials.
3 studiesSpearmint tea; the leaf type and preparation were not standardised in…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 5-day before-and-after study of 21 women with hirsutism (12 with PCOS) and a 30-day randomised trial of 42 women with PCOS-related hirsutism against a placebo herbal tea.
Results
5-day study: free testosterone fell; LH, FSH and estradiol rose; total testosterone did not fall significantly. 30-day trial: free and total testosterone fell and LH and FSH rose versus placebo tea (p < 0.05); self-rated hair scores fell but the objective Ferriman-Gallwey score did not differ (p = 0.12). Abstracts give no effect sizes.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstracts.
Why this rating
Two small studies agree on a lab marker, one without a control group; short; the objective hair outcome did not change; no replication found. Spearmint tea alone, not the blend.
Form and dose studied
Spearmint tea; the leaf type and preparation were not standardised in what we read. No amounts given by design.
Who was studied
Women with hirsutism or PCOS. Nothing in men, in women without these conditions, or in children.
Limits
Small, short (5 and 30 days), abstracts only. Whether the same happens with a green tea and spearmint blend is unknown.
Why researchers looked
Doctors in one Turkish town thought spearmint tea lowered libido, and rat studies showed anti-androgen effects, which led to the first trial in women.
Traditional use
Spearmint is drunk daily in tea in Morocco according to a 2020 review abstract. That review does not say it is used for hormones.
Proposed mechanism Animal and human lab marker
In rats, spearmint extract lowered steroid-making enzymes and testosterone. The mechanism in people is not established.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Because hormone levels changed, ask a doctor before drinking spearmint tea often if you have a hormone condition, are pregnant or take hormone medicine. See Safety.
Knee osteoarthritis symptoms (high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea alone)
Not enough evidenceOne 16-week trial of a special high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea found less pain within that group, but it did not clearly beat a commercial tea. Not about the blend.
1 studiesA high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea made for the trial, not an ordin…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 16-week randomised trial in 62 adults with knee osteoarthritis (46 analysed) comparing a high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea with a commercial spearmint tea.
Results
Pain fell from week 0 to 16 in the high-rosmarinic-acid group but not the commercial-tea group; stiffness and physical disability scores fell in both groups. The groups did not differ significantly on SF-36 bodily pain.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small trial, no placebo, one-third dropped from analysis, no group difference on the main pain scale.
Form and dose studied
A high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea made for the trial, not an ordinary tea. No amounts given by design.
Who was studied
Adults with knee osteoarthritis, average age about 61.
Limits
Abstract only; no placebo; the tea studied is not a common product.
Why researchers looked
Rosmarinic acid is an anti-inflammatory compound in the lab, so a tea rich in it was tested for knee pain.
Proposed mechanism Not established
Not established in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Connections to the rest of health
How Moroccan Mint Tea connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholesterol Balance | Low certainty | Cholesterol (green tea part): Pooled trials of green tea found small falls in total and LDL cholesterol, but a later review of shorter trials found no effect. Most trials mixed drinks with extracts, and none tested Moroccan mint tea. | 14 30 18 | |
| Heart Health | Low certainty | Cholesterol (green tea part): Pooled trials of green tea found small falls in total and LDL cholesterol, but a later review of shorter trials found no effect. Most trials mixed drinks with extracts, and none tested Moroccan mint tea. Blood pressure (green tea part): A 2025 review of 36 trials found green tea lowered blood pressure by about 1 mmHg on average, with large differences between trials. A review of short tea trials found no effect. | 14 30 18 26 | |
| Blood Pressure Support | Low certainty | Blood pressure (green tea part): A 2025 review of 36 trials found green tea lowered blood pressure by about 1 mmHg on average, with large differences between trials. A review of short tea trials found no effect. | 26 14 18 | |
| Weight Management | Low certainty | Body weight (green tea part): A Cochrane review found almost no weight change from green tea outside Japan. Nothing tests the blend, and the tea is often served with sugar. | 19 | |
| Heart Health | Biological association | Low certainty | Heart disease and death rates in drinkers (green tea part): In eight Japanese cohorts, people who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had lower death rates than people who drank under one cup. This shows an association only. | 1 33 |
| Longevity | Biological association | Low certainty | Heart disease and death rates in drinkers (green tea part): In eight Japanese cohorts, people who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had lower death rates than people who drank under one cup. This shows an association only. | 1 33 |
| Preventive Wellness | Not enough evidence | Cancer risk (green tea part): A Cochrane review of 142 studies found limited, inconsistent, low-certainty results. It does not show that green tea prevents cancer. | 11 33 | |
| Hormone Balance | Low certainty | Hormone levels in women with excess hair growth or PCOS (spearmint tea alone): Two small trials of spearmint tea alone found lower free testosterone in women with excess hair growth. This is a lab result; objective hair growth did not clearly improve. It was not tested in the blend, and green tea was not part of these trials. | 5 13 9 | |
| Womens Wellness | Low certainty | Hormone levels in women with excess hair growth or PCOS (spearmint tea alone): Two small trials of spearmint tea alone found lower free testosterone in women with excess hair growth. This is a lab result; objective hair growth did not clearly improve. It was not tested in the blend, and green tea was not part of these trials. | 5 13 9 | |
| Joint Health | Not enough evidence | Knee osteoarthritis symptoms (high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea alone): One 16-week trial of a special high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea found less pain within that group, but it did not clearly beat a commercial tea. Not about the blend. | 7 | |
| Pain Support | Not enough evidence | Knee osteoarthritis symptoms (high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea alone): One 16-week trial of a special high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea found less pain within that group, but it did not clearly beat a commercial tea. Not about the blend. | 7 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Cholesterol (green tea part) Studied for: Blood pressure (green tea part) | 14 30 18 26 1 33 |
| Metabolism Weight | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Body weight (green tea part) | 19 |
| Cellular | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Cancer risk (green tea part) | 11 33 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Hormone levels in women with excess hair growth or PCOS (spearmint tea alone) | 5 13 9 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Hormone levels in women with excess hair growth or PCOS (spearmint tea alone) | 5 13 9 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Knee osteoarthritis symptoms (high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint tea alone) | 7 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron deficiency anemia | Moderate certainty | Tea blocked iron absorption in women with iron-deficiency anemia; a case report links moderate green tea with severe anemia. Preparation or compound: Green tea polyphenols |
21 15 | |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Contraindication | Authoritative guidance | NHS 200 mg caffeine daily limit; spearmint tea is untested in pregnancy. Preparation or compound: Caffeine from green tea; spearmint tea |
34 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | Moderate certainty | Cut iron absorption from a meal by more than 85 percent in 46 Moroccan women, with and without anemia. Preparation or compound: Traditional Moroccan green tea |
21 | |
| Free testosterone | Low certainty | Lower in two small trials in women with excess hair growth. Preparation or compound: Spearmint tea alone |
5 13 | |
| LDL cholesterol | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered slightly (green tea, mixed forms); no effect in short trials. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 14 18 |
| Systolic blood pressure | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered about 1 mmHg on average (green tea, mixed forms). A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 26 |
| Free testosterone | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered (spearmint tea alone). A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 5 13 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) | Biological association | Human | Liver effects at high supplement doses; other actions not established in the sources read. Preparation or compound: Tea leaf |
8 27 |
| Caffeine | Biological association | Authoritative guidance | Stimulant. Preparation or compound: Tea leaf |
32 |
| Tea polyphenols | Biological association | Human | Reduced iron absorption from a meal. Preparation or compound: Tea leaf |
21 |
| Carvone | Biological association | Human patch test | A mild skin sensitiser in patch-test data. Preparation or compound: Spearmint leaf (essential oil) |
20 |
| Rosmarinic acid | Biological association | Human | Studied in a special high-rosmarinic-acid tea for knee pain. Preparation or compound: Spearmint leaf |
7 22 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what the research found for 7 outcomes
Each outcome below is one thing researchers measured. Certainty is how far the evidence can be trusted, not how well it works. The full studies are on the next tab.
The evidence
The research centre for Moroccan Mint Tea. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed for the blend and its parts and read the abstracts of the studies listed. We read the NCCIH, FDA, NHS, IARC and WHO pages and checked plant names in GBIF.
Study library: every study we checked 35
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abe 2019 Green tea consumption and mortality in Japanese men and women: a pooled analysis of eight population-based cohort studies in Japan European Journal of Epidemiology · PMID 31392470 · DOI |
Pooled cohort |
313381 313,381 Japanese adults in eight cohorts; 52,943 deaths over a mean 17.3 years |
Green tea drinking (self-reported) leaf (drink) Five or more cups a day versus less than one Mean follow-up 17.3 years · vs Drinking less than 1 cup a day |
Five or more cups a day versus less than one: all-cause death HR 0.90 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.94) in men and 0.82 (0.74 to 0.90) in women; heart disease HR 0.82 (0.75 to 0.90) men, 0.75 (0.68 to 0.84) women; stroke-type (cerebrovascular) HR 0.76 (0.68 to 0.85) men, 0.78 (0.68 to 0.89) women. In women, total cancer death HR 0.89 (0.83 to 0.96) at 1 to 2 cups and 0.91 (0.85 to 0.98) at 3 to 4 cups. Lower death rates among heavy green tea drinkers (an association) (All-cause HR 0.90 (0.87, 0.94) men; 0.82 (0.74, 0.90) women) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Deaths from all causes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease Limitations: Observational: tea drinkers may differ in diet, exercise and health; Japanese data may not apply elsewhere Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Abiri 2023 Tea's anti-obesity properties, cardiometabolic health-promoting potentials, bioactive compounds, and adverse effects: A review focusing on white and green teas Food Science & Nutrition · PMID 37823174 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Review of white and green tea research | White and green tea leaf |
The abstract says Morocco, Japan and China have consumed green tea for centuries. It reports possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, notes that some studies mention toxic effects, and says reducing tea in the last trimester of pregnancy is a good idea. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Health potential and adverse effects of white and green tea Limitations: A narrative review (not a systematic search); the statement on history is a one-line abstract statement; not about mint blends. Funding and conflicts: Conflict of interest: none declared. Read: abstract |
| Akdogan 2004 Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita Labiatae and Mentha spicata Labiatae on liver tissue in rats Human and Experimental Toxicology · PMID 15027812 · DOI |
Animal study animal |
Rats given peppermint or spearmint tea as their drinking water for 30 days, in groups of different strength | Spearmint (Mentha spicata) tea and peppermint tea leaf 30 days · vs plain water |
Liver enzymes AST and ALT rose step by step with tea strength. The weakest group was not significantly different from controls; the two stronger groups were. The stronger groups also showed liver cell damage under the microscope. The authors conclude liver damage occurs after both mints in rats and seems dose-dependent. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver enzymes, liver antioxidant measures, liver tissue under the microscope Limitations: Rats, strong tea as the only drink; not shown to apply to a cup of tea in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract |
| Akdogan 2004 Effects of peppermint teas on plasma testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels and testicular tissue in rats Urology · PMID 15302514 · DOI |
Animal research rat |
48 48 male Wistar rats, four groups of 12 |
Mentha spicata tea at two strengths and Mentha piperita tea, as drinking water · vs Plain water |
Total testosterone fell and FSH and LH rose in all tea groups. Testis tissue scores differed from control; spearmint effects ranged from maturation arrest to diffuse germ-cell aplasia, depending on strength. The authors warn of toxic effects when herbs are not used in the recommended way. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Total testosterone, LH, FSH, testis tissue score Limitations: Rats; very strong tea given as the only drink; not shown to apply to people. Read: abstract |
| Akdogan 2007 Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism Phytotherapy Research · PMID 17310494 · DOI |
Uncontrolled before and after study |
21 21 women with hirsutism (12 with PCOS, 9 with idiopathic hirsutism), Isparta, Turkey |
Spearmint tea (Mentha spicata) 5 days, in the follicular phase |
After 5 days of tea twice a day, free testosterone fell significantly and LH, FSH and estradiol rose. Total testosterone and DHEAS did not fall significantly. The authors say spearmint may be an alternative for mild hirsutism and that more studies are needed. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Free and total testosterone, DHEAS, LH, FSH, estradiol Limitations: No control group, 5 days only, 21 women, hormone tests rather than hair outcomes, abstract only read. Read: abstract |
| Berghea 2025 Spices, herbs and allergic reactions in children: myth or reality - a narrative review with scoping elements Frontiers in Allergy · PMID 41306764 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Children, with some adult cases for context | Spices and herbs various |
Spice and herb allergies are increasingly recognised in children, from mild mouth reactions to anaphylaxis. Herbs of the mint family (Lamiaceae), such as mint, oregano and sage, are among those named. Treatment relies on avoiding the allergen and being ready for emergencies. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Allergic reactions to spices and herbs Limitations: Narrative review; not about tea; says nothing about how common mint allergy is. Funding and conflicts: No commercial conflicts declared. Read: abstract |
| Connelly 2014 High-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea in the management of knee osteoarthritis symptoms Journal of Medicinal Food · PMID 25058311 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
62 Adults with medically diagnosed knee osteoarthritis (mean age 60.7, BMI 32.9); 62 randomised, 46 analysed |
Tea from a high-rosmarinic-acid spearmint variety 16 weeks, twice daily · vs Commercially available spearmint tea (no placebo) |
Pain fell from week 0 to 16 in the high-rosmarinic-acid group but not the commercial-tea group. Stiffness and physical disability scores fell in both groups. SF-36 bodily pain improved within the high-rosmarinic-acid group only, but the groups did not differ significantly. Walk test improved non-significantly in that group; the stair test did not change. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: WOMAC pain, stiffness and physical function; SF-36 quality of life; 6-minute walk; stair climb Limitations: Only 46 of 62 analysed, no placebo, the two groups were not significantly different on bodily pain, abstract only read. Registration: NCT01380015 Read: abstract |
| EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) 2018 Scientific opinion on the safety of green tea catechins EFSA Journal · PMID 32625874 · DOI |
Regulatory opinion |
Review of published studies, authority reports and submitted data | Green tea infusions, reconstituted drinks and food supplements containing catechins leaf (drink) and extract Mean EGCG intake from infusions in the EU 90 to 300 mg/day (up to 866 mg/day for high-level drinkers); supplements 5 to 1,000 mg/day |
Catechins from traditionally prepared green tea infusions, and reconstituted drinks of the same composition, are in general considered safe at the intakes reported in EU countries. Rare cases of liver injury have been reported after infusions, most probably an idiosyncratic (individual) reaction. Clinical trials show that EGCG at or above 800 mg a day taken as a food supplement raised liver enzymes (serum transaminases) compared with control. Drink generally safe at usual intakes; high-dose supplements raise liver enzymes Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver safety of catechins (EGCG) Limitations: Abstract only was read; the full opinion could not be opened Funding and conflicts: Regulator opinion Read: abstract |
| El Hassani 2020 Characterization, activities, and ethnobotanical uses of Mentha species in Morocco Heliyon · PMID 33294657 · DOI |
Review n/a |
Review of mint (Mentha) species in Morocco and surveys of their uses | Mentha species including Mentha spicata leaf and oil |
The abstract says Mentha spicata and Mentha viridis are poorly explored even though Moroccans drink them daily in tea infusions. Mint species are used in seven regions of Morocco, and most research has been on antibacterial effects of the essential oils. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Species, composition, activities and traditional uses Limitations: A review; the research it summarises is mostly on oils and in the lab, not on tea in people. Funding and conflicts: No conflict of interest declared. Read: abstract |
| El Jai 2021 Multi-mycotoxin contamination of green tea infusion and dietary exposure assessment in Moroccan population Food Research International · PMID 33648210 · DOI |
Food contamination survey n/a |
111 111 green tea samples sold in Morocco |
Green tea sold in Morocco leaf |
Of 111 samples, 62 (56 percent) held at least one mold toxin; the most common were alternariol (40 percent) and zearalenone (35 percent). No sample went over European Pharmacopoeia limits for the mold toxins that have them. The estimated daily intake was judged not to be a risk for the population. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Presence of 15 mold toxins (mycotoxins) and estimated intake Limitations: One country, one time; green tea only, not tea with mint; a lab survey, not a health outcome. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract (research support non-US government listed in PubMed). Read: abstract |
| Filippini 2020 Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for the prevention of cancer Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · PMID 32118296 · DOI |
Systematic review |
142 studies: 11 randomised trials (1795 people, green tea extract versus placebo) and 131 observational studies (over 1,100,000 people) | Green tea extract in trials; drinking green tea in observational studies leaf (drink) and extract Differed Differed · vs Placebo (trials); lowest intake (cohorts) |
Trials of extract (low-certainty): prostate cancer RR 0.50 (95% CI 0.18 to 1.36), gynaecological cancer RR 1.50 (0.41 to 5.48), non-melanoma skin cancer RR 1.00 (0.06 to 15.92). Observational, highest versus lowest intake: overall cancer incidence RR 0.83 (0.65 to 1.07, three studies); cancer death RR 0.99 (0.91 to 1.07, eight studies); both low-certainty. Results conflicted by study design for oesophageal, prostate and urinary cancers and leukaemia. The authors call the evidence limited and inconsistent. Extract side effects included stomach and gut problems, raised liver enzymes and, more rarely, insomnia, raised blood pressure and skin reactions. No clear effect on cancer risk; inconsistent (Prostate RR 0.50 (0.18, 1.36); cancer incidence RR 0.83 (0.65, 1.07); cancer mortality RR 0.99 (0.91, 1.07)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Cancer incidence and death, adverse effects, quality of life Limitations: Most studies in Asian populations who drink a lot of green tea; observational studies cannot prove cause; trials used extract Funding and conflicts: Non-US government support listed in PubMed record Read: abstract |
| GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Mentha spicata L. (usage key 2927175) GBIF species API · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | Mentha spicata L. |
Accepted species Mentha spicata L., family Lamiaceae, order Lamiales, genus Mentha. Checked through the GBIF API on 2026-10-25. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name and family Limitations: A taxonomy database record. Read: api |
| Grant 2010 Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial Phytotherapy Research · PMID 19585478 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
42 42 volunteers with PCOS-related hirsutism, two centres; 41 completed |
Spearmint herbal tea 30 days (hormones checked at 0, 15 and 30 days) · vs Placebo herbal tea |
Free and total testosterone fell and LH and FSH rose in the spearmint group (p < 0.05). Self-rated hirsutism scores fell (p < 0.05), but the objective Ferriman-Gallwey score did not differ between groups (p = 0.12). The author says the trial was probably too short and proposes a longer one. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Free and total testosterone, LH, FSH, self-rated hirsutism (modified DLQI), Ferriman-Gallwey score Limitations: Small, 30 days, no figures for effect size in the abstract, objective hair outcome not improved, abstract only read. Read: abstract |
| Hartley 2013 Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · PMID 23780706 · DOI |
Systematic review |
821 11 randomised trials of at least 3 months in healthy adults or adults at high risk of heart disease; 7 trials tested green tea, 4 black tea |
Green tea, black tea or tea extracts (doses and forms differed between trials) leaf (drink) and extracts Differed between trials At least 3 months · vs No intervention, placebo or minimal intervention |
No trial reported heart or blood vessel events. Green tea: total cholesterol -0.62 mmol/L (95% CI -0.77 to -0.46), LDL cholesterol -0.64 mmol/L (-0.77 to -0.52), systolic blood pressure -3.18 mmHg (-5.25 to -1.11), diastolic -3.42 (-4.54 to -2.30). The authors say only a small number of studies contributed and the green tea results were not stable to sensitivity analysis. Adverse events in five trials were judged unlikely to be due to the tea. Small lowering of cholesterol and blood pressure, unstable (TC MD -0.62 (-0.77, -0.46); LDL MD -0.64 (-0.77, -0.52); SBP MD -3.18 (-5.25, -1.11)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Heart disease events, blood pressure, cholesterol Limitations: Few trials per analysis, risk of bias, forms and doses mixed (drink and extract); no long-term follow-up Funding and conflicts: Non-US government support listed in PubMed record; no industry funding stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| He 2024 Severe iron-deficiency anemia after short-term moderate consumption of green tea in woman: A rare case report Heliyon · PMID 39263133 · DOI |
Case report |
1 One woman who drank moderate amounts of green tea for about three months |
Green tea drink leaf (drink) Moderate (amount not given in the abstract) About 3 months |
Haemoglobin fell by 6.9 g/dl with severe iron-deficiency anemia. After she changed her tea habits there was no recurrence. The authors say clinicians should know even moderate tea intake can cause severe anemia in people who are especially vulnerable to its effect on iron absorption. One reported case of severe anemia Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Haemoglobin Limitations: Single case; other causes of iron loss are not described in the abstract Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: abstract |
| Hu 2018 The safety of green tea and green tea extract consumption in adults - Results of a systematic review Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology · PMID 29580974 · DOI |
Systematic review |
Toxicology studies and adverse-event data from 159 human intervention studies | Brewed green tea, green tea in drinks or food, and concentrated catechin-rich preparations leaf (drink) and extract |
Liver was the target organ. Liver adverse events in humans came from a limited range of concentrated, catechin-rich preparations taken as large single doses, and not from brewed tea or extracts used in drinks or food. The authors derived a safe intake level for adults for solid single-dose preparations and a separate, higher observed safe level for beverage forms (the numbers are in the paper). Liver effects tied to concentrated bolus-dose preparations, not brewed tea Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver adverse events Limitations: Abstract only was read; the abstract does not state who funded the review Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflict-of-interest statement not read Read: abstract |
| Hurrell 1999 Inhibition of non-haem iron absorption in man by polyphenolic-containing beverages British Journal of Nutrition · PMID 10999016 |
Controlled trial |
Adult volunteers given a bread meal with radio-labelled iron | Black tea, herb teas (chamomile, vervain, lime flower, pennyroyal, peppermint), coffee and cocoa leaf (drink) Test beverages with different polyphenol amounts Single meals · vs Water control meal |
All the beverages reduced iron absorption in a way that depended on their polyphenol content. Black tea cut absorption by 79 to 94 percent, peppermint tea 84, pennyroyal 73, cocoa 71, vervain 59, lime flower 52 and camomile 47 percent. Milk made little difference. Green tea was NOT tested. Large drop in iron absorption from a meal Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Iron absorption from the meal Limitations: Green tea not tested; single meals in adults; applying this to green tea is an inference Funding and conflicts: Non-US government support listed in PubMed record Read: abstract |
| Igho-Osagie 2020 Short-Term Tea Consumption Is Not Associated with a Reduction in Blood Lipids or Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Journal of Nutrition · PMID 33188386 · DOI |
Meta-analysis |
798 14 randomised trials in healthy adults and at-risk adults (obesity, prediabetes, borderline high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome) |
Green tea or black tea leaf (drink) Differed 4 to 24 weeks (mean 7.4) · vs Placebo or control |
No significant effect of tea on systolic or diastolic blood pressure, total, LDL or HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. Strength of evidence was low to moderate because the studies were small and underpowered. No significant effect in short trials (No significant effects (intervals not given in the abstract)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood pressure, total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides Limitations: Small trials, short duration, green and black tea pooled; absence of effect is not proof of no effect Funding and conflicts: Non-US government support listed in PubMed record Read: abstract |
| Jurgens 2012 Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · PMID 23235664 · DOI |
Systematic review |
Randomised trials of at least 12 weeks in overweight or obese adults; six trials outside Japan (532 people) and eight in Japan (1030 people) | Green tea preparations (drink and extracts) leaf (drink) and extracts Differed 12 to 13 weeks · vs Control |
Outside Japan: weight difference -0.04 kg (95% CI -0.5 to 0.4), BMI -0.2 kg/m2 (-0.5 to 0.1), waist -0.2 cm (-1.4 to 0.9). The eight Japanese trials were too different to pool; weight differences ranged from -0.2 to -3.5 kg. Adverse events in four of eight trials that recorded them were mild to moderate; two needing hospital care were reported as not related. Almost no weight change outside Japan; mixed results in Japanese trials (Weight MD -0.04 kg (-0.5, 0.4) outside Japan) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Weight, BMI, waist circumference, adverse events Limitations: Short trials; green tea preparations of many kinds; not a drink-only result Funding and conflicts: Non-US government support listed in PubMed record Read: abstract |
| Kroona 2018 Carvone Contact Allergy in Southern Sweden: A 21-year Retrospective Study Acta Dermato-Venereologica · PMID 30085320 · DOI |
Retrospective record review |
4221 4,221 patch-tested patients in Malmo, Sweden, 1996 to 2016 |
Carvone, the mint flavour in spearmint oil, as a patch test |
147 of 4,221 referred patients had a positive patch test to carvone. 73% of them had oral signs and 57% had oral lichen. Carvone is described as a mild skin sensitiser. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Patch-test reactions to carvone Limitations: Patients were referred for skin problems, so rates in the general public are unknown. Not about tea. Read: abstract |
| Lazrak 2021 Tea Consumption Reduces Iron Bioavailability from NaFeEDTA in Nonanemic Women and Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia: Stable Iron Isotope Studies in Morocco Journal of Nutrition · PMID 34038558 · DOI |
Randomised crossover test meal study |
46 46 Moroccan women: 25 with iron-deficiency anemia and 21 without anemia |
Traditional Moroccan green tea (300 mL serving, 492 mg polyphenols) with a wheat-flour meal containing labelled iron (NaFeEDTA) leaf (green tea) single test meals, absorption measured after 14 days · vs water with the same meal |
Tea reduced iron absorption from the meal by more than 85 percent in both groups. Median absorption in women with anemia was 36.7 percent without tea and 4.1 percent with tea; in women without anemia 16.7 percent without tea and 1.4 percent with tea (both P < 0.001). The authors say tea polyphenols block iron absorption even when absorption is strongly raised by anemia. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fractional iron absorption from the test meal with and without tea Limitations: Single test meals, not long-term iron status; the iron was a fortificant (NaFeEDTA) in a wheat-flour meal; the tea was traditional Moroccan green tea, whether mint was in it is not stated in the abstract; women only. Registered NCT02175888. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract (research support non-US government listed in PubMed). Read: abstract |
| NCBI PubChem 2026 PubChem compound records for carvone and rosmarinic acid PubChem REST API · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | Carvone, rosmarinic acid |
Checked through the PubChem API on 2026-10-25: carvone (racemic form) CID 7439, (-)-carvone CID 439570, rosmarinic acid CID 5281792 (formula C18H16O8). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compound identifiers Limitations: Identity check only. Read: api |
| NICHD / 2006 Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Green Tea LactMed (NCBI Bookshelf) · PMID 30000907 |
Database record |
n/a | Green tea leaves and stems leaf and stem |
Green tea leaves and stems contain caffeine, L-theanine, polyphenols and tannins. Fussiness, jitteriness and poor sleep have been reported in infants of mothers with extremely high caffeine intakes. Giving tea directly to infants can interfere with iron absorption and cause anemia, but anemia in breastfed infants has not been reported with maternal tea intake. Passage of L-theanine into breastmilk has not been studied. No studies of oral green tea extract in breastfeeding were found. No clear harm from usual maternal tea intake; caution at very high caffeine Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Breastfeeding safety Limitations: Summary record; no new data Funding and conflicts: Public database Read: abstract |
| NIDDK 2012 LiverTox: Green Tea (Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury) LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf) · PMID 31643260 |
Database record |
n/a | Green tea extract and, more rarely, large amounts of green tea leaf and extract |
Green tea extract and, more rarely, ingestion of large amounts of green tea have been implicated in cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury, including instances of acute liver failure and either need for urgent liver transplantation or death. Rare but serious liver injury, mostly with extract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Drug-induced liver injury Limitations: Only the PubMed summary was read; the full LiverTox page was not opened Funding and conflicts: Public database Read: abstract |
| Own search 2026 PubMed search for studies of the finished blend (Moroccan mint tea) PubMed · Source |
Search record n/a |
n/a | Moroccan mint tea |
A PubMed search on 2026-10-25 for Moroccan mint tea returned one paper, a review of mint species in Morocco (33294657). The old text on this page reported a Europe PMC search with no human trial of the blend. No human trial of the blend as a drink was found. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether any human study of the blend exists Limitations: Absence from a search is not proof that no study exists. Read: search |
| Rezaei 2025 Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure in adults: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials Blood Pressure · PMID 40497293 · DOI |
Meta-analysis |
36 randomised trials in adults | Green tea supplementation (forms not broken out in the abstract) Not given here Studies of 8 weeks or less showed stronger effects · vs Control or placebo |
Systolic blood pressure fell by 1.08 mmHg (95% CI -1.98 to -0.18; I2 85%) and diastolic by 1.09 mmHg (-1.67 to -0.50; I2 74%). Effects were stronger in people with raised starting blood pressure, shorter studies, Asian populations and women. No clear link between size of change and dose or duration. The authors call green tea a complementary approach, not a treatment. Very small average blood pressure drop with large differences between studies (SBP -1.08 (-1.98, -0.18); DBP -1.09 (-1.67, -0.50)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure Limitations: Very high heterogeneity; the abstract does not separate drink from extract; the GRADE rating is not given in the abstract Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Saklar 2015 Effects of different brewing conditions on catechin content and sensory acceptance in Turkish green tea infusions Journal of Food Science and Technology · PMID 26396411 · DOI |
Lab analysis lab/food analysis |
Turkish green tea brewed at 75, 85 and 95 C for 1 to 45 minutes; nine trained tasters | Brewed Turkish green tea leaf (drink) |
Brewing at 85 C for 3 minutes gave the most EGCG (50.69 mg per 100 ml) with the best taste scores. Brewing 30 and 45 minutes at 85 and 95 C tasted bitter and dark. Catechin level and taste depend on brewing time and heat Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Catechin content and taste Limitations: One tea, a laboratory study with nine tasters; not a rule for all green teas Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: abstract |
| Taylor 1999 Probable antagonism of warfarin by green tea Annals of Pharmacotherapy · PMID 10332534 · DOI |
Case report |
1 A 44-year-old man with a mechanical aortic heart valve taking warfarin |
Green tea drink leaf (drink) Half a gallon to a gallon of green tea a day for about a week About 1 week before the low reading |
The INR fell from 3.79 to 1.37 about three weeks later, and was 1.14 a month after. He had started drinking one-half to one gallon of green tea a day about a week before the INR of 1.37. After stopping the tea the INR rose to 2.55. The authors suggested vitamin K in the tea. A drop in warfarin effect linked in time to a very large amount of green tea (INR 3.79 to 1.37) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood clotting test (INR) Limitations: One case; cannot prove cause; very large amount of tea; vitamin K content was not measured Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: abstract |
| World Health Organization 2026 WHO: Healthy diet fact sheet WHO fact sheet · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
General public | Free sugars |
Says free sugars should be limited to less than 10 percent of total daily energy intake, about 50 g (about 12 level teaspoons) for a person of healthy weight eating about 2000 calories a day, and that 5 percent or less may give additional health benefits. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Advice on free sugars Limitations: A general fact sheet; says nothing about tea. Page text read on 2026-10-25 (date of the fact sheet update not recorded). Read: full-text |
| Zheng 2011 Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · PMID 21715508 · DOI |
Meta-analysis |
1136 14 randomised trials in adults |
Green tea beverage or green tea extract leaf (drink) and extract Differed Differed · vs Control |
Total cholesterol lowered by 7.20 mg/dL (95% CI -8.19 to -6.21) and LDL cholesterol by 2.19 mg/dL (-3.16 to -1.21); HDL cholesterol did not change significantly. The authors say changes were not influenced by type of intervention, dose, duration, health status or study quality. Small average drop in total and LDL cholesterol (TC -7.20 (-8.19, -6.21) mg/dL; LDL -2.19 (-3.16, -1.21) mg/dL) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol Limitations: Mixes drinks and extracts; the abstract gives no separate drink-only result; later reviews found no effect in short trials (see Igho-Osagie 2020) Funding and conflicts: Non-US government support listed in PubMed record; funding details not in the abstract Read: abstract |
| n/a 2016 IARC (WHO): Press release no. 244, coffee, mate and very hot beverages (15 June 2016) n/a · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
n/a | n/a |
IARC classified drinking very hot beverages as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), based on limited evidence from studies in places where tea or mate is drunk very hot, and said it is the temperature rather than the drink that appears responsible. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: IARC classified drinking very hot beverages as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), based on limited evidence from studies in places where tea or mate is drunk very hot, and said it is the temperature rather than the drink that appears responsible. Limitations: Press release read from the PDF on 2026-10-25; the exact temperature figure could not be read from the extracted text, so it is not quoted here. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2024 FDA: Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? (content current as of 28 Aug 2024) n/a · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Lists green tea at 37 mg caffeine per 12 fl oz drink. Cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally linked with negative effects in most adults, with wide differences in sensitivity. Lists signs of too much caffeine (faster heart rate, palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, upset stomach, nausea, headache). Says caffeinated drinks should be avoided for children younger than age 2 (quoting the Dietary Guidelines) and that pregnant or breastfeeding people should talk to a health professional. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Lists green tea at 37 mg caffeine per 12 fl oz drink. Cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally linked with negative effects in most adults, with wide differences in sensitivity. Lists signs of too much caffeine (faster heart rate, palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, upset stomach, nausea, headache). Says caffeinated drinks should be avoided for children younger than age 2 (quoting the Dietary Guidelines) and that pregnant or breastfeeding people should talk to a health professional. Limitations: Consumer guidance page, not a trial. Read in full on 2026-10-25. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2025 NCCIH (NIH): Green Tea: Usefulness and Safety (last updated February 2025) n/a · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Says definite conclusions cannot yet be reached on whether green tea helps for most uses. Cancer results inconsistent; lower heart disease risk seen in Asian but not Western groups; small cholesterol drops mostly from extract trials; no safety concerns reported for green tea as a drink in adults; liver injury uncommon and mostly with extract tablets or capsules; interactions with nadolol (high-dose green tea), atorvastatin (extract) and raloxifene; keep caffeine moderate in pregnancy. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Says definite conclusions cannot yet be reached on whether green tea helps for most uses. Cancer results inconsistent; lower heart disease risk seen in Asian but not Western groups; small cholesterol drops mostly from extract trials; no safety concerns reported for green tea as a drink in adults; liver injury uncommon and mostly with extract tablets or capsules; interactions with nadolol (high-dose green tea), atorvastatin (extract) and raloxifene; keep caffeine moderate in pregnancy. Limitations: A regulator-style fact sheet, not a trial. Page text read in full on 2026-10-25. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 NHS (UK): Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) n/a · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Says you should not have more than 200 mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy, estimates about 75 mg in a cup of tea such as black or green tea, and says too much caffeine has been linked to a higher chance of miscarriage and stillbirth. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Says you should not have more than 200 mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy, estimates about 75 mg in a cup of tea such as black or green tea, and says too much caffeine has been linked to a higher chance of miscarriage and stillbirth. Limitations: Public-health guidance, not a trial. Read in full on 2026-10-25. The per-cup figure is an estimate. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (usage key 3189635), retrieved 2026-10-25 n/a · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Accepted species, family Theaceae, order Ericales, genus Camellia. Synonyms listed by the API include Camellia bohea (L.) Sweet, Camellia chinensis (Sims) Kuntze and Camellia cantonensis Lour. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted species, family Theaceae, order Ericales, genus Camellia. Synonyms listed by the API include Camellia bohea (L.) Sweet, Camellia chinensis (Sims) Kuntze and Camellia cantonensis Lour. Limitations: Taxonomic database record via the GBIF API. Read: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- No human study of the finished blend was found.
- No source measured caffeine, catechins or sugar in a glass of the blend, or how hot it is served.
- No study of spearmint tea in pregnancy, breastfeeding or children.
- No drug-interaction study of spearmint tea.
- No lead, pesticide or fluoride data for this blend.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Hormonal 1
Free testosterone
Lowered (spearmint tea alone) in trials
The part of testosterone in the blood that is not bound to carrier proteins.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
It is the androgen measure most linked to unwanted hair growth in women.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A blood test result, not a patient outcome.
Safety implication
Changes in androgen may matter in pregnancy, fertility or with hormone medicine; see Safety.
Metabolic 1
LDL cholesterol
Lowered slightly (green tea, mixed forms); no effect in short trials in trials
The cholesterol carried in low-density lipoproteins, often called 'bad' cholesterol.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Higher LDL is linked to heart disease risk.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A blood test result, not a patient outcome.
Safety implication
None specific.
Other 1
Systolic blood pressure
Lowered about 1 mmHg on average (green tea, mixed forms) in trials
The upper number in a blood pressure reading.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
High pressure raises stroke and heart risk.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A tiny average change; not shown to matter for health.
Safety implication
Caffeine can raise heart rate in sensitive people.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | -1.08 mmHg (95% CI -1.98 to -0.18), very high differences between trials | Adults, 36 trials | Green tea drinks and extracts |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 7
- Caffeine from the green tea part. Green tea gives this blend its caffeine. The FDA lists 37 mg in a 12 fl oz cup of green tea and says about 400 mg a day from all sources is not generally linked with harm in most adults, with wide differences in sensitivity. Too much can cause fast heartbeat, poor sleep, jitters, upset stomach and headache. How much a Moroccan-style pot holds was not measured in any source we read. Authoritative guidance 32
- Pregnancy: caffeine limit and untested spearmint. The NHS says not to have more than 200 mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy and counts about 75 mg in a cup of black or green tea. Spearmint tea changed hormone levels in women in small trials and has not been studied in pregnancy. Ask your midwife or doctor. Authoritative guidance 34 5 13
- Tea with meals can block iron. In 46 Moroccan women, a serving of traditional Moroccan green tea with a wheat-flour meal cut iron absorption by more than 85 percent, in women with and without iron-deficiency anemia. This is absorption from one meal, not iron levels over time. If your iron is low, ask a clinician about when to drink tea. Human study 21
- Sugar as commonly served. Moroccan mint tea is often served sweetened. No study we read measured how much sugar is in a glass, so no figure is given. WHO says free sugars, which include sugar added to a drink, should be under 10 percent of daily energy, and under 5 percent may bring more benefit. If you have diabetes, ask your care team about sweetened tea. Authoritative guidance 29
- Extract capsules are a different product. A cup of the blend is a weak water extract. NCCIH reports no safety concerns for green tea as a drink in adults, and EFSA judged traditional infusions generally safe at European intakes while noting rare liver injury after infusions, most probably an individual reaction. Green tea extract capsules at high doses raised liver enzymes in trials and have been linked to serious liver injury. Do not carry results from one form to the other. Authoritative guidance 33 8 16 24
- Hormone effects of spearmint tea. In two small trials, spearmint tea alone lowered free testosterone and raised LH and FSH in women with excess hair growth. Nobody has tested whether the blend does this. People with PCOS, fertility questions or hormone medicine should ask a clinician before drinking it often. Controlled trial 5 13
- Very hot drinks. IARC classed drinking very hot beverages as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) for oesophageal cancer and said it is the temperature, not the drink, that appears responsible. The tea is usually served hot; letting a poured glass cool is a sensible step. No source we read measured how hot it is served. Authoritative guidance 31
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine effects: fast heartbeat, poor sleep, jitters, upset stomach, headache Per the FDA consumer update; sensitivity varies widely. | Depends on the person and the total caffeine in the day | mild to moderate Usually settles as caffeine wears off | Authoritative guidance 32 |
| Lower iron absorption from a meal eaten with the tea A 2024 case report links moderate green tea with severe iron-deficiency anemia in one woman. | More than 85 percent reduction in one study of Moroccan women | matters most with low iron Not studied over time | Controlled trial 21 |
| Lower free testosterone and higher LH and FSH in women (spearmint tea alone) Seen in women with hirsutism; effects in other people or over longer times are unknown. | The main result in both small trials | not graded Not studied | Controlled trial 5 13 |
| Allergy to mint-family herbs A 2025 review of spice and herb allergy in children names mint-family herbs among those that can trigger reactions. | Not quantified for tea | mild mouth reactions to anaphylaxis Not applicable | Review 6 |
Liver
Liver injury linked to green tea is rare and mostly linked to concentrated extract capsules or tablets. LiverTox says green tea extract, and more rarely large amounts of tea, have been implicated in acute liver injury. EFSA found raised liver enzymes with high-dose EGCG supplements in trials and noted rare liver injury after infusions, most probably an unusual individual reaction. A systematic review of human studies found liver events came from concentrated, catechin-rich preparations taken as large single doses, not from brewed tea. In rats given spearmint tea or peppermint tea as drinking water for 30 days, liver enzymes rose with tea strength and liver cells were damaged; this is an animal result at strengths not matched to a cup of tea in people. 24 8 16 3
How often. No rate in drinkers of the blend could be found. Not finding reports is not proof of safety.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was read for the drink. Stop any extract and get care if you notice yellow skin or eyes or dark urine.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Moroccan Mint Tea supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 5
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warfarin prescription | The case authors suggested vitamin K in the tea could counter warfarin; vitamin K was not measured. | One 1999 case report: INR fell from 3.79 to 1.37 after about a week of half a gallon to a gallon of green tea a day, and rose to 2.55 after stopping. One case, a very large amount. | Case report Very low certainty 28 | Tell your prescriber about any big change in tea habits so your INR can be checked. |
| Nadolol (beta-blocker), atorvastatin (extract), raloxifene prescription | Not described in the source read. | NCCIH says high doses of green tea lowered blood levels of nadolol, green tea extract lowered atorvastatin, and a study showed an interaction with raloxifene. | Authoritative guidance Low certainty 33 | Ask your pharmacist if you take any of these. |
| Iron supplements and iron-poor diets supplement | Tea polyphenols reduce iron absorption. | More than 85 percent less iron absorbed from a meal with traditional Moroccan green tea in 46 women; a radio-iron study found peppermint tea cut absorption by 84 percent (spearmint was not tested). | Human study Moderate certainty 21 17 15 | If you have low iron, ask a clinician. Whether drinking tea away from meals helps was not tested in the sources read. |
| Medicines that act on sex hormones (anti-androgen medicines, hormonal contraceptives, fertility treatment) prescription | Theory: spearmint tea alone changed free testosterone, LH and FSH in small trials. | No interaction has been documented. | Pharmacological theory Very low certainty 5 13 | Ask your doctor or pharmacist before regular use. |
| Other sources of caffeine food | Caffeine adds up across coffee, other teas, energy drinks and some supplements. | The FDA says its 400 mg figure is for all caffeine in a day. | Authoritative guidance Moderate certainty 32 34 | Count all caffeine sources, especially in pregnancy. |
Who should check first 8
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Not banned, but the green tea counts toward the daily caffeine limit, and spearmint tea changed hormone levels in women in small trials and is untested in pregnancy. Ask a clinician. | Authoritative guidance 34 5 13 |
| Breastfeeding | LactMed reports infant fussiness and poor sleep only with extremely high maternal caffeine. No study of spearmint tea in breastfeeding was found. | Authoritative guidance 23 |
| Infants and young children | Do not give tea to infants: LactMed says it can interfere with iron absorption and cause anemia. The FDA quotes guidance to avoid caffeinated drinks for children under 2. | Authoritative guidance 23 32 |
| Low iron or anemia | Ask a clinician about tea around meals. | Human study 21 15 |
| Diabetes or watching sugar | Ask your care team about sweetened tea. No source measured the sugar in a glass. | Authoritative guidance 29 |
| Allergy to mint or mint-family herbs | Do not use. Severe allergic reactions are an emergency. | Review 6 |
| Hormone condition, PCOS, fertility treatment or hormone medicine | Ask a clinician before drinking it often. | Controlled trial 5 13 |
| Taking warfarin, nadolol, a statin or raloxifene | Ask your pharmacist or prescriber before changing how much tea or extract you take. | Authoritative guidance 28 33 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Brewed green tea has no safety concerns reported for adults apart from caffeine (NCCIH). The main toxicity concern for green tea is the liver, linked to concentrated extract. For spearmint, only rat studies at strong tea strengths show liver and testis effects.
Animal. Rats given spearmint tea as drinking water for 30 days showed dose-related liver enzyme rises and liver cell damage. In another rat study, strong spearmint tea lowered testosterone and changed testis tissue. These are not shown to apply to people.
Human doses studied. Spearmint tea twice a day for 5 to 30 days in women with hirsutism. No amounts are given here by design.
High dose or long term signals. Long-term safety of daily spearmint tea in people was not found.
Overdose response. Not described in the sources read.
Genotoxicity. Not read.
Toxic or hazardous parts. The leaf is used for tea. Pennyroyal is a different mint with its own toxicity and is not the mint in this tea.
A survey of 111 green tea samples sold in Morocco found at least one mold toxin in 56 percent; none went over European Pharmacopoeia limits and the authors judged the estimated intake not a risk. Nothing was found for heavy metals, pesticides or fluoride in this blend.
Mold toxins in green tea. 62 of 111 Moroccan-market green tea samples held at least one mold toxin (alternariol 40 percent, zearalenone 35 percent). No sample exceeded European Pharmacopoeia limits where limits exist; estimated intake was judged not a risk for the Moroccan population. 10
Heavy metals, pesticides, fluoride, spearmint leaf quality. Not found in the sources read for this blend. Not described is not proof of none.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| NCCIH (NIH) (United States) | Says no safety concerns have been reported for green tea as a beverage in adults; lists extract side effects, rare liver injury, medicine interactions and a caffeine caution in pregnancy. source | 2025-02 |
| EFSA (European Union) | Opinion on safety of green tea catechins: infusions prepared the traditional way are in general considered safe at EU intakes; rare liver injury after infusions; supplements providing 800 mg EGCG a day or more raised liver enzymes. source | 2018-04 |
| NHS (United Kingdom) | Pregnancy: no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day; about 75 mg in a cup of black or green tea. source | 2026-06-15 |
| US FDA (United States) | Caffeine consumer update: green tea 37 mg per 12 fl oz; 400 mg a day not generally associated with harm in most adults. source | 2024-08-28 |
| IARC (WHO) (International) | Very hot beverages probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A); temperature, not the drink, appears responsible. source | 2016-06-15 |
| WHO (International) | Free sugars under 10 percent of daily energy (about 50 g for a 2000-calorie diet); 5 percent or less may give more benefit. source | 2026-10-25 (read) |
| NICHD LactMed (United States) | Caffeine-related infant fussiness only at extremely high maternal intake; tea given directly to infants can cause anemia. source | 2006 |
When to get medical help
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, strong tiredness or pain in the upper right belly while using green tea extract: stop it and get medical care now.
- Swelling of the lips or face, trouble breathing, or hives after drinking it: call emergency services.
- Chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, fainting: call emergency services.
- Black stools or unusual bruising or bleeding if you take warfarin: contact your prescriber or emergency services.
- Very pale skin, breathlessness or marked tiredness in someone who drinks a lot of tea and has low iron: see a clinician.
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Moroccan mint tea?
Is Moroccan mint tea healthy?
How much caffeine does it have?
It comes from the green tea. The FDA lists 37 mg in a 12 fl oz cup of green tea and says about 400 mg a day from all sources is not generally linked with harm in most adults. No source measured a Moroccan-style pot, and none gave caffeine for spearmint leaf.
Is it safe in pregnancy or for breastfeeding?
The green tea counts toward the caffeine limit: the NHS says no more than 200 mg a day in pregnancy and counts about 75 mg in a cup of black or green tea. Spearmint tea changed hormone levels in small trials and has not been studied in pregnancy. LactMed reports infant fussiness only with extremely high maternal caffeine. Ask your clinician.
Does it affect iron?
What about the sugar?
The tea is often served sweetened, and no source we read measured how much sugar is in a glass. WHO says free sugars, which include sugar stirred into a drink, should be under 10 percent of daily energy. If you have diabetes, ask your care team.
Does it help with weight, cholesterol or blood pressure?
Does the spearmint change hormones?
Is it the same as green tea extract capsules?
Does it interact with medicines?
Is the hot tea a cancer risk?
IARC classed very hot beverages as probably carcinogenic to the oesophagus and said it is the temperature, not the drink. No source measured how hot Moroccan mint tea is served. Let a poured glass cool.
Are there contaminants?
A survey of 111 green tea samples sold in Morocco found at least one mold toxin in 56 percent; none went over European Pharmacopoeia limits and the authors judged intake not a risk. Nothing was found on heavy metals or pesticides for this blend.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We searched PubMed for the blend and its parts and read the abstracts of the studies listed. We read the NCCIH, FDA, NHS, IARC and WHO pages and checked plant names in GBIF.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. This page is information, not a recommendation to drink or take anything.
Sources 35
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Abe SK, Saito E, Sawada N, et al. Green tea consumption and mortality in Japanese men and women: a pooled analysis of eight population-based cohort studies in Japan. European Journal of Epidemiology. 2019. PMID 31392470. DOI 10.1007/s10654-019-00545-y. (abstract)
- Abiri B, Amini S, Hejazi M, Hosseinpanah F, Zarghi A, Abbaspour F, Valizadeh M. Tea's anti-obesity properties, cardiometabolic health-promoting potentials, bioactive compounds, and adverse effects: A review focusing on white and green teas. Food Science & Nutrition. 2023. PMID 37823174. DOI 10.1002/fsn3.3595. (abstract)
- Akdogan M, Ozguner M, Aydin G, Gokalp O. Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita Labiatae and Mentha spicata Labiatae on liver tissue in rats. Human and Experimental Toxicology. 2004. PMID 15027812. DOI 10.1191/0960327104ht412oa. (abstract)
- Akdogan M, Ozguner M, Kocak A, Oncu M, Cicek E. Effects of peppermint teas on plasma testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels and testicular tissue in rats. Urology. 2004. PMID 15302514. DOI 10.1016/j.urology.2004.03.046. (abstract)
- Akdogan M, Tamer MN, Cure E, Cure MC, Koroglu BK, Delibas N. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytotherapy Research. 2007. PMID 17310494. DOI 10.1002/ptr.2074. (abstract)
- Berghea EC, Feketea G, Cosoreanu MT, Popa OM, Ionescu MD, Porr C, Berghea F, Vassilopoulou E. Spices, herbs and allergic reactions in children: myth or reality - a narrative review with scoping elements. Frontiers in Allergy. 2025. PMID 41306764. DOI 10.3389/falgy.2025.1698559. (abstract)
- Connelly AE, Tucker AJ, Tulk H, Catapang M, Chapman L, Sheikh N, Yurchenko S, Fletcher R, Kott LS, Duncan AM, Wright AJ. High-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea in the management of knee osteoarthritis symptoms. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2014. PMID 25058311. DOI 10.1089/jmf.2013.0189. (abstract)
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), Younes M, Aggett P, et al. Scientific opinion on the safety of green tea catechins. EFSA Journal. 2018. PMID 32625874. DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5239. (abstract)
- El Hassani FZ. Characterization, activities, and ethnobotanical uses of Mentha species in Morocco. Heliyon. 2020. PMID 33294657. DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05480. (abstract)
- El Jai A, Juan C, Juan-Garcia A, Manes J, Zinedine A. Multi-mycotoxin contamination of green tea infusion and dietary exposure assessment in Moroccan population. Food Research International. 2021. PMID 33648210. DOI 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109958. (abstract)
- Filippini T, Malavolti M, Borrelli F, et al. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for the prevention of cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020. PMID 32118296. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD005004.pub3. (abstract)
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Mentha spicata L. (usage key 2927175). GBIF species API. 2026. (api)
- Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytotherapy Research. 2010. PMID 19585478. DOI 10.1002/ptr.2900. (abstract)
- Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, et al. Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013. PMID 23780706. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD009934.pub2. (abstract)
- He Y, Chen J. Severe iron-deficiency anemia after short-term moderate consumption of green tea in woman: A rare case report. Heliyon. 2024. PMID 39263133. DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36666. (abstract)
- Hu J, Webster D, Cao J, et al. The safety of green tea and green tea extract consumption in adults - Results of a systematic review. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2018. PMID 29580974. DOI 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.03.019. (abstract)
- Hurrell RF, Reddy M, Cook JD. Inhibition of non-haem iron absorption in man by polyphenolic-containing beverages. British Journal of Nutrition. 1999. PMID 10999016. (abstract)
- Igho-Osagie E, Cara K, Wang D, et al. Short-Term Tea Consumption Is Not Associated with a Reduction in Blood Lipids or Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Nutrition. 2020. PMID 33188386. DOI 10.1093/jn/nxaa295. (abstract)
- Jurgens TM, Whelan AM, Killian L, et al. Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012. PMID 23235664. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD008650.pub2. (abstract)
- Kroona L, Isaksson M, Ahlgren C, Dahlin J, Bruze M, Warfvinge G. Carvone Contact Allergy in Southern Sweden: A 21-year Retrospective Study. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2018. PMID 30085320. DOI 10.2340/00015555-3009. (abstract)
- Lazrak M, El Kari K, Stoffel NU, Elammari L, Al-Jawaldeh A, Loechl CU, Yahyane A, Barkat A, Zimmermann MB, Aguenaou H. Tea Consumption Reduces Iron Bioavailability from NaFeEDTA in Nonanemic Women and Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia: Stable Iron Isotope Studies in Morocco. Journal of Nutrition. 2021. PMID 34038558. DOI 10.1093/jn/nxab159. (abstract)
- NCBI PubChem. PubChem compound records for carvone and rosmarinic acid. PubChem REST API. 2026. (api)
- NICHD / NLM. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Green Tea. LactMed (NCBI Bookshelf). 2006. PMID 30000907. (abstract)
- NIDDK. LiverTox: Green Tea (Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury). LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf). 2012. PMID 31643260. (abstract)
- Own search. PubMed search for studies of the finished blend (Moroccan mint tea). PubMed. 2026. (search)
- Rezaei M, Akhavan N, Fathi F, et al. Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure in adults: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Blood Pressure. 2025. PMID 40497293. DOI 10.1080/08037051.2025.2517122. (abstract)
- Saklar S, Ertas E, Ozdemir IS, et al. Effects of different brewing conditions on catechin content and sensory acceptance in Turkish green tea infusions. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2015. PMID 26396411. DOI 10.1007/s13197-015-1746-y. (abstract)
- Taylor JR, Wilt VM. Probable antagonism of warfarin by green tea. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 1999. PMID 10332534. DOI 10.1345/aph.18238. (abstract)
- World Health Organization. WHO: Healthy diet fact sheet. WHO fact sheet. 2026. (full-text)
- Zheng XX, Xu YL, Li SH, et al. Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2011. PMID 21715508. DOI 10.3945/ajcn.110.010926. (abstract)
- n/a. IARC (WHO): Press release no. 244, coffee, mate and very hot beverages (15 June 2016). n/a. 2016. (full-text)
- n/a. FDA: Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? (content current as of 28 Aug 2024). n/a. 2024. (full-text)
- n/a. NCCIH (NIH): Green Tea: Usefulness and Safety (last updated February 2025). n/a. 2025. (full-text)
- n/a. NHS (UK): Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (usage key 3189635), retrieved 2026-10-25. n/a. 2026. (full-text)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- The herb is the first or only ingredient
- Organic or lab-tested if that matters to you
- Loose leaf or tea bags, and how long they have been stored
- If you take medicines or are pregnant, ask a pharmacist about the herb first
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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