Green Tea Obsession Is Overrated: The Case for Deeper, Darker Teas

November 3, 2026 | Maria Tan

A tea flight featuring four cups of brewed tea paired with corresponding loose leaf samples on a wooden board.

I have a feeling green tea has become the tea we’re all supposed to love.

It’s everywhere. Wellness conversations, morning routines, skincare trends, and those beautiful matcha drinks that somehow make an ordinary afternoon look more interesting.

And honestly, I get it.

Green tea can be wonderful. Fresh, grassy, sometimes sweet. But I’ve started wondering why we talk about it as though it’s the obvious choice, while darker teas barely get a mention.

Because what about a rich black tea? Or a roasted oolong? Or a Pu-erh that develops an entirely different character with age?

I think we’re missing quite a lot.

Somewhere along the way, green tea became associated with being healthier and more refined. Its antioxidants receive plenty of attention, while darker teas sometimes get treated as though processing has made them less valuable.

But tea isn’t quite that simple.

Black tea undergoes extensive oxidation, while oolong can fall anywhere across a broad spectrum. These processes change the leaves’ chemistry and flavour, but they don’t automatically make one tea better than another.

And personally, I’d rather choose my tea based on what I enjoy drinking.

There’s something lovely about the malty richness of Assam, the roasted depth of certain oolongs, or the earthy character of ripe Pu-erh. They’re different experiences, and not everyone will enjoy them equally.

That’s perfectly fine.

What bothers me is how easily trends become rules. We discover something popular, convince ourselves it’s the best option, and forget there’s an entire world beyond it.

Maybe that’s why I think the green tea obsession deserves a little questioning.

Not because green tea is overrated in itself, but because no single tea should define what good tea looks like.

Some days, a light green tea might be exactly what I want. Other days, something darker and fuller sounds much more appealing.

I don’t think we need to choose sides.

Green tea can keep its popularity.

I’d just like us to remember that some of the most interesting cups aren’t green at all.

— Maria Tan

On tea, culture, and everyday rituals.

Tags

Art of Brewing Black Tea Chai & Spiced Tea Climate & Terroir Green Tea Herbal & Tisanes Matcha & Japanese Tea Oolong Pu-erh Sustainability & Ethics Tea & Hospitality Tea & Mindfulness Tea & Wellness Tea appreciation Tea History & Trade Tea Innovation Tea Pairings & Food Tea Rituals & Ceremony Teaware & Aesthetics White Tea
Posted in