Our Pick: Choice Organic Teas
Check price →Choice Organic Teas Review (2026): Is It Worth It? Best & Worst Blends
We brewed our way through Choice Organic Teas' lineup — the Pacific Northwest brand that put USDA Organic, Fair Trade, and compostable bags in one box. Here's where it shines, where it's just fine, and which blends to actually buy.
By The Best Tea Bags Desk · 12 min read · 2026-06-14
Our top picks
Best Choice Organic Overall
Choice Organic Teas Jasmine Green TeaChoice Organic Teas
Green tea scented with real jasmine blossoms — smooth, floral, and the single best reason to buy the brand.
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Check price →Read review ↓Best Caffeine-Free
Choice Organic Teas Peppermint TeaChoice Organic Teas
Single-ingredient organic peppermint — bright, clean, and exactly what a peppermint tea should taste like.
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Check price →Read review ↓Best Black Tea
Choice Organic Teas Earl Grey TeaChoice Organic Teas
A balanced, organic Earl Grey scented with real bergamot oil — reliable rather than flashy.
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Check price →Read review ↓Is Choice Organic Teas any good? Yes — for everyday, certified-organic bagged tea, it's one of the best values on the shelf, and we'd buy it again. Every blend is USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, many are Fair Trade Certified, and the bags are unbleached and compostable — a combination most grocery-aisle brands can't match at the price. It is not a luxury loose-leaf experience, and a few blends are forgettable, but as a daily-driver organic tea bag, Choice earns a confident recommendation.
Choice Organic Teas is a Seattle-area brand (blended at a LEED-certified facility in the Pacific Northwest and now part of the East West Tea / Yogi family) that has quietly sold honest, single-note organic teas since the early 1990s — it was one of the first U.S. brands to go all-organic and to use Fair Trade Certified sourcing across its line. The catalog is broad: true teas (green, black, oolong, white), scented classics like Earl Grey and Jasmine Green, and a deep bench of caffeine-free herbals like Peppermint and Chamomile.
For this review we focused on the blends people actually search for and buy on Amazon, judging each on flavor, ingredient honesty, certifications, and value per cup. Our verdict: the Jasmine Green and Peppermint are the standouts and the best reasons to buy the brand; the Earl Grey and Premium Japanese Green are reliable everyday picks; and a couple of blends are perfectly fine but unremarkable. Below is the full lineup, a comparison table, where to buy, and honest notes on what we don't love.
The short version
- Every Choice Organic blend is USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, with unbleached, compostable tea bags — a rare full-stack of credentials at grocery prices.
- Best overall pick is the Jasmine Green: real jasmine-blossom scenting, smooth and floral, and consistently the brand's most-loved blend.
- Best caffeine-free pick is the Peppermint — bright, clean, single-ingredient peppermint with no fillers; a strong nightcap or after-dinner cup.
- Most blends are Fair Trade Certified, and the cartons are made from 100% recycled paperboard — sustainability is genuinely baked in, not just marketing.
- This is everyday bagged tea, not a connoisseur loose-leaf experience; if you want whole-leaf nuance, look elsewhere — but for honest, certified organic daily tea, Choice is hard to beat on value.
| Blend | Type | Best for | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasmine Green | Green (jasmine-scented) | Best overall | Moderate (~30 mg) |
| Peppermint | Herbal | Best caffeine-free | None |
| Earl Grey | Black (bergamot) | Best black tea | Higher (~40-50 mg) |
| Premium Japanese Green | Green (plain) | Best plain green / value | Moderate (~30 mg) |
| Chamomile | Herbal | Winding down | None |
| Oolong | Oolong | Oolong-curious | Moderate |
| Rooibos | Herbal (red bush) | Sweet & caffeine-free | None |
Choice Organic Teas lineup at a glance — every blend is USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified; Fair Trade noted where it applies.
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01 · Best Choice Organic Overall
Top PickChoice Organic Teas Jasmine Green Tea
Green tea scented with real jasmine blossoms — smooth, floral, and the single best reason to buy the brand.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Fair Trade Certified (100% Fair Trade Certified ingredients); scented with organic jasmine blossoms, not added flavoring.
Choice's Jasmine Green is consistently the brand's best-reviewed blend, and after brewing it we understand why. It's a green tea base scented with organic jasmine blossoms, which gives a true floral aroma without the soapy, over-perfumed quality cheaper jasmine teas fall into. The cup is light, smooth, and slightly sweet, with the jasmine sitting on top of a clean grassy green.
It carries the full credential stack — USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Fair Trade Certified — in a compostable bag. For roughly grocery-aisle money, this is one of the best everyday jasmine greens you can buy bagged. If you only try one Choice blend, make it this one. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Green tea, jasmine-scented
- Caffeine
- Moderate (~30 mg/cup)
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade
What we like
- Real jasmine-blossom scenting, not artificial flavor
- Smooth, forgiving brew that resists bitterness
- Full organic + Fair Trade + Non-GMO credential stack
Worth noting
- Can't match loose-leaf jasmine complexity
- Floral intensity is moderate, not bold
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a smooth, floral, forgiving green tea for daily drinking — and anyone who cares about organic and Fair Trade credentials without paying loose-leaf prices.
What we don't like: Like all bagged green, it can't match the aromatic complexity of loose-leaf jasmine pearls; purists will notice the ceiling.
Bottom line: The blend that makes Choice worth seeking out. The jasmine reads as genuine floral scenting rather than perfumed flavor, the base green is mellow, and it brews forgiving — hard to make bitter.
02 · Best Caffeine-Free
Best HerbalChoice Organic Teas Peppermint Tea
Single-ingredient organic peppermint — bright, clean, and exactly what a peppermint tea should taste like.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, caffeine-free; single ingredient (organic peppermint leaf) with no fillers, flavors, or sweeteners.
Choice's Peppermint is the kind of single-note herbal that's easy to get wrong and they get right. It's just organic peppermint leaf — no lemongrass filler, no 'natural flavors' — so the cup is bright, cooling, and genuinely minty rather than thin and hay-like. The aroma alone is a step above most grocery peppermints.
USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and packed in an unbleached compostable bag. At everyday prices, this is one of the best bagged peppermints we've tried — a no-brainer pantry staple. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Herbal (peppermint)
- Caffeine
- Caffeine-free
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO
What we like
- Single-ingredient organic peppermint, no fillers
- Bright, cooling, full-flavored cup
- Caffeine-free and great after meals or before bed
Worth noting
- Assertive — not a mellow blended mint
- Not Fair Trade (herbal, not a true-tea line)
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a pure, caffeine-free peppermint for after dinner or before bed, with no fillers and an honest ingredient list.
What we don't like: If you like a softer, blended mint (with spearmint or chamomile), the straight peppermint here is assertive and may be too sharp.
Bottom line: A textbook peppermint: vivid menthol-cool aroma, full minty flavor, and nothing else in the bag. Traditionally enjoyed after meals and marketed as a soothing, caffeine-free wind-down cup.
03 · Best Black Tea
Editor's PickChoice Organic Teas Earl Grey Tea
A balanced, organic Earl Grey scented with real bergamot oil — reliable rather than flashy.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fair Trade Certified; organic black tea scented with organic bergamot oil.
Choice's Earl Grey is the brand's most popular black tea and a dependable daily cup. It's an organic black base scented with organic bergamot oil, giving a clean citrus-floral lift that's balanced rather than aggressive. It brews into a medium-bodied cup that holds up to a splash of milk.
It's USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Fair Trade Certified, which is more than most supermarket Earl Greys can say. Note that Choice also sells an Earl Grey with Lavender variant if you want a more floral, perfumed take. The standard Earl Grey is the safe, versatile choice. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Black tea, bergamot-scented
- Caffeine
- Higher (~40-50 mg/cup)
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade
What we like
- Balanced bergamot, takes milk well
- Fair Trade Certified organic black base
- Reliable everyday morning cup
Worth noting
- Restrained bergamot — not bold
- Standard bagged body, not a connoisseur black
Who should buy it: Daily black-tea drinkers who want a balanced, certified-organic Earl Grey that works with or without milk.
What we don't like: The bergamot is restrained — fans of a punchy, perfume-forward Earl Grey may find it understated. (Try the Lavender version for more aromatics.)
Bottom line: A well-mannered everyday Earl Grey. The bergamot is present and citrusy without overpowering, and the black base takes milk well. Not the boldest Earl Grey on the market, but honest and certified.
04 · Best Plain Green
Best Value
Choice Organic Teas Premium Japanese Green Tea
A smooth, mildly grassy Japanese-style green — your everyday plain green tea, done cleanly.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified; organic Japanese-style green tea, ~30 mg caffeine per cup, no added flavors.
If you want a plain green tea without jasmine or mint, this is Choice's answer. The Premium Japanese Green is smooth and gently grassy, with a soft finish and none of the astringent bite that plagues cheaper bagged greens. It's the kind of tea you can drink all day.
It's USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified in a compostable bag, and at multipack pricing it's genuinely cheap per cup. A solid, no-drama everyday green. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Green tea (Japanese-style)
- Caffeine
- Moderate (~30 mg/cup)
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO
What we like
- Smooth and low-astringency for a bagged green
- Cheap per cup in multipacks
- Clean ingredient list, no flavoring
Worth noting
- Pleasant but unmemorable
- No loose-leaf umami depth
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a clean, mellow, plain green tea for everyday drinking at a low price per cup.
What we don't like: It's pleasant but not memorable — there's none of the umami depth a good loose-leaf sencha delivers.
Bottom line: An honest, unfussy daily green. Mellow, lightly vegetal, and far less prone to bitterness than most bagged greens — a smart pick if you just want a clean cup of green tea.
05 · Best for Winding Down
Caffeine-Free
Choice Organic Teas Chamomile Tea
Soft, honeyed, single-ingredient chamomile — the classic caffeine-free wind-down cup.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, caffeine-free; organic chamomile flowers.
Choice's Chamomile is straightforward in the best way: organic chamomile flowers, nothing else. The cup is soft, lightly honeyed, and floral, with a fuller chamomile aroma than the dusty, hay-flavored chamomiles you often get in bargain boxes.
USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, compostable bag. It's not the most intense chamomile out there, but it's clean, pleasant, and well-priced. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Herbal (chamomile)
- Caffeine
- Caffeine-free
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO
What we like
- Single-ingredient organic chamomile flowers
- Soft, honeyed, full floral aroma
- Caffeine-free evening staple
Worth noting
- On the mild side
- Not Fair Trade Certified
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a gentle, caffeine-free floral tea for the evening, with a clean single-ingredient list.
What we don't like: It leans mild — if you like a big, intensely apple-honey chamomile, this can read as subtle.
Bottom line: A gentle, floral-sweet chamomile with a fuller flower aroma than most. Traditionally enjoyed in the evening and marketed for calm; an easy, honest nightcap.
06 · Best for Oolong Curious
Specialty
Choice Organic Teas Oolong Tea
A light, approachable bagged oolong — a fine introduction, if not a revelation.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fair Trade Certified; organic oolong tea.
Oolong is the hardest style to do justice in a tea bag, and Choice's Oolong is a respectable attempt. It's light-to-medium bodied, mildly toasty, and smoother than a black tea — a friendly introduction for anyone curious about the category.
It carries USDA Organic, Non-GMO, and Fair Trade credentials, which is genuinely hard to find in an affordable bagged oolong. That said, this is the blend where the bag format shows its limits — the layered floral-and-roast character of good loose oolong is muted here. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Oolong tea
- Caffeine
- Moderate
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade
What we like
- Rare affordable Fair Trade organic oolong
- Smooth, approachable, lightly toasty
- Good gateway to the style
Worth noting
- Bag format mutes oolong complexity
- Least distinctive blend in the lineup
Who should buy it: Oolong-curious drinkers who want an easy, certified-organic introduction without committing to loose leaf.
What we don't like: The most format-limited blend in the line — bagged oolong can't deliver the complexity the style is known for.
Bottom line: A pleasant, lightly toasty oolong that sits between green and black in body. Good as a gateway to oolong, but bagged format flattens the floral-roasty complexity that makes oolong special.
07 · Best Naturally Sweet & Caffeine-Free
Caffeine-Free
Choice Organic Teas Rooibos Tea
Naturally sweet, nutty South African red bush — a warming, caffeine-free alternative to black tea.
Origin & grade: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fair Trade Certified; organic rooibos (red bush).
Choice's Rooibos is a strong pick for anyone who wants the body of a black tea without the caffeine. The South African red bush brews a deep amber cup that's naturally sweet, nutty, and lightly woody, with no tannic bitterness no matter how long it steeps.
It's USDA Organic, Non-GMO, and Fair Trade Certified. If you're cutting caffeine but miss a robust, satisfying cup, this is the blend to reach for. Check current price on Amazon.
- Type
- Herbal (rooibos / red bush)
- Caffeine
- Caffeine-free
- Bags per box
- 16
- Certifications
- USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade
What we like
- Naturally sweet, never bitter, impossible to over-steep
- Caffeine-free but full-bodied; takes milk
- Fair Trade Certified organic
Worth noting
- Earthy-woody flavor is polarizing
- Not a true tea — won't satisfy a black-tea craving exactly
Who should buy it: Caffeine-avoiders who still want a full-bodied, naturally sweet cup — and anyone who likes rooibos with milk.
What we don't like: Rooibos has a distinctive earthy-woody note that isn't for everyone; if you dislike the style, this won't convert you.
Bottom line: A round, naturally sweet rooibos with a woody-vanilla edge. Caffeine-free and takes milk like a black tea — a comforting any-time-of-day cup.
Questions, answered
Is Choice Organic Teas good quality?
Yes, for its category. Choice Organic Teas is a reliable, honest everyday bagged tea: every blend is USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, many are Fair Trade Certified, and the bags are unbleached and compostable. It isn't a luxury loose-leaf experience — whole-leaf teas will have more complexity — but for clean, certified, single-note tea bags at grocery prices, the quality is genuinely good and the value is excellent.
Is Choice Organic Teas organic?
Yes. Every Choice Organic Teas product is USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. Many of the true teas (like Jasmine Green, Earl Grey, Oolong and Rooibos) are also Fair Trade Certified, and the teas contain no artificial flavors or sweeteners. The 'Organic' in the name is backed by real certification, not just marketing.
What is the best Choice Organic tea?
The Jasmine Green is our top overall pick — it's scented with real jasmine blossoms, brews smooth and floral, and is the brand's most consistently loved blend. For a caffeine-free option, the single-ingredient Peppermint is the standout. The Earl Grey is the best black tea, and the Premium Japanese Green is the best plain everyday green.
Where can you buy Choice Organic tea?
Choice Organic Teas is sold on Amazon (frequently in discounted 3- and 6-box multipacks), plus Target, natural-food chains, and many regional grocery stores. Amazon usually offers the best price per cup, especially on single-blend multipacks. Variety samplers are a good way to try several blends at once.
Are Choice Organic Teas bags compostable and safe?
Choice uses natural-fiber, unbleached tea bags that the brand describes as compostable, packed in cartons made from 100% recycled paperboard. There's no added plastic mesh on its standard bags, which is a plus if you're avoiding microplastics. As always, check the specific product packaging, since formats can vary by blend.
Does Choice Organic tea have caffeine?
It depends on the blend. The true teas contain caffeine — roughly 30 mg per cup for the greens and oolong, and around 40-50 mg for the Earl Grey black tea. The herbals (Peppermint, Chamomile, Rooibos) are naturally caffeine-free, making them good evening choices.
Is Choice Organic tea worth it?
Yes, if you want certified-organic, Fair Trade, sustainably packaged tea bags at an everyday price. You're not getting a connoisseur loose-leaf experience, but you are getting honest, clean, well-priced tea with credentials most grocery brands can't match. For daily drinking, it's one of the best values on the shelf.
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