The Greenfood industry is awash in different products sold by different companies. In essence the product comes down to two different forms of greens when speaking specifically about barley, wheat and oatgrass (also applies to alfalfa that is often included in a greens blend).
One form is produced when the leaves of the green barley etc are harvested and simply dehydrated resulting in a whole leaf dehydrated product. As an ingredient this product is cheaper to produce and hence cheaper to purchase as an ingredient for companies choosing this form. Companies like Greens Plus use this form of greens. Dehydration does have a degrading effect on the leaves and typically results in a light or pale green dried powder mostly accounted for by the slow degradation of the chlorophyll during drying. Ironically this is the same process that alfalfa goes thru for the volumes of alfalfa pellets sold into the livestock feed industry.
The second form of greens is juice powder. This process involves harvesting the leaves, running the leaves through a large screw press to extract the juice followed by drying the juice in a spray drier or the likes. There are a few companies using more expensive methods to dry the powder such as freeze drying or refractance window but invariably these processes are cost prohibitive. The interesting thing about drying juice powder in a spray drier is that it cannot be dried on its own. The natural sugars in the juice simply cause a sticky mess. The solution is to add a drying “aid” which typically is a product like maltodextrin or brown rice oligodextrin. The bottom line is these products are starch based and are quickly seen by the body as a sugar source. Typically the drying aid will be included at 50% of the green juice solid content.
The further issue is the greens typically have a bite to them, often described as bitter. Although this comes from some of the antioxidants found in the leaves they do not make for a great consumption experience. Hence companies add all sorts of things from natural sweeteners, fruit extracts and flavouring.
This applies to both the dehydrated form and the juice form. Simply a review of the ingredient list will reveal the culprits often coveted for other benefits besides the fact they are a sweetener.
Contrast this with our Clean Green Tea’d Greens. The leaves of barley wheat and oats are hand harvested, withered, “fixed” with a quick blast of steamed heat to inhibit the natural enzymes that will degrade the nutrients (especially chlorophyll) and then dried at low temperature resulting in a rich dark green colour of the leaves The leaves are then either available in a pyramid tea bag or loose leaf form. We add nothing else. It is pure. More importantly, the natural sweetness of the leaves shines through, there is no bitterness. You can enjoy it hot or cold and enjoy the subtle flavour knowing it is full of healthful nutrients. Brew up a batch and sip it through the day knowing you are getting an excellent source of greens in your diet.
My opinion is that Tea’d Greens is a superior way of including greens in your diet and it’s naturally caffeine free.