This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission when you place orders using our links.<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s indeed true that popular brands like Celestial Seasonings, Teavana, Bigelow, Lipton, Trader Joe\u2019s and Twinings of London, among others are kind of loaded with toxic junk. <\/span> Even many \u201corganic\u201d tea brands are full of toxins.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n If you have discerning taste and want a tea that offers antioxidants, including catechins and polyphenols without any extra junk that harms your body, then this review of Pique Tea<\/a> is for you. Make sure you grab our exclusive discount at the end of this article!<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTea Crystals are the biggest innovation in tea since the invention of the teabag,\u201d says <\/span>Simon Cheng<\/span>, Pique Tea\u2019s founder. He\u2019s a tea aficionado who spent years studying ancient brewing techniques and collaborating with tea farmers throughout China in the Yunnan Province, who then decided tea crystals were an easy way to enjoy the flavor of tea without losing its nutrients and delicious flavor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cheng grew up drinking high-quality loose-leaf tea in Asia, and has been a tea lover since childhood. When he moved to the United States, Cheng found that the tea-drinking ritual was watered down, ironically, and thus began his thirst to make better tea.<\/span><\/p>\n Breakfast Criminals founder Ksenia got to meet Simon soon after he founded the brand, and was fascinated not only with the pure flavor of the teas Simon shared, but also with Simon\u2019s commitment to mindfulness in all aspects of life and business. The story goes that Ksenia and Simon discovered their common interest in Qigong and breathwork<\/a>, and spent the majority of the networking event exchanging experiences about healing practices.<\/p>\n Cheng found a way to take organic tea and turn it into a crystalline form so that it dissolves instantly in water but doesn\u2019t compromise the quality of taste or nutrient density like many \u201cinstant teas\u201d do. Pique has evolved a 13,000 year old tea making process by brewing tea in very low heat for 8 to 10 hours. They then extract the water, now flavored by the tea leaves, and turn it into a crystal form. Cheng and his team developed Pique\u2019s crystalline tea to have <\/span>twice<\/span><\/i> the amount of antioxidants as tea brewed with traditional tea bags.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ll go over both of these points in more depth, and why they matter within this article. I am a total food and functional supplement nerd (food snob), 15-year seasoned yoga and meditation teacher, and a highly picky person when it comes to my health, so I\u2019m going to dig into the science here and show you the facts. I can\u2019t prove the purely energetic implications of eating poor quality food and drinking toxin-filled beverages, but I can certainly present the physiological ones. Then, you can decide for yourself, being well-armed with solid info.<\/span><\/p>\n Pique offers many black, green and herbal teas, primarily:<\/span><\/p>\n Catechins:<\/b> These potent antioxidants are found in many foods like berries and cacao, but also in high quantities in black and green tea. <\/span> <\/span>They\u2019re super important for your immune system to function properly and also affect the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell death. This means they also have a key part in prohibiting the formation of cancer in the body. The catechin, <\/span>epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) specifically, alters signaling pathways in your cells so that cancerous cells can\u2019t form. <\/span><\/p>\n Theaflavins:<\/b> These polyphenols are excellent for your health with benefits ranging from fat reduction, and glucose stabilization as well as being anticancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory. Antiviral, antibacterial, anti-osteoporotoic, and ant-atheroscletrotic (heart health boosting). <\/span><\/p>\n Thearubigins:<\/b> These polyphenols are antioxidant, antimutagenic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and help to improve gastrointestinal motility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n *Just a note: when you feed your body good nutrients, you\u2019re also feeding the healthy bacteria in your gut, which is an automatic immune boost right there.<\/span><\/p>\n Add to these antioxidant polyphenols <\/span>thousands<\/span><\/i> of other compounds in black tea that promote health including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With all these health-building compounds it\u2019s a no brainer that you\u2019d want to drink black tea, but here\u2019s where the rub is: these compounds aren\u2019t bioavailable if your body is too busy getting rid of all the unhealthy compounds like heavy metals (including aluminum), pesticides, herbicides, and petroleum based fertilizers. The higher your toxic load, the less capable your body is of digesting and utilizing the good stuff you put in it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your overall toxic load is directly linked to your immune health, and can take a long time to exit your body since they seep into tissues, blood, bones, your brain, and every organ. Your liver normally does a fantastic job of eliminating toxins, but it started to be overworked, probably about 100 years ago, at the dawn of the industrial revolution when we started dumping <\/span>1000s of chemicals<\/b> into our air, water, soil, and food. While we have a natural detoxification system that removes many of these toxins while we sleep at night:<\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s more, there are studies in Europe and the US that show toxins can stay in our genetic makeup for UP TO 3 GENERATIONS! Crazy, right!? <\/span><\/p>\n And even more crazy is that epigenetic tests don\u2019t even show <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> the toxins that affect us for multiple generations. Epigenetics, made popular by people like Bruce Lipton, is the study of how our genes signal our DNA.\u00a0 So not only can your genes themselves be altered, but their signaling abilities, having multi-generational effects, can be impacted by toxic burden. So not only, \u201cyou are what you eat,\u201d but quite probably, \u201cyour kids and their kids and their kids are what <\/span>you<\/span><\/i> eat.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s where Pique Tea\u2019s<\/a> triple-toxin screening method becomes important. And yes, that\u2019s an understatement. The <\/span>easiest<\/span><\/i> way to get rid of a toxic burden is to not add more toxins to your body in the first place!<\/span><\/p>\n This <\/span>3-level method <\/span>\u00a0is quite inclusive and done using a 3rd party lab.\u00a0 It works like this:<\/span><\/p>\n Screen 1:<\/b> Raw materials are screened.<\/span><\/p>\n Screen 2:<\/b> Screen for heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n Screen 3:<\/b> Another 3rd party lab in Switzerland conducts another screening once the extraction process to get the tea crystals has been completed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No one can screen for every possible contaminant, but these are commonly found and screened in the Pique tea process:<\/span><\/p>\n Heavy metals:<\/b>\u00a0 Chromium(Cr), Nickel(Ni), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium(Cd), Arsenic(As), Aluminum (Al) and Lead(Pb).<\/span><\/p>\n Radioactive isotopes<\/b>: screened in one product only, Pique\u2019s Sun Goddess Matcha (likely because it is sourced from Japan).<\/span><\/p>\n Toxic mold:<\/b> Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and Ochratoxin A (OTA)<\/span><\/p>\n Pesticides:<\/b> All pesticides prohibited by the USDA for organic compliance. Some blends are also held against more strict standards for the EU or Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n The cold-brew aspect of Pique Teas<\/a> along with a triple screen for toxic junk so you can add great things to your body and not add more of a toxic burden to your likely-already-begging-and-pleading bio-home is a solid \u201cYES!\u201d for me. I\u2019m a tea lover, so the fact that there are multiple flavors, but not so many that I have to spend a full weekend looking through an onslaught of choices makes it an easy order for me to stock up and get on with life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I can target gut health, fasting, better immunity, mental clarity, lowering my sugar and carb cravings (all accomplished with green and matcha tea consumption) or just get a little boost when I need to start my day, as tea traditionally has far less caffeine than coffee, yet still enough to give me a little kick in the pants since I\u2019m not a morning person.<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t expect to pay .30 cents per cup of tea. When you purchase a high quality, functional food or beverage, you\u2019re usually going to pay a slight premium that\u2019s totally worth it. Just thinking of all the health bills I save money on because I eat right, drink right, get ample exercise and try my best to get enough sleep, I\u2019m happy spending a little extra on a delicious daily beverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s also easiest to purchase this tea online so if you like physically shopping for tea in a tea store, you might be missing out slightly on the social experience that tea drinking was meant to be. You can always invite friends over, and brew your own though.<\/span><\/p>\n Undoubtedly, tea of any kind is good for you, except when it\u2019s full of toxins. The fact that Pique creates its teas with cold brewing and a triple screening for toxins\u00a0 makes it even better.<\/span><\/p>\n Each flavor of tea has its own unique taste. Choose one that suits you. Matcha is more earthy and intense, black tea is crisp and some teas have a fruitier flavor.<\/span><\/p>\n You can drink Pique Tea any way you normally drink tea, or even add it to smoothies. Add almond milk, coconut milk, macadamia nut milk, hemp milk, or other supplemental ingredients to taste and swerve hot or cold as the weather dictates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pique Tea is sourced from various countries around the world, always with an eye for quality and organic ingredients, thus the 3-tiered system to triple check for toxins. It makes no sense to go to all the trouble (and expense) to test for unwanted ingredients so if you have a tea supplier who gives you junk, you\u2019ll likely find a new supplier.<\/span><\/p>\n Simon Cheng created Pique Tea in 2014 as an avid tea love and <\/span>entrepreneur with respect for the centuries-old tradition of tea drinking.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Fung as well as other renowned health experts like Mark Hyman, MD, also recommend Pique Tea.<\/span><\/p>\n Any of Pique\u2019s Teas would be ideal for fasting since they all are almost zero calorie, and still provide high levels of antioxidants and detoxification support.<\/span><\/p>\n Matcha<\/a> is not only good for your gut, it can regulate your immune system and blood sugar, and provide high levels of antioxidants to promote mental clarity, elevate your mood, and give a kick to your metabolism. It\u2019s known as a prebiotic, meaning it feeds to good bacteria in your gut so that they can flourish, and outnumber the bad bacteria.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Currently the only Whole Foods that carries Pique Tea is in Northern California, but you can order it online from anywhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many instant teas still contain \u201creal tea,\u201d meaning it is sourced from tea leaves but many just use artificial flavorings to make water taste like \u201ctea.\u201d Moreover, the process to make instant tea from real tea leaves destroys most of the antioxidants and leaves only about 10% as much of them as non-instant whole leaf, or cold-brewed tea. On the other hand, Pique Tea crystals are 100% real tea.<\/span><\/p>\n There are over <\/span>1,500 retailers<\/span> selling Pique Tea, but it\u2019s much easier to just purchase it online, and is often less expensive that way.<\/span><\/p>\n All Pique tea products are reasonable in price considering the high quality ingredients and lack of toxins, ranging from $11.99 for Jasmine green tea to around $52 with free shipping for Japanese Matcha tea. The matcha price is on the higher side, but I\u2019ve never regretting buying it \u2013 it\u2019s so pure and potent in flavor and color, and the quality is top notch.<\/span><\/p>\n Use code KSENIA for 5% your Pique Tea order on piquetea.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n The best deal comes as a subscription, but you can cancel or pause it any time. There\u2019s also a money back guarantee, so should you decide you don\u2019t love the tea you can reach out to the company one of 3 ways:<\/span><\/p>\n ***A note about Matcha tea: many brands try to pass off the much less expensive, and far less nutrient dense Sencha tea as Matcha tea, and it isn\u2019t the same.\u00a0 Matcha and Sencha are both green teas, however, they come in different textures and Matcha is so vibrantly green because it has such a higher level of antioxidants and phytonutrients in it.<\/span><\/p>\n If you source organic, Matcha tea without toxins anywhere close to $100 for a month\u2019s worth of servings, you\u2019ve found a solid buy. Pique Tea Matcha tea<\/a> is sourced organically, is loaded with EPGC catechins and is crafted by a true Japanese tea connoisseur.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You also get free shipping with any order over $100.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many other brands competing for your attention that are organically sourced and that are generally healthy. Not all of them have a triple-level process for getting rid of or identifying toxins though. Some similar brands are:<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Pique-Tea-Review-and-Discount](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.breakfastcriminals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pique-Tea-Review-and-Discount-1.jpg?resize=1170%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nWhat\u2019s <\/span>that<\/span><\/i> in my tea? Thiacloprid, Acetamaprid, chlorpyrifos . . . the list goes on. If you aren\u2019t familiar with these \u201cingredients,\u201d you might be surprised that these carcinogens are among dozens of other pesticides, herbicides, and toxins that are in many popular tea brands. Yuck!<\/span><\/h3>\n
Who Started Pique Tea?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Just the founder\u2019s story alone is enough to get me excited about Pique Tea<\/a>, but let\u2019s get straight to the important bits \u2013 there are essentially two reasons why you\u2019d want to purchase Pique Tea over other brands:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Antioxidants & Health Promoting Compounds in Tea<\/span><\/h2>\n
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![\"Pique](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.breakfastcriminals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2190.jpg?resize=1170%2C1463&ssl=1\")
<\/h4>\nEvery tea offers a specific list of polyphenols, an antioxidant type that includes catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins. Here is what you can find in black tea, as an example:<\/span><\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s Toxic Load?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/h2>\n
Cons<\/span><\/h2>\n
Questions:<\/span><\/h2>\n
Is Pique Tea good for you?<\/b><\/h4>\n
What does Pique Tea taste like?<\/b><\/h4>\n
How do you drink Pique Tea?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Where is Pique Tea grown?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Who created Pique Tea?<\/b><\/h4>\n
What green tea does Dr. Fung recommend?<\/b><\/h4>\n
What is the best tea for fasting?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Is Matcha good for your gut?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Does Whole Foods carry Pique Tea?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Is instant tea real tea?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Can you buy Pique Tea in stores?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Price<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Real Matcha Tea and Pricing<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Pique-Tea-Review-Sun-Goddess-Matcha](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.breakfastcriminals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pique-Tea-review.jpg?resize=1170%2C781&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nAlternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n
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