Guide
Does green tea contain lycopene?
Green and black tea leaves don't naturally contain lycopene; USDA composition data lists none for tea, since lycopene is a carotenoid that develops in ripening fruit, not in tea leaves. Products labeled 'lycopene green tea' are blends that add tomato extract to a tea base.
No — green tea and black tea don't naturally contain lycopene. USDA FoodData Central's composition entries for tea, brewed from the Camellia sinensis plant, list no lycopene content, because lycopene is a carotenoid that develops in certain ripening fruits, not a compound tea leaves produce.
Why tea doesn't have it
Lycopene is the red carotenoid pigment behind tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit — it forms as those fruits ripen (see what is lycopene). Tea comes from the leaves of an entirely different plant, and its notable compounds are a separate category: catechins and other polyphenols, which are well documented in tea specifically. Different plant, different part of the plant, different class of compound — there's no biochemical reason for tea leaves to contain a fruit-ripening pigment, and USDA data confirms they don't.
What "lycopene green tea extract" products actually are
Search listings for "lycopene green tea extract" or a "green tea extract with tomato lycopene powder drink" describe a real product category: a blended beverage or supplement that adds tomato-derived lycopene extract to a tea base, rather than lycopene the tea plant produced itself. That's a formulation choice — combining two separately sourced ingredients in one product — not a tea variety or process that creates lycopene. If a label calls out "lycopene" and "green tea" as separate listed ingredients, that's the honest description: two different sources combined, not one plant providing both.
Questions people ask
Does green tea contain lycopene?
No. USDA composition data shows no lycopene in tea; it's a fruit carotenoid, and tea leaves are a different kind of plant tissue that produces a different set of compounds (catechins, not carotenoids).
What tea has the most antioxidants?
That's a broader question than lycopene specifically — green and black tea are both documented sources of catechins and other polyphenol antioxidants, a separate category from carotenoids. If lycopene specifically is the goal, tea isn't a source of it regardless of type.
Can you get lycopene from tomato tea or tomato-blended drinks?
Yes, if the product actually lists lycopene or tomato extract as an added ingredient — that's a real way to get lycopene, just not from the tea component itself. Check the label for the actual milligram amount rather than assuming a "tomato tea" name means a meaningful dose; see how to choose a good lycopene supplement.
Related reading: what is lycopene, lycopene food sources, and lycopene powder and liquid.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.