w
Home → Reviews →

Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Review

Cons:

  • Excellent comfort and pressure relief
  • Suitable for side and back sleepers
  • Minimal motion transfer

Cons:

  • Not enough support for heavier people
  • May have a shorter lifespan
  • Prone to retaining temperature

Average Rating: 4.5

Visit Website

Besides its comfiness and low price, the Green Tea model’s high demand can be attributed to its infusion with natural substances, such as green tea and charcoal. That’s not something often seen in mattresses and makes the Green Tea unique.

Who is this mattress ideal for?

We recommend it to back sleepers who prefer soft and plush mattresses and don’t like the chemical smell that memory foam sometimes emits.

This review will cover the following about the Zinus Green Tea to give you an in-depth look into this excellent mattress:

  • Construction
  • Firmness
  • Pressure map tests
  • Edge support
  • Performance
  • Pricing
  • Alternatives

About Zinus

Zinus started in South Korea in 2005 and has since expanded to fifteen countries, including the US. In fact, in 2021, the company is set to open its very first manufacturing site in the US.

Zinus is known for infusing its products with natural alternatives (plant oils, green tea, charcoal) to the chemicals usually found in mattresses. The company prides itself on its innovation, principles, expertise, and excellent value products.

Construction

The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress has a few versions with different heights: 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12”.

What’s interesting is that as the height goes up, the softness increases too. The thinnest version is rated 5.9/10 in softness, while the highest version has a rating of 6.6/10 (10 being the softest).

Here are the layers these mattresses consist of:

  • At the bottom of all versions, there’s a layer of high-density support foam. The tallest model actually has two 3.5” base layers on top of each other to ensure maximum support. The base’s height varies from 4” to 5.5” in the different versions.
  • Above the main supporting layer is a 2” transitional comfort layer made of dense polyfoam. The role of this part is to keep you from sinking into your mattress and to provide extra support and contouring. We should note that the 6” version doesn’t have this layer.
  • The topmost layer consists of green-tea-infused memory foam. This part is thicker in the taller versions of this model: the 12” version has 3” of it, while the thin 6” version only has 1”. This layer contains green tea extract as well as ActivCharcoal. The two work together to absorb moisture and neutralize any unpleasant smells.
  • All the layers are encased in a thin poly jacquard removable cover. This cover is very light and breathable, which helps reduce heat and moisture retention.

Firmness

As we mentioned before, the different versions of the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress have different firmness:

  • The 6” version is the firmest—it’s rated at 5.9/10 on the firmness scale, where 10 is the softest possible option
  • The 8” version is a bit softer, with a rating of 6.1
  • The 10” version has a rating of 6.4
  • The 12” version is the softest, rated 6.6

The increasing softness is related to the thickness of the topmost memory foam layer—the thicker the memory foam, the softer the mattress. For example, the firmest 6” version has 1” of memory foam, while the softest 12” model has 3” of it.

Keep in mind that the firmness will feel different for every sleeper. Heavier people will feel the mattress softer, while for lightweight people, it may feel firmer.

There have been some reports of the firmness changing seasonally—in summer, it feels softer, and in winter, it feels firmer. This is common with memory foam mattresses.

Pressure Map Tests

To learn more about this mattress’s pressure relief properties, we looked at a couple of YouTube tests that use a pressure map. Here’s what we found:

Sleepopolis In this video, the reviewer tests the 12” version of the mattress.

Here is what the test shows:

  • Excellent pressure relief when sleeping on the back, making it perfect for back sleepers
  • The reviewer was impressed by the mattress’ remarkable pressure relief when sleeping on one side
  • The results were also good for stomach sleepers, although the reviewer noted that he felt like his hips were sinking a bit, so he doesn’t recommend it for stomach sleepers
Mattress Clarity This reviewer also tests the 12” version and concludes the following:

  • Solid pressure relief when sleeping on the back
  • When the tester switched to his side, the map showed a decent amount of pressure on the shoulders and hips
  • Pressure relief was also good when sleeping belly-down

Here are the pros and cons of this mattress, based on the pressure map tests above:

Pros:

  • Excellent pressure support for back sleepers
  • Decent pressure support for stomach sleepers

Cons:

  • Might not provide enough pressure relief for side sleepers

Edge Support

As is the case with most all-foam mattresses, the edge support of this model is average. It’s not the worst, but you will experience a bit of sinkage when sitting at the rim of the bed. You may also feel like you’re falling off when you’re sleeping near the edge.

The 6” model provides the best edge support out of all versions because of its firmness, while the softest 12” version is less stable towards the bed’s border.

Performance

Motion Transfer

Low motion transfer is why couples usually prefer memory foam mattresses. Getting a good night’s sleep can be an impossible task if you get awakened by each slight movement on your bed, especially if you’re a light sleeper.

The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattresses generally have minimal motion transfer. The only exception is the 6” model. It’s more responsive and absorbs less motion because its comfort layer is thin (only 1”).

Airflow and Temperature Regulation

Temperature regulation is not the main focus of this mattress. It doesn’t do much to address the well-known setback of memory foam—it absorbs your body heat and warms up. This is not an ideal situation, especially for hot sleepers.

Because it’s the firmest of the bunch, the 6” is the one that absorbs the least heat and has the best airflow. That’s because you don’t sink as deep into the mattress as you would in the 12” version for instance.

If you often get too hot while sleeping but still enjoy the feel of memory foam, we suggest checking out some hybrid mattress models.

But if your heart is set on memory foam, Zinus also offers a couple of models designed with temperature regulation in mind—the Cooling Green Tea Gel and the Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress.

Durability

To make your Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress last longer, you need to consider your body weight.

The 6” version may not be suitable for heavier people because they won’t get enough support, but their weight will also put a strain on the mattress, shortening its lifetime. Some precautions should also be taken with the 8” version, but the remaining models’ lifetime won’t be affected by the sleeper’s weight as much.

Otherwise, its durability is similar to any other foam mattress—around 8–10 years if you take good care of it.

And what does taking care of your mattress entail? Here are three good practices:

  • Keep the mattress and bedding clean
  • Flip the mattress from time to time to let it restore its shape
  • Avoid jumping on it

Responsiveness

A mattress’s responsiveness is an important factor for combo sleepers because it helps them switch sleeping positions during the night.

Unfortunately, the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress isn’t very responsive and will give you the feeling of being stuck and make it harder to change positions.

Pricing

The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress is very affordable. Each version has a different price range:

  • The 6” model starts at $151 for a Twin and goes up to $241 for a King
  • The Twin 8” model is $194, and the King is $337
  • The 10” Twin is $217, and the King is $396
  • The 12” Twin goes for $252, and the King size is $464

Alternatives

Let’s see how the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress compares to other similar mattresses.

Zinus vs. Nectar

  • Nectar is another affordable foam mattress. It has similar layers to the Zinus: a base, transition layer, memory foam, and a cover.
  • The Nectar has an additional cover for the bottom of the mattress to ensure it won’t slip on any surface. Its memory foam is also infused with gel for even weight distribution.
  • As for prices, the Zinus is a clear winner. A Nectar Cal King mattress is $1,398, while a 12” Zinus Cal King is only $464.
  • The Nectar has a 356-night trial period, while the Zinus’ trial period is only 100 days.
  • Regarding warranty, Zinus offers a 10-year warranty on all models, while the Nectar has a lifetime warranty. Both offer free shipping.

Zinus vs. DreamFoam Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress

  • These two mattresses are at a similar price point, but the Zinus is still cheaper—the Arctic Dreams Cal King size is $599 compared to the $464 Zinus.
  • The Arctic Dreams mattress has an all-foam and a hybrid version. The foam version has a cover, a gel memory foam layer, and a high-density base. It has no transition layer, unlike the Zinus mattress.
  • Compared to the Zinus’ 100-night trial, the Arctic Dreams mattress buyers have an additional 20 nights to decide whether they like the mattress or not.
  • Both have a 10-year warranty and free shipping.

Conclusion

All in all, if you are looking for a mattress that comfortable, budget-friendly, and good for your health, go no further than the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress.
This mattress offers the whole package. It won’t cash out your savings, it comes with an unusually affordable price tag and it gives you that warm hug kind of feeling.
On the plus side, every component of this mattress screams ‘health.’ How often can you hear that someone’s sleeping on a bed made out of green tea leaves and charcoal—it sounds like you’re coming from the spa 🙂
Though this mattress may not be the best mattress there is, it certainly comes with a price tag that delivers much more than what you expect from a mattress.
We hope this Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress review made your mattress buying decision a lot easier than it was before.

FAQ

Does the company offer a trial period?

Yes. The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress has a 100-night trial period.

What purpose does the green tea extract have?

It absorbs unpleasant smells.

Which model should I choose?

That depends on your needs. If you want a softer and plusher mattress, get the 12” model. If you prefer firmer mattresses and you don’t need as much support, go for the 6” model or any models in between.

Is it suitable for heavier people?

Unfortunately, we don’t think this model offers enough support for people with above-average weight.