Unlike Chinese green tea, Japanese green tea does not offer as many varieties, but what it lacks in selection, it makes up for in uniqueness!
Each tea has many sub varieties, different levels of quality, and broad price ranges. You can experience each of the below varieties by visiting Adagio Teas. A well known online tea merchant specializing in loose gourmet tea.
Japanese tea is full of flavor, health benefits, and of course culture. The beautiful yellowish-green full flavored brew from this tea can provide one with many years of drinking enjoyment.
Varieties from Japan like Chinese greens are grown from a species of Camellia sinensis. However it is processed differently which gives it a unique full flavor.
There are many broad varieties of Japanese greens, but methods for grading are usually determined on quality, leaf size, and which part of Camellia it came from. The tea can fall into many categories of quality and price. Also, it is said that the finest green teas in Japan are grown in Kyoto.
If you are a newcomer to green tea, I recommend you begin your quest with the Chinese types since they tend to be a bit lighter and less "vegetal" in taste.
Japan is a huge green tea growing nation as well as a huge green tea drinking nation. Only about 2 percent of its green tea produce are exported. People in Japan have been drinking green tea for hundreds of years and enjoy it to great extents. They have a passion for this native beverage and consume it as much as the Americans consume coffee.
But this does not mean it is difficult to get your hands on some quality Japanese green tea.
How does Japanese green tea taste?
The taste of green tea from Japan varies with each variety, but overall, you can expect it to be a bit fuller and grassier than most Chinese greens. Please don't let this discourage you though. Common varieties like Sencha and Gyokuro are great tasting and even though they may give you that first spinach-like impression, their nuance balance out over time.
It is an acquired taste as with anything new or exotic.
Two important factors about Japanese green tea taste I want to tell you about are these:
1) make sure you brew your green tea from the loose leaves and not from tea bags. 2) Be sure not to over steep!
Japanese greens release their flavor quickly so it is critical you keep your eye on the recommended steeping time (usually no longer than 3 minutes). If over-steeped, the result will be a bitter cup destroying your enjoyment.
Japanese teas are very sensitive to temperature and time…its just their nature.
Drinking green tea from Japan is very good for your health! Green tea in general is a good tumor and cancer fighter and is loaded with antibacterial properties.
In recent years, green tea had grabbed the health benefits spotlight, increasing the amount of sales in the western tea drinking world.
Research reveals that green tea is rich in powerful antioxidants called catechins, which in numerous studies proved to be fairly affective at removing and abating tumor growth in mice, as well as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
Even though more human studies have to be done, the future for green tea and your health looks promising.
