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Green tea is becoming increasingly popular in the West in recent years, especially after it was discovered that it has numerous health benefits. All over Asia, however, and particularly in Japan, people are enjoying it for centuries.
You have probably heard by now that there are many types of tea – black, oolong, yellow, white, green, and that all of them come from the leaves of the on plant Camellia sinensis. So what is the difference? Well, they vary depending on the way they are grown and processed. Generally, the key is in oxidation and fermentation. Those tea leaves that are more oxidized are darker and logically do that are less are lighter or greener.
It is believed that green tea originated from China, but nowadays, it became the most widely grown tea, and it is cultivated all over the world. The difference between the types of green tea leaves and other kinds is that they are grown and processed in another way. For the making of this, tea leaves are harvested early in spring. Then they are heated quickly. Usually, we are talking about pan-frying and then leaving it in the open air to dry. This is done to prevent oxidation.
Not seldom, you can hear people saying that they don’t like green tea. While leaving the possibility that some don’t like it, we are more convinced that it just means that they tried the wrong type of green tea. There is a variety of green tea options and ways of preparation that it would be pretty unimaginable that there isn’t something for every taste.
As you probably noticed, this tea doesn’t always taste the same. Now we know that there are different methods of processing, but there are other factors that impact this as well. There are a lot of questions one can ask. It is essential to know what time of the year leaves are picked, what parts of the plant are plucked, are the shrubs treated with chemicals. Also, the soil and the environment play important roles. The beverage will taste differently depending on whether it comes from mountainous areas or tropical ones. Even whether it is grown near limestone or sand makes a difference.
The best and most popular varieties come from China and Japan, where they generally originated. These are differently processed types of tea, and naturally, they taste pretty differently. The most significant difference between chinese and japanese green tea is that in China, the leaves are pan-fired while in Japan, they are steamed.
Green tea is today more and more popular, not just in Asia but also all over the world because of its health benefits. It is known that it improves brain and cardiovascular health, protects against cancer, and so on.
Today we are going to talk about various green tea types to enable you to learn more and encourage you to explore and find the one you like.
Types of Japanese Green Tea
So by now, we talked a lot about ways how green tea is different from other types of tea and the difference between Chinese and Japanese tea. We will mention japanese green tea types.
What is Sencha
It is not possible to become a real green tea connoisseur without knowing what is sencha. It is maybe the most popular green tea in Japan. Sencha has a refreshing taste, undoubtedly, but some people identify it as grassy. However, the flavor will vary depending on how it is brewed and what type of sencha is used. To make this tea, leaves are steamed directly after harvest, and then they are rolled and dried.
Besides Japan, Sencha is grown and also produced in China, South Korea, and other parts of the world, but the flavor of these teas differs from Japanese. Sencha is the minimally processed best green tea brand, so it can be considered the best type of green tea for health benefits. This is also a good option for those who want to substitute their daily coffee intake with a beverage that has lower caffeine content. It can give you a nice energy kick but without keeping you awake at night. People in Japan like to drink it warm, but if you prefer cold beverages, that is also an option.
What is Gyokiro
This tea is made of first leaves that are harvested just after winter and are liked all over the world because of its naturally sweet taste and unusual complex flavors. Gyokiro is made the same as matcha tea from leaves that are grown in the shade. The point of keeping the shrubs in the shade is to slow down the growth and encourage the production of amino acids and theanine. This beverage also has numerous health benefits, but it is most effective when it comes to improving metabolism, dental health, and mental alertness due to caffeine.
What is Matcha
Matcha green tea is the most unusual green tea, very popular in Japan. It is made of young green tea leaves that are also grown in the shade and then harvested quickly after winter. Growing in the shadow increases chlorophyll production, which is the reason why matcha has this vibrant green color. After the leaves are harvested and dried, they are ground into the best matcha powder that can be used for cold and warm beverages.
Types of Chinese Green Tea
The second most popular after Japanese that we already mentioned is chinese green tea types.
What is Gunpowder Green Tea
This best green tea brand with a completely unusual name is something that every tea lover tried at least once. It is a form of green tea with eave rolled in little round pellets. It is, of course, originally from China, but today you can find it in many households all over the world. Besides the unusual name and shape, it has quite a unique flavor as well, but there are different grades of this type of tea. It can be made from young or more mature leaves, and it comes from different parts of the world. What is interesting about this tea’s best tea brand is that you can determine the caffeine level by looking at the pellets. Smaller pellets are believed to be made of younger leaves with a higher level of caffeine. Besides being a good substitute for coffee gunpowder, the best green tea brand has a lot of health benefits such as prevention of chronic diseases, alleviation of arthritis symptoms, stimulation of metabolism, and so on.
What is Dragonwell Green Tea
Longjing green tea chinese type that is widely known as Dragon well tea is made of pan-roasted leaves. It is among the most popular best green tea brand types in China very much known for its excellent color, shape, fragrance, and a mild taste. It is known that it is pretty efficient for weight loss. This tea is grown in mountainous areas with mild temperatures and a lot of rain. There are six grades of this tea, and it can be costly. The most expensive is Superior Longjing tea. What makes this tea particularly accessible is that it has a high concentration of antioxidants that are super efficient against harmful free radicals. Besides, when antioxidants are combined with caffeine, the metabolism speeds up, which leads to weight loss.
What is Snowy Mountain Jian Green Green Tea
Leaves used to make this best green tea brand are fermented, but it is still considered as green tea. However, it is widely prevalent among black tea lovers. It is grown in Chinese Mountainous areas. The long leaves are fermented before the harvest, and then they are plucked in early spring. The kind of tippy leaves are plucked each day. This means that only the new leaves are taken. Because of this, they oxidize very briefly, which makes them have a kind of dark shade. It is seen as a pretty exotic tea that offers a pretty clear and rich taste. People tend to like it because the aroma is sweet and floral and not grassy.
Best Type of Green Tea
When it comes to tea and especially the best green tea brand, people’s opinions are very divided. Some love it, and can’t imagine their lives without a few cups each day while others cannot even stand even the smell of it. We are not trying to persuade you but rather advise you to try some of the types we listed on mykitchenadvisor. Considering how many types and subtypes of green tea exist, it is difficult to imagine that you don’t like at least one of them. Chances are you didn’t find one that suits you. Enjoy!.
