Japanese inexperienced tea is the enduring beverage of Japan loved for over 1,000 years. On this article, you’ll study concerning the widespread varieties, its well being advantages, and find out how to choose it so you may make a scrumptious cup at dwelling.
Japanese inexperienced tea (緑茶) is an integral a part of on a regular basis life in Japan, and for good purpose. This centuries-old drink is cherished as a soothing beverage and cornerstone of wellness and tradition. On this article, we’ll enable you perceive the favored varieties, its well being advantages, find out how to choose it, and the place to purchase it for your self or the tea drinker in your life.
Learn How one can Make Japanese Inexperienced Tea subsequent for step-by-step directions on getting ready the proper cup!
When you love matcha as a substitute, attempt our widespread Matcha Latte or Iced Matcha Latte recipes!
Inexperienced Tea’s Arrival in Japan
Buddhist monks coming back from China first launched inexperienced tea to Japan greater than 1,000 years in the past. Initially loved solely by the spiritual lessons, this beverage from the Camellia sinensis plant later grew to become widespread among the many royal court docket and elite lessons.
Within the twelfth century, a Zen priest named Myōan Eisai wrote a ebook known as Kissayōjōki (喫茶養生記) detailing inexperienced tea cultivation, preparation, and well being advantages. It helped to unfold tea tradition throughout Japan and make inexperienced tea an integral a part of every day life for all social lessons.
Well-liked Kinds of Japanese Inexperienced Tea
Inexperienced tea is usually known as o-cha by the Japanese. Nonetheless, the precise phrase for every type or inexperienced tea is ryokucha (緑茶, りょくちゃ) with ryoku that means “inexperienced” and cha that means “tea.”
Japan produces a number of distinct sorts of tea, every with distinctive preparations and flavors. Listed below are the preferred ones.
Sencha (煎茶)
- the usual sort of Japanese inexperienced tea
- grown in full solar
- thinner, delicate leaves from the higher shoots of the tea plant
- refreshing, sharp, and vivid vegetal taste
- most generally consumed; appropriate for every day consuming
Gyokuro (玉露)
- essentially the most prized selection with the best high quality, taste, and aroma
- grown in shade for 20-30 days earlier than harvest
- tender new shoots of the tea plant
- sweeter, richer taste with deep seaweed umami
- darkish blue-green shade
- highest caffeine content material of any selection
Genmaicha (玄米茶)
- mix of inexperienced tea and toasted, puffed brown rice
- heat and nutty taste, much like popcorn
- considerably decrease caffeine
Hōjicha (ほうじ茶)
- roasted inexperienced tea
- grown within the solar and harvested later within the season
- stems and mature leaves which can be nearer to the stalk
- reddish-brown shade
- gentle, caramelized, and earthy style with a roasted aroma
- much less caffeine; widespread alternative for night consumption
Matcha (抹茶)
- positive inexperienced tea powder, sometimes stone floor
- retains all of the vitamins of the tea leaf
- historically loved in formal Japanese tea ceremony
- widespread in lattes, smoothies, desserts, and sweets
Be taught extra concerning the completely different Varieties of Japanese Inexperienced Tea and Matcha (inexperienced tea powder) and the way it’s uniquely completely different from black tea, oolong tea, and different Chinese language inexperienced teas.
Japanese Inexperienced Tea and Caffeine
The quantity of caffeine in Japanese inexperienced tea varies relying on the range and the way it’s ready. Gyokuro has the highest quantity of caffeine, much more than matcha. Sencha has much less, and hojicha and genmaicha have the least. For nighttime consuming, we suggest hojicha and genmaicha.
How one can Choose the Greatest Inexperienced Tea
Take into account components like area, producer, freshness, and aroma when choosing tea.
- Area: Look on the bundle for the place it was harvested. Probably the most well-known tea areas in Japan embody Uji, Shizuoka, Kagoshima, Ise, and Miyazaki. The most effective have a protracted custom of tea rising in optimum circumstances.
- Nation of origin: For genuine Japanese inexperienced tea, please affirm that it’s grown in Japan.
- Producer: Discover respected producers or suppliers who prioritize moral farming practices and with experience in tea cultivation, processing, and preparation. We share our favourite manufacturers beneath.
- Freshness: Test for the packaging date and greatest by date. For the perfect taste and aroma, devour it inside one month of opening. Usually, we suggest get pleasure from inexperienced tea inside 6 months of packaging.
- Colour and aroma: Examine its look and perfume. It needs to be contemporary and fragrant with a vibrant shade to point its high quality, correct storage, and correct transport.
- Free leaf: Choose unfastened tea leaves over tea luggage, because it sometimes provides a extra genuine style and better high quality.
Our Favourite Japanese Tea Manufacturers
There are a lot of tea producers and retailers in Japan, and high-quality inexperienced tea is definitely present in specialty tea retailers. Outdoors of Japan, listed below are our favourite suppliers.
- Ippodo: We suggest this family-run Japanese tea firm based in 1717 in Kyoto. It sources its teas from the mountains of Kyoto and the encircling space, a area famend for producing Japan’s highest grade of inexperienced tea. Ippodo ships to the US and internationally, and it’s also possible to discover it on Amazon (matcha, sencha, genmaicha, and hojicha).
- Japanese Inexperienced Tea Co. is one other well-regarded model. It sources its teas from varied areas of Japan that use historical farming strategies and deep steaming expertise.
Elevate Your Tea-Ingesting Ritual
Ingesting inexperienced tea is an on a regular basis ritual constructed round mindfulness, rest, and connection. If you wish to get pleasure from inexperienced tea at dwelling the Japanese approach, I invite you to make use of Japanese teapots and tea cups for an genuine expertise.
Our teaware assortment at our on-line retailer, JOC Items, options all the things from handmade Tokoname ware teapots and cherry bark tea caddies to Hasami ware teapots. These items would be the excellent companions on your tea-drinking classes so you’ll be able to craft particular moments and savor every sip.
Well being Advantages of Japanese Inexperienced Tea
Inexperienced tea boasts many well being advantages. As one of many least-processed teas, the minimal oxidation preserves its contemporary, pure flavors, and bioactive compounds.
- Wealthy in antioxidants – Inexperienced tea has excessive ranges of antioxidants and compounds like polyphenols, catechins, and flavonoids. These highly effective anti-aging brokers assist to fight free radicals and defend cells from harm.
- Helps a wholesome coronary heart – A examine revealed within the Journal of the American School of Diet discovered that those that drank 5 or extra cups of inexperienced tea every day have been much less prone to develop hypertension or heart problems.
- Promotes mind well being – Flavonoids in inexperienced tea could assist defend neurons. Inexperienced tea additionally accommodates L-theanine, an amino acid that works with caffeine to boost mind operate and focus.
- Helps robust bones – College of Hong Kong researchers discovered that three key inexperienced tea parts—epigallocatechin (EGC), gallocatechin (GC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG)—can stimulate bone formation and gradual its breakdown.
- Encourages rest – A examine revealed in Tendencies in Meals Science & Know-how means that L-theanine has a calming impact on the mind. With much less caffeine than espresso, inexperienced tea is a superb various for enhancing alertness with out the jitters.
Different Potential Advantages
- Might scale back irritation – Some research point out that inexperienced tea could assist scale back arthritis irritation and gradual cartilage degradation.
- Might decrease diabetes threat – Its flavonoids and anti inflammatory properties could assist regulate blood sugar ranges.
- Might assist digestion – Inexperienced tea could support digestion, notably after a heavy meal.
Maximize inexperienced tea’s advantages by including a squeeze of lemon juice. The vitamin C in citrus helps your physique take up the catechins (supply).
Often Requested Questions
Most consultants suggest consuming about 3–4 cups of inexperienced tea per day to obtain essentially the most advantages. Nonetheless, should you’re simply beginning to drink inexperienced tea, get pleasure from one cup within the morning after breakfast and one within the afternoon after lunch.
In Japan, inexperienced tea is deeply ingrained in every day life, and the quantity individuals drink varies relying on private habits, area, and way of life. On common, many Japanese individuals drink 2 to five cups of inexperienced tea per day.
Whereas inexperienced tea is mostly protected and even helpful for most individuals, right here are some things to bear in mind:
Caffeine sensitivity: Inexperienced tea accommodates caffeine, so should you’re delicate to caffeine, you could need to restrict your consumption or go for decaf.
Iron absorption: The tannins in inexperienced tea can inhibit iron absorption from plant-based meals, so it’s greatest to drink it between meals reasonably than with iron-rich meals.
Abdomen sensitivity: Ingesting inexperienced tea on an empty abdomen could trigger gentle abdomen irritation for some individuals.
*We suggest training moderation and utilizing your discretion or consulting medical practitioners in case you have any issues.
Editor’s Notice: This publish was initially revealed on November 20, 2017, and republished with new content material on March 13, 2025.
