Different Types of Green Tea - Explore a Huge Diversity

 

There is no doubt that drinking green tea is good for you. You will certainly enjoy a wide range of health benefits if you have a number of cups of the brewed beverage every day. When green tea is mentioned, most people think of it as a single kind of herbal substance. You might be surprised to learn that there are hundreds of varieties available. There are various types of green tea that you can select from. Each has a distinct taste and unique aroma.

The countries which hold the largest green tea production are China and Japan, even though various types are produced in other countries, such as India and Thailand. The variety of tea depends on a number of factors. Due to the different climatic and soil conditions in the different regions the various Camellia Sinensis types from which green tea is made, vary as well.

In addition, the time of picking is crucial for the taste and properties of the leaves. For example, the fresher they are the more caffeine they contain. In some cases, the leaves are not the only parts of Camellia Sinensis which are present in the dried product. In some tea varieties the buds of the plant are included to give the actual beverage a more distinct taste.

The way in which the leaves are processed also determines the type of green tea you will have on your table. Generally, the processing includes direct firing without fermentation before the drying begins. However, the method for firing can vary dramatically from one green tea type to another.

The overall result is that there are numerous types of delicious green tea. You should definitely find out more about the most popular varieties in order to make the right choice. Keep in mind that each type of dried product requires specific steeping time to produce the most flavorsome and beneficial brewed beverage.

China is the largest producer of green tea in the world. It offers numerous varieties from its different regions. Longjing, also known with its western translation Dragonwell, is perhaps the most famous Chinese green tea. It is popular for its fresh green flavor and subtleness. Gunpowder is another well known variation. This green tea is made from both young green leaves and fresh Camellia Sinensis buds. Chun Mee is another great green tea coming from China. Its leaves are curled during processing. This is where its name, meaning precious eyebrows, comes from. Chun Mee is incredibly mild, yet very delicious. When brewed correctly it has an incomparable aftertaste resembling that of plums. Xin Yang Mao Jian is nothing like its other Chinese counterparts. It is characterized by its darker color and its smoky, somewhat sweet flavor.  

As you probably know, the drinking of green tea is a custom in Japan. This is probably the reason why there are so many popular types of Japanese green tea. Gyokuro is considered to be the best green tea from Japan in terms of quality. The leaves are grown in a special way. They are protected from direct sunlight for three weeks before they are harvested. This allows for the valuable antioxidants and other nutrients to be preserved excellently inside the leaves. In turn, Gyokuro becomes extremely beneficial. It is also characterized by a superb lightly sweet flavor and a rich grassy aroma. Sencha is perhaps the most widely used tea in Japan. This type of green tea is extremely rich in Vitamin C. It is less sweet than Gyokuro, but it has an equally pleasant aroma. In fact, you can get Sencha Sakuro which has an amazing cherry blossom scent. Matcha is a very special Japanese green tea. It has a very specific way of processing and the final product is an extremely fine dark powder. Matcha has similar properties to Gyokuro and is recommended for its energizing properties.

It is up to you to decide on your favorite type of green tea. Most of the popular varieties from China and Japan are now sold worldwide. You will certainly enjoy the original taste and aroma, as long as the product is packed well and stored carefully. The proper brewing and the right steeping time are also essential for getting all the health and nutrition benefits from green tea.