Japanese Green Teas
Japanese green teas are remarkable, both for their similarity and their contrasts. All are grown from the same cultivar of Camellia Sinensis (the yabukita clone) and most are processed according to what’s known the Sencha rolling method (matcha is the exception), yet there are differences, both subtle and obvious, between Japan’s green teas. Featured here are some of my favourite Japanese green teas.
Best Japanese Green Teas
Organic Hojicha Green Tea
Store: Mighty Leaf Tea
My thoughts: A wonderfully aromatic hojicha from Mighty Leaf Tea with a nice mixture of leaves and stalk and a savoury character that is perfect for accompanying meals.
Kagoshima Sencha Yutaka Midori
Store: O-Cha
My thoughts: From O-Cha comes this fine sencha with an aroma that reminds me of blackcurrant and a forest floor. A revitalizing, vegetal brew.
Organic Matcha Kaoru Supreme
Store: O-Cha
My thoughts: With my first matcha purchase, made back in 2008, I set the bar very high with this exceptional organic matcha. A vibrant green matcha, just the way it should be.
Kabusecha Green Tea
Store: O-Cha
My thoughts: A nutty aroma. A light, sweet flavour with a hint of seaweed. This tea is ideal for people looking for something a little lighter than sencha.
Types of Japanese Green Tea
- Genmaicha – Green tea mixed with brown rice. A remarkable green tea that makes the perfect accompaniment to Japanese food.
- Gyokuro – A shade-grown tea. This is the finest – and most expensive – of all Japanese green teas.
- Hojicha – A unique tea made by roasting tea stalks and leaves.
- Kabusecha – Partially shade-grown, kabusecha straddles the line between sencha and gyokuro.
- Matcha – Powdered green tea. Famous for the Japanese green tea ceremony.
- Sencha – Japan’s most popular tea. An everyday, quality green tea made from the youngest leaves.
- Shincha – The freshest of the fresh. Shincha comes from the first harvest and is immediately sold to eager tea enthusiasts throughout Japan and the world.
- Tencha – Most often used to create matcha, but can occasionally be found in un-powdered form.