Six Types of Japanese Green Tea

If you know a bit about tea, you probably realize the three main countries that produce this healthy beverage are China, India, and Japan. Japan has the one of the best climates for producing high quality green teas which means the teas you get from this region are especially tasty with a myriad of well recognized health benefits. Confused about which tea to order? Here are some of the commonly available types of Japanese green tea:

Types of Japanese green tea: Bancha

This is one of the lower quality green teas to come out of Japan. It's more of an every day type tea rather than one used for special occasions due to its rather dark appearance and faintly astringent taste. It's made from lower quality parts of the Camellia sinensis plant including the twigs and stems. The advantage of this tea is it tends to less expensive than higher end Japanese teas and some people prefer its robust flavor over sweeter, milder green teas.

Types of Japanese green tea: Genmaicha

Genmaicha is a tea with a smoky, nutty flavor made from Bancha mixed with toasted brown rice and popped corn. Although it's not considered a high quality tea, its distinctive nut flavor is appealing and enhances a variety of Japanese dishes. Like Bancha, this tea is widely available and is reasonable in price.

Types of Japanese green tea: Houjicha

This is another variation of Bancha green tea that's been lightly roasted giving it a nutty flavor. It tends to be brown in color with smoky undertones that pairs nicely with a variety of Japanese foods, particularly those flavored with soy sauce. It tends to be quite reasonable in price and is lower in caffeine than other green teas.

Types of Japanese green tea: Sencha

When you buy Sencha, you're purchasing a higher quality green tea than Bancha based teas. This is the tea typically served to visiting guests in Japan. Its taste is more delicate than Bancha with delicate slightly sweet, grassy undertones. The quality and cost of Sencha green tea can vary considerably but even the lower grades can be quite satisfying. You can also find Sencha scented with cherry blossoms and rose.

Types of Japanese green tea: Gyokuro