Without a doubt, green tea is a popular drink around the globe as they appeal to both newcomers and tea enthusiasts.
However, do you know that there are different types of green tea, despite being from the same plant called Camellia sinensis?
This is because different locations and weathers affect the characteristics of each green tea.
Therefore, you should know each individual type’s characteristics and health benefits. To help you out, below are listed 17 types of green tea based on their region and unique profiles.
1. Japanese Green Tea
Japanese types of green tea tend to have bold grass-like flavor. This is because they’re mostly planted under a shed to enrich the amino acids and chlorophyll concentrations.
- Gyokuro
Considered the best among Japanese types of green tea, gyokuro has flat and pointed green tea leaves. It has a light taste and fragrance thanks to its early cultivation and shaded cultivation, protected from direct sunlight.
- Sencha
To native Japanese people, sencha is the most common organic green tea. The fragrance and flavor are quite bold due to the green tea leaves being exposed to sunlight.
- Bancha
Unlike other Japanese types of green tea, bancha is harvested at the end of the cultivating season. This is because the green tea leaves and stems are tough and large. Because of that, the flavor isn’t as strong as the others.
- Matcha
Matcha isn’t an organic green tea, manufactured as a powdered tea in Japan’s Uji region. This is the most commonly exported Japanese green tea, and commonly used for Japanese Tea Ceremony.
- Houjicha
Because houjicha’s green tea leaves are roasted, the tea is brown-colored with a nutty flavor. Additionally, it loses some caffeine in the process, making it a great option for pregnant women.
- Kukicha
Yet another unusual organic green tea, three leaves from a single bud is precisely taken from kukicha during cultivation. As a result, it has a unique chestnut flavor, unlike other green teas.
- Genmaicha
Genmaicha is actually a pan-fired sencha green tea, toasted with hulled rice. During the process, the hulled rice may pop like popcorn, hence it’s nicknamed the “Popcorn tea.”
Said popped rice enriches the flavor, making it more exclusive than sencha tea.
2. Chinese Green Tea
In contrast to Japanese green teas, Chinese types of green tea are varied based on their locations and altitudes.
Also, several Chinese green teas have unique green tea leaves’ shapes both for cosmetic value and enriching the flavor even further.
- Gunpowder
Shaped like tiny gunpowder pellets, this is one of the most popular Chinese types of green tea. The texture is rich, and the grass-like flavor is bold.
Plus, when you brew the green tea leaves, the pellets will bloom and make your cup of tea quite fancy.
- Dragonwell
Also known as Long Jing, it’s a popular organic green tea in the US. As the leaves are cultivated and processed in China’s Zhejian Province, they become flat with a mesmerizing jade color.
- Snowy Mountain Jian
Grown at the higher ground of China’s Yunnan Province, it has uniquely long green tea leaves due to the environment.
The cultivating process is also unique, resulting in a full-body flavor akin to a black tea instead of a green tea. However, you still gain the health benefits of green tea from this particular tea.
- Hyson Lucky Dragon
This is one of the most expensive Chinese types of green tea, cultivated from a hyson green tea plant.
The greenish-yellow green tea leaves produce a more full-body flavor to give you complete immersion unlike other Chinese green teas.
- Pi Lo Chun
Returning to Zhejian Province, Pi Lo Chun is arguably one of the rarest types of green tea in China.
Because the plant grows and is surrounded by peach, plum, and apricot trees, the green tea leaves pick up the trees’ fruit blossoms.
This results in an extremely rich fragrance and flavor, almost exclusive to this tea alone. Also, the snail-like leaves shape makes this tea even more unique.
3. Flavored Green Tea
This section doesn’t specifically mention region-based green tea variants. Instead, it lists several types of green tea that are infused with other ingredients to enrich their flavor and health benefits.
- Jasmine green tea
Unlike other region-based types of green tea in this list, jasmine green tea is common around the globe. It has several grades based on price and quality.
The low-grade jasmine green tea has a rather bizarre fragrance with artificial flavors.
Conversely, a high-grade Jasmine green tea has the green tea leaves scented with organic jasmine flowers. As a result, it has a light floral and sweet flavor.
- Honey lemon green tea
This particular green tea is infused with honey and lemon to produce a more vigorous flavor profile.
Not only that, but the health benefits of green tea are improved with phytonutrients and antioxidants from the honey and lemon.
Therefore, it’s an energizing green tea that is suitable when things get rough around you.
- Mint green tea
As one of the more refreshing types of green tea, mint green tea is infused with several mint leaves. This gives additional health benefits of green tea to lift up your mood, improve digestion, and boost your energy level.
- Tulsi green tea
Tulsi green tea is popular in India as a part of Indian Ayurvedic tradition. The green tea leaves are mixed with holy basil, known as Tulsi, and infused together to create a unique tea experience.
For that reason, it’s one of the healthiest types of green tea with a plethora of health benefits. It’s linked to boost immunity and stamina, reduce stress, and improve metabolism to name a few.
- Chamomile green tea
If you have insomnia, then chamomile green tea can make a good treatment of it. The chamomile flowers infused in the green tea produce a light and soothing flavor profile to reduce stress.
And if you drink it at night, chamomile green tea can become a great and effective sleep inducer.
Read More : EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHAMOMILE TEA
4. Conclusion
Frankly, there are no such thing as a bad green tea. All types of green tea are similarly beneficial for your health, with only a handful of differences in the benefits.
The most notable difference is the flavor profile, and it all depends on your taste. If anything, you should try as many types of green tea as you can, even the ones that might not appeal to you.
That way, you can cycle between each tea to make the experience even more exciting and healthier.
Read Also : GREEN TEA BENEFITS, TYPES, AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
