Complete Introduction to Chinese Green Tea and the Best Green Teas

What is Green Tea?
Green tea is the only non-fermented tea among the six major tea types. Its processing method allows it to retain more of the natural substances found in fresh leaves, resulting in its characteristic "clear soup and green leaves, fresh and pleasant" features. The process of making tea is one of the key factors in classifying the six major tea types, which include green tea, yellow tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and red tea. Green tea is made by fixing the tea leaves to deactivate the tea polyphenol oxidase, keeping the leaves and the tea soup green.

History of Chinese Green Tea
The history of green tea dates back thousands of years to China's Tang Dynasty. According to legend, the discovery of green tea is attributed to China's Shennong, who accidentally dropped tea leaves into boiling water and found the taste enchanting, thus inventing tea. Around 2000 BC, green tea began to be widely consumed by ancient Chinese nobility and scholars, gradually becoming a common beverage.

Over time, the cultivation and processing techniques for green tea have improved, and the varieties of tea have become more diverse. By the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), green tea had become a major drink among the imperial court and the upper class, playing an important role in cultural and religious activities. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the tea ceremony emerged, and drinking tea evolved into an art form, leading to significant development in tea culture.

Matcha is a special form of green tea, with its processing method originating from the Tang Dynasty but perfected during the Song Dynasty. Matcha is made from tender tea buds that are steamed and then ground into a fine powder. Initially, matcha was mainly consumed in temples as part of Zen Buddhist practices. It was not until the 14th century that matcha was introduced to Japan from China, where it developed into an important cultural tradition within Japanese tea ceremonies.

Flavor Profile of Green Tea
Green tea is renowned for its refreshing and crisp taste, with a subtle grassy and floral aroma that provides a natural cooling sensation. The tea soup is fresh and not bitter, with a hint of sweetness and a lingering, pleasant aftertaste. The taste of green tea is light and elegant, smooth and delicate, evoking the feeling of being among springtime foliage. In China, spring is considered the best time to enjoy green tea due to its optimal flavor and quality. Additionally, green tea has a relatively low caffeine content, making it a better choice for those who need to limit their caffeine intake.

Types of Green Tea (by Processing Method)
China, the birthplace of tea, has a mature tea-making process. The basic processing steps for Chinese green tea are fixing, rolling, and drying. Based on the fixing and drying methods, the common green tea types are “steamed green tea,” “pan-fired green tea,” “sun-dried green tea,” and “baked green tea.”

1. Pan-Fired Green Tea
   Pan-fired green tea is made by fixing and drying the tea leaves using a rolling drum or pan. It has a tight appearance, green luster, high fragrance, clear green liquor, and a strong and refreshing taste. Pan-fired green tea is the most widely produced and can be further categorized into long-fired, round-fired, and flat-fired types.
   
2. Baked Green Tea
   Baked green tea is dried using an oven or drying machine. It has a complete shape, deep green color with an oily sheen, high fragrance, clear and bright liquor, and a fresh and mellow taste.
3. Steamed Green Tea
   Steamed green tea is the earliest method of processing green tea in China, using steam to fix the fresh leaves before rolling and drying. It has a fine, needle-like shape, bright or deep green color with a sheen, clear liquor with a light yellow-green hue, a fresh aroma, and a mellow or slightly astringent taste.
   
4. Sun-Dried Green Tea
   Sun-dried green tea is dried using sunlight. It has a coarse shape, dark green color with an oily sheen, high fragrance, bright yellow-green liquor, and a rich and mellow taste with strong astringency. It is mainly produced in Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces.

1. Green Tea Longjing Tea (West Lake Dragon Well)
   • The top among China's ten famous teas. Longjing tea leaves are dark green with a rich fragrance, and the tea soup has a sweet taste.
   • Major Production Area: Shifeng, Wengjiashan, Hupao, Meijiawu, Yunqi, Lingyin in Hangzhou, West Lake, China.
   • Flavor: Mingqian Longjing is fresh and sweet with a smooth texture; Yuqian Longjing has a rich aroma and smooth, mellow taste.
   • Suitable for: Beginners and experienced tea drinkers who enjoy strong flavors.
     
2. Green Tea Anji White Tea
   • Named after a tea tree with white buds, it is actually a type of green tea.
   • Major Production Area: Xilong Township, Kuntong Township, and Dipu Town in Anji County, Zhejiang Province, China.
   • Flavor: Fresh and tender, with a sweet aftertaste.
   • Suitable for: Tea beginners.
3. 
   Green Tea Biluochun Tea
   • With a history of over a thousand years, originally known as Dongting tea.
   • Major Production Area: Dongting Mountains in Jiangsu Province, China.
   • Flavor: Fresh and sweet with strong floral and fruity notes.
   • Suitable for: Those who appreciate floral aromas.
4. Green Tea Huangshan Maofeng
   • Created during the Qing Dynasty, known for its pointed tips and white hairs.
   • Major Production Area: Huangshan Scenic Area and surrounding regions in Anhui Province, China.
   • Flavor: Sweet and mellow with a fragrant aroma.
   • Suitable for: Tea lovers who enjoy rich flavors.
5. Green Tea Taiping Houkui
   • A traditional tea from Tai Ping County, Anhui Province, with a unique flat and straight leaf shape.
   • Major Production Area: Monkey Peak, Monkey Hill, and Yanjia in Huangshan, Anhui Province, China.
   • Flavor: Orchid-like aroma with a rich and refreshing taste.
   • Suitable for: Those who enjoy light flavors and strong aromas.
     
6. Green Tea Liu'an Guapian
   • A premium tea from Liu'an tea.
   • Major Production Area: Liu'an City, Anhui Province, China.
   • Flavor: Refreshing and thick, with a pleasant aftertaste.
   • Suitable for: Those who enjoy rich flavors.
7. Green Tea Xinyang Maojian
   • Also known as Yumaofeng, named after high-quality Maojian tea from Xinyang tea area.
   • Major Production Area: Shihe District, Dongjiahe Town, and Tanhe Village in Xinyang, Henan Province, China.
   • Flavor: Strong and mellow with a lingering aftertaste.
   • Suitable for: Those who enjoy bold flavors.
8. Green Tea Lushan Yunwu
   • Originally a wild tea, later cultivated by Buddhist monks.
   • Major Production Area: Lushan, Jiangxi Province, China.
   • Flavor: Fresh and long-lasting with a mellow taste.
   • Suitable for: Those who appreciate rich flavors and a strong aftertaste.
     

Green Tea Brewing Guide
When brewing green tea, ensure the water temperature is not too high, and avoid steeping for too long to prevent bitterness. For more tea brewing tips, visit our blog article (Mastering The Art Of Brewing Chinese Tea).

1. Prepare the Teaware: Use a transparent glass or white porcelain cup to enjoy the beauty of tea leaves unfolding in water. Ensure the teaware is clean and free of other odors.
2. Water Temperature: Green tea is best brewed with water at 80°C to 85°C (176°F to 185°F). Too hot water can destroy the nutrients in the tea, making it bitter; too cold water affects the aroma and flavor.
3. Tea Quantity: Use about 3 grams of tea leaves per 150 milliliters of water. Adjust according to personal taste.
4. Rinse the Tea: Pour a small amount of hot water (around 80°C) into the cup, briefly immerse the tea leaves, then discard the water. This step helps release the aroma and enhances the flavor.
5. Brewing: Pour the appropriate amount of hot water gently into the cup. Avoid pouring too quickly to prevent damaging the tea leaves. Steep for 20-30 seconds for the first infusion, then quickly pour out the tea. Increase the steeping time by 10-15 seconds for subsequent infusions.
6. Tasting: Green tea should be clear and bright in color, with a delicate aroma. Smell the tea first, then take a sip and let the flavor spread in your mouth, enjoying its fresh and sweet taste.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Green Tea Contain Caffeine?
   All six major tea types contain caffeine, but a cup of green tea has much less caffeine than a cup of coffee (see our guide on tea caffeine content).
2. Is Green Tea Suitable for Cold Brewing?
   Green tea is excellent for cold brewing, offering a refreshing taste with its clean aroma (blog on cold brew tea method).
3. Does Green Tea Have More Caffeine?
   All six major tea types contain caffeine, but green and white teas generally have less caffeine compared to other types.
4. Does Green Tea Expire?
   Green tea does have an expiration date.

SEE MORE
If you have questions about selecting tea:
Learn-more-about-chinese-tea

If you have questions about the benefits of tea:
Health-benefits-of-chinese-tea

If you have questions about brewing tea:
How-to-brew-loose-leaf-tea