Loose leaf green tea is basically unfermented leaves of the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis.
How is green tea made?
There are several steps in tea production. Right after tea leaves are harvested, they are getting withered by blowing air on them. Then, the tea leaves are rolled into strips. Next step for some tea types is fermenting, or oxidizing. The type (“color”) of the tea depends on the level of oxidation. Black tea is fully oxidized. In green tea production, the oxidation process is prevented by applying heat to the leaves: by steaming or pan-firing.
Here are the main types of tea, classified by the degree of oxidation.
White Tea leaves are simply cut and dried – no further processing required.
Black Tea leaves are cut and then left to oxidize until they turn black.
Green tea leaves are cut, withered, and then steamed or pan-fired to halt oxidation.
Oolong Tea leaves sit between black tea and green tea with the oxidation stopped halfway before they turn black.
Pu-erh Tea is partially oxidized and fermented. Its production involves living bacteria, similar to yogurt and leavened bread.
Rooibos Tea is not made of Camelia Sinensis plant, but a South African herb, Aspalathus Linearis. Rooibos is available in green and oxidized varieties.
Tea tips
When shopping for the best green tea around, read descriptions carefully, paying attention to the following details:
Origin. Most of the loose leaf green teas come from China and Japan. India is traditionally known for its black tea, although Indian green Darjeelings become increasingly available. Other noteworthy green tea regions are Vietnam, Nepal, and Indonesia.
Green tea types. The types of green tea vary significantly, depending on growing regions and methods of production. Some of the most popular green tea types on the market are Chinese green tea varieties, such as Longjing (Dragonwell), Zhu Cha (Gunpowder), Jasmine green tea. Japanese green tea has a very different flavor profile. Sencha, Genmaicha, and powdered Matcha are some of the most known Japanese teas. One has to try them to appreciate that savory, “umami” hint of flavor.
Chinese green tea vs. Japanese. In China, tea is often processed using traditional artisan hand-making methods. The number of resulting tea varieties in China approaches infinity or at least the size of the Chinese population. On the other hand, in gadget-obsessed Japan, machines are generally used for any kind of job from plucking to steaming and packaging – with impressive results of high-quality teas. In Japan, teas are traditionally steamed, whereas Chinese teas are usually pan-fired, hence the difference in taste and aroma. Japanese tea has distinctive “vegetal” flavor, while Chinese teas vary from being “fresh and floral” to “smooth and toasty“.
What does green tea do for your body?
Green tea doesn’t go through as much oxidation as black tea, and as such retains plenty of antioxidants, polyphenols and minerals that are good for the body and mind. Antioxidants in green tea minimize free radicals in the system and prevent cell damage, which in turn keeps you younger and healthier. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties and have shown potential as cancer-preventing agents. Green tea also helps with weight management as it boosts metabolism and energy expenditure. Further, several studies have found associations between green tea and lower risk of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Besides its long-term health benefits, green tea offers an excellent balance of energy and focus, thanks to its combination of caffeine and L-theanine.
How to prepare loose leaf green tea?
It’s not that hard, really. One piece of advice: do not oversteep. The optimal temperature for a perfect brew is 180°F. So, your water should not be exactly boiling hot and a 2 minutes is enough to release the nutrients and flavor. Any method will do: teapot, fillable tea bag, or just a tea cup (better be covered for the time of steeping). You can always use gaiwan for an authentic experience.
Keep in mind that all green teas can be “reused” for at least 3 to 5 infusions, if not more.
Top 12 best green teas to buy on Amazon and beyond
Dragon Well green tea, or Long Jing, is commonly regarded as one of China's top ten teas, and is often served to visiting heads of state. Apart from its delightfully sweet taste, with none of the bitterness that sometimes characterizes other green teas, Xihu Long Jing's significant difference from other green teas is the smooth flat appearance of the tea leaves..
Golden Moon Tea – Dragon Well Tea – Organic – Loose Leaf
Some things are made for Emperors and other important people. Dragon Well is literally one of them. The Chinese have reserved the finest Dragon Well for their Emperors for over 1200 years. In fact, when Richard Nixon visited China in his historic meeting, they served him their finest tea, which happened to be Dragon Well. That’s how much the Chinese love this tea.
Jade Leaf Matcha Green Tea Powder – USDA Organic – Ceremonial Grade (For Sipping as Tea) – Authentic Japanese Origin
Authentic Japanese Origin
. Our tea leaves are sourced primarily from the Uji region (Kyoto Prefecture), which sits on the southeast border of the city of Kyoto, and is the oldest and most premiere matcha growing region in Japan. We also work with farmers in the lush Kyushu region in southern Japan, which enjoys an ideal growing clima..
Ocha & Co. Premium Organic Japanese Fukamushi Green Tea
The tea has an intense green color, fuller flavour with distinctive fine-floating tea particles. Smooth and elegant.The extra steaming process breaks down the leaf structure releasing valuable nutrients into the brew. Made with young organically grown leaves from a JAS/ECOCERT certified organic plantations located at 400-600m above sea level (some of the highest in Ja..
The Green Tea Sampler set includes 6 mini tins, filled with the following loose leaf teas: Organic Clouds & Mist, Organic Sencha, Dragonwell, Boulder Blues, Gunpowder, & Genmaicha. We've combined 2 of our signature green tea blends and 4 traditional single-origin green teas in this set.
Tealyra Imperial Jasmine Dragon Pearls Green Tea Loose Leaf
An age old tradition handed down from generation to generation, our imperial jasmine dragon pearls are the best you can buy. Crafted in Fujian province in china, organically grown aromatic night blooming jasmine flowers are layered between fresh young green tea leaves and buds eight to ten times infusing the tea with their distinct and exquisite floral aroma. The jasm..
Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Powder – Culinary Grade
100% Certified Organic Matcha. Increases energy and focus, and lifts your vitality and concentration with the slow release of nutrients. Our Matcha provides hours of steady energy without the caffeine crash.
Organic Green Tea, Organic Rosehips, Organic Raspberries, Natural Flavors. Enjoy our handcrafted Green Pomegranate in this eco-friendly biodegradable pyramid sachet. This organic blend of wok-dried green tea and organic fruits sweetens the senses with a tart and tangy rush to the palate.Caffeine Content: Medium Fresh, Sweet, Tart
Steamed green tea from the Shizuoka prefecture of Japan, harvested in the early spring (the first flush). Sencha is one of Japan's most popular and beloved teas. The higher grades, like our Sencha Premier, tend to have more delicate flavor profiles. A crisp and clean cup with notes of freshly steamed edamame. Refreshing, sweet, and much more delicate than most Senchas..
An exquisite green tea with a deliciously floral & citrusy palate. Expertly curated by blending intricately mellow green teas from Darjeeling with the natural oil of the bergamot fruit, this tea is an interesting take on the original English blend prepared with black tea. Bergamot fruit is a pear shaped sour-orange grown in Italy which pairs very well with tea. The cu..
Organic Chinese Green Tea Origin: Henan Province, China. A phenomenal single-origin, organic green tea from northern China - this Mao Jian is smooth, rich, and absolutely lovely. It's grown in high-altitude cloud forests where the unique microclimate keeps the soil highly fertile. The dark green tippy leaves are twisted into thin pointed spindles that unfurl in your c..
This refreshing blend consists of peppermint and Hojicha, a roasted Japanese green tea. Chocolate mint grasshopper confections capture the essence of this tea. There's no flavoring involved, but the peppermint leaves pull chocolate notes from the roasted tea resulting in a guilt-free decadent taste and aroma. Hojicha is naturally lower in caffeine than other green tea..
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