Why Japanese green tea tastes/look different than other types of green tea like Lipton and Twinings green tea?
I’ve been trying all many types of japanese green tea (Sencha, Konach, Matcha, etc) and they look way greener and taste very differently than the other one like Lipton green tea, it looked darker and taste bitter, although they’re all from the same plant Camellia Senisis?
September 30th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
I THINK that a lot of the taste come from how the tea leaves are prepared. I have read that unfurled tea leaves are sweeter. Also, are you steeping the tea for the same amount of time? Green tea generally becomes much greener and more bitter when the longer it is left to steep. I usually only steep about 3 minutes.
September 30th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Processing has a lot to do with it. some Japanese teas are roasted over smoke. It also has to do with how soon the leaves are picked.
October 1st, 2010 at 12:38 am
You’ve been trying different types of Japanese green tea and comparing them with Western brands of green tea that is probably the same type. (Personally, I can’t stand Western green teas and no tea from Lipton at all because I think it’s poorly made and this affects the taste.)
differences as listed in Wikipedia:
玉露 Gyokuro (Jade Dew)
The highest grade Japanese green tea cultivated in special way. Gyokuro’s name refers to the pale green color of the infusion. The leaves are grown in the shade before harvest, which alters their flavor. Gyokuro has a high caffeine content (Generally 0.16% in infusion[2]), but the significant L-Theanine content of Gyokuro slows down and counteracts the caffeine assimilation, and also the amount ingested is very small (Generally 10ml – 60ml).
抹茶 Matcha (rubbed tea)
A fine ground Ten-cha (碾茶: has very similar cultivation process as Gyokuro) used primarily in the tea ceremony. Matcha is also a popular flavor of ice cream and other sweets in Japan.
煎茶 Sencha (broiled tea)
The first and second flush of green tea, which is the most common green tea in Japan made from leaves that are exposed directly to sunlight. The first flush is also called Shin-cha (新茶: a new tea)
玄米茶 Genmaicha (Brown-Rice tea)
Bancha (sometimes Sencha) and roasted genmai (brown rice) blend. It is often mixed with a small amount of Matcha to make the colour better.
冠茶 Kabusecha (covered tea)
kabusecha is sencha tea, the leaves of which have grown in the shade prior to harvest, although not for as long as Gyokuro. It has a more delicate flavor than Sencha.
番茶 Bancha (common tea)
Sencha harvested as a third or fourth flush tea between summer and autumn. Aki-Bancha (autumn Bancha) is not made from entire leaves, but from the trimmed unnecessary twigs of the tea plant.
焙じ茶 Hōjicha (pan fried tea)
A strong roasted green tea.
茎茶 Kukicha (stalk tea)
A tea made from stalks produced by harvesting one bud and three leaves.
玉緑茶 Tamaryokucha
A tea that has a tangy, berry-like taste, with a long almondy aftertaste and a deep aroma with tones of citrus, grass, and berries.
October 1st, 2010 at 1:33 am
My personal opinion, I think Japanese Green Tea is special from all the rest b/c they alot of time to prepare it (including the growth of the plants/leaves), even when its in tea bags. Originally, Green Tea came from China but of course, anything that the Japanese get ahold of, they make it their own and even better than where it originally came from. I don’t think other (American) brands don’t really take the time and effort to make the best quality tea or anything else that is made here. Instead we focus all our time on making booze & fatty foods. Some of them, even Chinese brands are uneffective. I know this from experience.
So It depends on the company or vender and where the leaves come from and how it is prepared/made…that’s all I can tell you so I hope that answers your question. I have never studied tea explictly but I know which best vendors to buy from and its quality. Even with Bubble Tea, haha. Lipton is okay and I only suggest drinking their tea if you can’t afford the Japanese kind but you’re right, its a major difference.
But I definitely recommend the Japanese kind b/c it really is effective, even tho it is bitter to drink and highly an expensive imported product here in America, even in tea bags. I go at least 40-60 dollars a month buying 6 boxes. I suggest if you’re low on enery and you need to stay up ALL NIGHT, drink Japanese Green Tea almost any time you can, like water and don’t put any sugar in it or any tea for that matter or you’re asking for more health problems if you have a severe sweet tooth. I used to hate it too but now I drink like 8-10 mugs a day so that’s why I spend like so much money on it, haha. If you hate the taste, I suggest you give it a try and drink it like once or twice a day until you get used to it and then increase the intake. I It also makes you lose weight, because that bitter taste (if you drink it all the time) decreases you cravings. Most people hate the stuff but I deeply appreciate it.
I apologize if this answer was too long or wasn’t really helpful
August 8th, 2016 at 4:25 am
http://www.neomoby.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=213111 ^