Green Tea Buying Guide

Green tea  is made from the leaves of camilia sensis plant.  It originates from China, and has been a staple of Asian cultures for centuries.  Recently, green tea has become much more popular among coffee and black tea-drinking Westerners and is seen as a healthier  alternative. 

Health Benefits

Not only is green tea  delicious, it's also known to possess a host of health benefits for the drinker. This is because green tea  has undergone much less processing than black, so most of its antioxidants and organic compounds have remained intact. Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols and powerful antioxidants, which are thought to fight against some harmful neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

• Green tea is often employed as an herbal remedy and natural enhancer for a number of minor health problems like acne, plaque and tooth decay.
• Frequent imbibers appear to have lower risk for a wide range of diseases, from simple bacterial or viral infections to chronic degenerative conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke and osteoporosis.
• Skin and beauty products containing green tea--from deodorants  and creams  to perfumes ,shampoos , and lip balms --have become increasingly popular on the market.

Green Tea Varieties

Green tea leaves  are steamed so that they are pliable, then they are rolled and dried. This type of tea  is not fermented, like black tea is, and therefore possesses a very fresh, light, grassy taste. Green tea  is typically enjoyed without milk or sweeteners, though those trying it for the first time may want to add a little honey.     

Sencha  is the most popular green tea  in Japan: it constitutes three-quarters of its tea  production, in fact. This needle leaf tea has a lightly astringent and sweet taste.	Dragon Well  is considered the ultimate green tea. This Chinese Chinese tea  is lightly colored and brisk.	Matcha  green tea is ground very fine and whisked when it is prepared for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.  It has a light and sweet flavor that is even used for desserts .

Genmaicha  is unique blend of green tea  leaves and toasted rice that provides a delectable toasty flavor.	Gunpowder  green tea leaves are rolled into little balls to provide a fresh, grassy flavor.  If you could drink the season of spring , this is what it would taste like.	Jasmine  is another blend of green tea leaves  and jasmine  flowers; it has a very fragrant aroma and a unique taste.

A few tips:

• Your local Chinatown is a great place to track down quality green tea  blends.
• Do not use fully boiling water, as green tea  is more delicate than black. Try to grab the kettle off the stove just before the water hits a boil, then start brewing.
• Green teas  should only be steeped for a maximum of one to three minutes.

More About Matcha

If you're having your own Japanese tea ceremony, you'll need this vibrantly colored powdered green tea .

• Origins: In creating this high-quality tea, one must select the soft, springy, developing leaves at the very top of the tea bush. The superior flavor of matcha comes from the nutrients that the plant sends to these growing leaves, as opposed to the harder, more sandy-textured leaflets that have had more time to develop.
• In the shade: For the most vibrantly green color, tencha leaves are never dried in direct sunlight. While tencha leaves were traditionally dried outside in the shade, today this process is done indoors.
• It's an art: When it comes to grinding matcha into its trademark powder, anything less than the correct equipment and technique will cause matcha to become "burnt" and suffer adulterated quality.
• Oxidation is the enemy of matcha. Exposure to oxygen degrades the quality and turns the powder a dull, brownish-green shade.
• It's generally considered best to consume matcha tea within six months after its packaging date as the beverage is known to quickly lose its flavor.
• Like green tea, matcha is consumed without milk or sugar.

Prior to its use, the matcha powder is passed through a special container constructed from a sieve--this is to eliminate clumps. 

Traditional Japanese Tea Service

Like most teas, matcha tea can be prepared for a thinner or a thicker consistency. Usucha, which uses less tea, is lighter and slightly more bitter, while koicha, which requires more powder and half the water, is milder and sweeter. This is also because koicha is made from more expensive matcha powder derived from older trees.

Chaki: A caddy in which to prepare and drink matcha tea.	Chasen: Bamboo tea whisk used to sieve matcha.	A chashaku is a bamboo scoop  used to place a small amount of matcha into the tea bowl.	Wagashi is a sweet offered before tea consumption to counteract the bitter taste of matcha--usually a pastry made from mochi ,azuki bean paste  or fruit .

For the Love of Green Tea

So many kinds of green tea.

Bento Box: Green Tea Collection  What's better than one variety of superb green tea? Several, of course! This bento box (bento  is the Japanese word for lunch) holds an enviable sampling of delicious green teas, and would make a great gift for that green tea aficionado you know.	Premium Organic Matcha  For your next tea ceremony or simply the next rainy day, this is a high-quality matcha tea with layers of rich, savory, nuanced flavor. It offers a truly delectable green tea experience.	Honyama Sencha  It takes all kinds to make green tea, and this one boasts a combination of luscious ingredients: steamed asparagus with a drop of lemon juice, roasted artichoke, and young extra virgin olive oil . Also infused with scents of mango, orchid, and magnolia.	Vanilla Organic Green Tea  Sign me up: this brew is for the green tea lover with something of a sweet tooth. Combining green tea with vanilla beans, this decadent dessert tea is infused with caramel ,roasted almond , and dulce de leche .	Immortal Green Blend  Inspired by the Taoist belief that peaches are the elixir of life, this peach-infused green tea offers a unique, candied flavor.  It's perfect for those days that you want something fruity and refreshing.

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