content/media/landing/japanese-tea.jpgThe character of Japanese tea
Japanese tea is overwhelmingly green tea, and it has a distinctive fresh, grassy and sometimes savoury character. This comes largely from steaming the leaves soon after picking, a method that sets Japanese greens apart from the pan-fired styles found elsewhere.
The result is a bright, clean flavour with a lovely vegetal depth. From everyday cups to ceremonial preparations, Japanese tea carries a strong sense of craft and care.
The main styles to know
Sencha is the everyday favourite, offering a balanced, refreshing cup. Matcha is the vivid stone-ground powder whisked into a frothy drink, while gyokuro is a shade-grown speciality prized for its sweet, mellow depth.
You may also meet genmaicha, green tea blended with toasted rice for a comforting, nutty flavour, and hojicha, a roasted green tea that is warm and low in caffeine. Each offers a different window into the Japanese tea tradition.
Brewing Japanese green tea
Most Japanese green teas prefer cooler water, generally around 70 to 80 degrees, to bring out their sweetness and avoid bitterness. Steep sencha for just one to two minutes and taste as you go.
Gyokuro is often brewed even cooler for a richer result, while matcha is whisked rather than steeped. As with all quality loose-leaf, many Japanese teas can be re-steeped, revealing new layers each time.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most popular Japanese tea?
- Sencha is the most widely enjoyed Japanese tea, a fresh, balanced green tea drunk every day across Japan.
- Why is Japanese green tea so grassy?
- Japanese green teas are usually steamed soon after picking, which preserves a fresh, grassy and slightly savoury flavour.
- Is matcha a Japanese tea?
- Yes, matcha is a Japanese green tea made by stone-grinding shade-grown leaves into a fine powder that is whisked into water.
- What temperature is best for Japanese green tea?
- Most Japanese greens are best with cooler water around 70 to 80 degrees to draw out sweetness and avoid bitterness.
