Green tea is one of the oldest drinks in the world, and also one of the most misunderstood. "Green tea" is not a single thing. It is a whole family of teas, all made from the same plant, that taste wildly different depending on where they grow and how they are made. This guide runs through the main types, where they come from, and what the health claims actually add up to.
People ask us all the time which green tea is best. The honest answer is that it depends on what you like. A grassy Japanese sencha and a nutty Chinese dragonwell are both green tea, but they are not remotely the same cup. Here is how to tell them apart.
The main types of green tea
Sencha (Japan)
Sencha is the everyday green tea of Japan and the one most people start with. The leaves are steamed soon after picking, which keeps them bright green and gives sencha its fresh, grassy, slightly sweet taste. It is high in catechins, the antioxidants green tea is known for.
Matcha (Japan)
Matcha is shade-grown green tea ground into a fine powder. Instead of steeping leaves and pouring them off, you whisk the powder into water or milk and drink the whole leaf, which makes it far more concentrated than a steeped cup. It has an earthy, slightly sweet flavour and gives a steadier lift than coffee. You can compare grades and brands in our matcha marketplace.
Dragonwell, or Longjing (China)
Dragonwell comes from Zhejiang province and is pan-fired rather than steamed, which gives it flat, sword-shaped leaves and a mellow, nutty, slightly sweet taste. It is high in L-theanine, the amino acid linked to calm focus.
Gunpowder (China)
Named for its rolled, pellet-like leaves, gunpowder tea is bold and a little smoky. The tight rolling keeps it fresh longer than loose leaf, and it is the base for most Moroccan mint tea.
Gyokuro (Japan)
Gyokuro is shade-grown like matcha but kept as whole leaves rather than ground. The shade pushes up its L-theanine and chlorophyll, giving it a sweet, almost broth-like umami taste. It is one of the most prized and most expensive Japanese green teas.
Where green tea comes from
Almost all green tea comes from two countries, and the split tells you a lot about flavour before you even taste it.
China pan-fires most of its green tea, which brings out nutty, toasty, sometimes smoky notes. Dragonwell, gunpowder, Bi Luo Chun and Huangshan Maofeng are all Chinese.
Japan steams its leaves, which locks in a vivid green colour and a fresh, grassy, umami character. Sencha, matcha and gyokuro are the ones to know.
What green tea actually does for you
Green tea has been studied a lot, and the picture is encouraging without being magic. It is rich in catechins, especially EGCG, antioxidants that help the body deal with oxidative stress. The caffeine and catechins together give a modest bump to metabolism, which is why green tea shows up in so much weight research, though the effect on its own is small. It also contains L-theanine, which tends to smooth out the caffeine so you feel alert without the jittery edge of coffee. And regular green tea drinking has been linked in large population studies to better heart health, including lower LDL cholesterol. None of this makes it a cure for anything, but as daily habits go, a cup of green tea is an easy one to defend.
Where to buy green tea in the UAE
Percup stocks loose-leaf green tea, roasted green tea and Japanese matcha, with delivery across the UAE. Browse the green tea collection to compare types, or start with the matcha marketplace if you want the powdered kind. If you prefer something toasty, the roasted green tea range is a good place to look.
Frequently asked questions
Which green tea is best for beginners?
Sencha or a Chinese dragonwell. Both are forgiving, mild and widely available. If you want the powdered kind, start with a culinary or everyday matcha rather than a pricey ceremonial one.
Is matcha the same as green tea?
It is green tea, but you drink it differently. With matcha you whisk the whole leaf into water or milk instead of steeping and discarding it, so it is more concentrated in flavour, caffeine and antioxidants.
Does green tea have a lot of caffeine?
Less than coffee. A cup of steeped green tea has roughly a third to half the caffeine of a coffee, and the L-theanine in it makes that caffeine feel gentler. Matcha sits higher because you drink the whole leaf.
What is the difference between Chinese and Japanese green tea?
Mostly how the leaves are heated after picking. Japanese green tea is steamed, which keeps it grassy and vivid green. Chinese green tea is usually pan-fired, which makes it nuttier and toastier.
How should I store green tea?
Away from light, air, heat and strong smells. A sealed, opaque tin in a cool cupboard keeps it fresh. Matcha is the most delicate, so buy it in small amounts and use it within a few weeks of opening.
