Japanese Tea & Matcha 101

Are you new to Japanese Tea?

Are you new to Japanese Tea or Matcha? On this page, you can quickly and easily learn all about Japanese Tea and Matcha, and discover which tea you may like best.
This page gives a brief overview of the different types of tea and their flavors, health benefits, brewing instructions, and so on. Of course, this page will help not only those new to Japanese tea, but can serve as a quick reference for tea connoisseurs. Let's start the journey to your Green Moment!

What is Japanese Tea, Matcha?

Here are the major characteristics of loose leaf tea (Gyokuro, Sencha / Others), Tea Bags, and Matcha. You can quickly and easily learn the differences between the teas and discover which tea you may like best.

	Gyokuro, Sencha / Others	Tea Bags	Matcha
Appearance of Tea Leaves and Water Color
Flavor	Gyokuro Mellow and sweet taste and elegant aroma Sencha Refreshing yet mellow aroma, and balance of sweet and Bitter taste Genmaicha / Houjicha Nutty roasted aroma		Matcha Smooth and mellow, not at all bitter. Unique rich foamy texture. Bright green color.
Health Benefits	Catechin is a powerful antioxidant. Theanine helps the body and mind to relax. Caffeine and Theanine help you to concentrate. Natural Elements and Nutrients in Each Tea		Same as on the left. In addition, Matcha is ground into powder, therefore you can ingest all the healthful nutrients without throwing away leaves.
Health Benefits	Learn more:Green Tea for Health
How it is Grown	Gyokuro Tea leaves are shaded from sunlight for 20 to 30 days before harvest. Theanine, which gives the tea its mellow taste, is created by this process. When brewed, this tea has a pure grassy green color. Sencha Tea leaves are grown in full sunlight. Catechin, which gives the tea its refreshing aroma and bitter taste, is created by this process, along with balance of refreshing yet mellow aroma, and sweet and bitter taste. When brewed, this tea has a golden yellow green color. Genmaicha / Houjicha Genmaicha is Sencha mixed with roasted rice. Houjicha is produced by roasting Sencha. These teas are also grown by Organic farming methods.		Matcha Tea leaves are shaded from sunlight for 20 to 30 days before harvest, the same as Gyokuro. Theanine, which gives the tea its mellow taste is created by this process. Ground into fine powder by stone mill. Matcha is also grown by Organic farming methods.
How it is Grown	Learn more: Four Seasons of Green Tea, Organic Tea Farm
Brewing / Preparation	Gyokuro, Sencha / Others Brew using Kyusu teapot. Then pour into Yunomi Teacup. Brewing Instruction	Tea Bags Brew directly in Yunomi teacup and not using Kyusu teapot. Brewing Instruction	Matcha Place Matcha in Matcha Bowl. Then pour hot water and whisk to create rich foam using Chasen Bamboo Whisk. Matcha Preparation
Usage Scene	Gyokuro Any special occasion, teatime, as aperitif, and so on Sencha In the morning, after any meal, teatime, and so on Genmaicha / Houjicha During meal, after meal, teatime, and so on Also when you would like to concentrate. Use high grade tea for special occasions and less expensive tea for everyday.	Tea Bags Anywhere or any time, such as at the office, during travel, and so on. Each specially-designed nylon bag is filled with whole-leaf Japanese tea, so you can enjoy the excellent flavor of high quality Japanese tea in no time at all.	Matcha Any special occasion, in the morning, after any meal, teatime, and so on. Also when you would like to concentrate. You can ingest all the healthful nutrients without throwing away leaves. Use high grade Matcha for special occasions and less expensive Matcha for everyday.
Recommended Items	Gyokuro, Sencha / Others Superior Tea Tasting Set (3 x each 100g/3.53oz) US$39.50 Organic Tea Tasting Set (3 x each 100g/3.53oz) US$35.50 Essential Tea Set US$54.00 See more: Gyokuro Sencha / Others Organic Green Tea Teapots / Cups	Tea Bags Teabag Tasting Set -Forest (3 x 14bags x 5g/0.18oz) US$34.00 Teabag Tasting Set -River (3 x 14bags x 5g/0.18oz) US$31.50 See more: Tea Bags	Matcha Matcha Superior (40g/1.41oz) US$17.00 Organic Matcha (40g/1.41oz in canister) US$23.00 House Matcha Stick Packs (30 x 2g/0.07oz) US$28.00 SEIHAKUJI Matcha Starter Set US$63.00 See more: Matcha Matcha Bowls / Accessories
Customer’s Review	Great introduction to Japanese green tea. Gives perspective from which to choose new teas to try. And very high quality tea, of course. --- United States	This is the best way to discover what you like and don't when it comes to green tea. What's more enjoyable is discovering teas I've not tried before and discovering they are all great. --- United States	Highly pleasant to the taste. I recommend this to those who are new to matcha and I will repurchase soon again. Also I want to mention that the package was very well wrapped and the shipping is very fast! 5 stars! --- Iceland

Overview of Flavors and Price Range

This section will help you learn the different flavors and price range for each kind of Japanese tea.

Overview of Flavors and Price Range image

Other Useful and Interesting Information

If you would like more information about Japanese tea or to jump right into the joy of Japanese tea, each door is open to you! Your journey to your Green Moment has begun!

Are you new to Japanese Tea?

Are you new to Japanese Tea or Matcha? On this page, you can quickly and easily learn all about Japanese Tea and Matcha, and discover which tea you may like best. This page gives a brief overview of the different types of tea and their flavors, health benefits, brewing instructions, and so on. Of course, this page will help not only those new to Japanese tea, but can serve as a quick reference for tea connoisseurs. Let’s start the journey to your Green Moment!

What is Japanese Tea, Matcha?
Overview of Flavors and Price Range
Other Useful and Interesting Information

Gyokuro, Sencha / Others

Appearance of tea leaves and Water Color

Flavor

Gyokuro

Mellow and sweet taste and elegant aroma

Sencha

Refreshing yet mellow aroma, and balance of sweet and Bitter taste

Genmaicha / Houjicha

Nutty roasted aroma

Health Benefits

Catechin is a powerful antioxidant.
Theanine helps the body and mind to relax.
Caffeine and Theanine help you to concentrate.

Natural Elements and Nutrients in Each Tea

Learn more: Green Tea for Health

How it is Grown

Gyokuro

Tea leaves are shaded from sunlight for 20 to 30 days before harvest. Theanine, which gives the tea its mellow taste, is created by this process. When brewed, this tea has a pure grassy green color.

Sencha

Tea leaves are grown in full sunlight. Catechin, which gives the tea its refreshing aroma and bitter taste, is created by this process, along with balance of refreshing yet mellow aroma, and sweet and bitter taste. When brewed, this tea has a golden yellow green color.

Genmaicha / Houjicha

Genmaicha is Sencha mixed with roasted rice. Houjicha is produced by roasting Sencha.

These teas are also grown by Organic farming methods.

Learn more: Four Seasons of Green Tea,Organic Tea Farm

Brewing / Preparation