Camellia sinensis: Green Tea
Green tea is made from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, using different “recipes” from the other major tea types. After the tea leaves are plucked, there are steps taken to soften them and quickly apply heat to preserve the green color and flavor. Here are hundreds of articles written by dozens of tea specialists.
Sencha; Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sencha? Sencha is a popular kind of Japanese green tea, grown in full sunlight and brewed by infusing whole loose leaves in 80°C warm water. It is dark green in color with an astringent taste and bitter afternotes, and fresh grassy aroma. It is also referred...
The Legend of Genmaicha – The Accidental Tea of Japan
Genmaicha (玄米茶, "brown rice tea") is a Japanese brown rice green tea consisting of green tea mixed with roasted popped brown rice.[1] It is sometimes referred to colloquially as "popcorn tea" because a few grains of the rice pop during the roasting process and...
The Legend of Dragon Well Tea
Dragon Well is a Chinese tea is also known as Longjing. Pouring hot water into my cup, I watch the long, sword-shaped leaves open. As the leaves unfurl, they look like a sparrow opening its beak to sing. The distinct, flat Dragon Well has inspired legends and...
4 Surprising Ways Matcha Boosts the Immune System
Plus Recipe for Matcha Ginger Immunity Tea Matcha green tea powder is one of the healthiest beverages in the world- it’s rich with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Matcha green tea powder helps boost your immune system in five surprising ways, from...
Tips for a Frothier Matcha Top!
In this post for TChing, (First Experiences with Matcha) , Michael Haavaldsrud touches on a few of the difficulties we all face when dealing with Matcha for the first (or second! Or even third!) time.Truth be told, it’s not the easiest, most intuitive tea to prepare...
Virtual Japanese Green Tea Tour
I was one of the first people to join the Virtual Japanese Green Tea Tour.
Choose the Best Japanese Kyusu For You
What type of Japanese kyusu is best for each tea? And what are the characteristics of each kyusu?
Hojicha – The Latest Trend In Japan
Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that is quickly gaining in popularity.
Tea Trend in Japan – Hojicha
Hojicha is a roasted green tea. Some types are made by roasting the leaves and others the stems.
Getting the Grade on Matcha
The term ceremonial is overused in the West these days – everyone’s putting it on their packaging.
Green Tea 101: Health Benefits Made Simple
I haven’t written about the health benefits of green tea here on T Ching because there is just so much information out there. But during a matcha whisking event for some ex-pats living in Japan, the topic dominated the conversation, although no one knew why it was so...
Green Tea Health Benefits; Choosing the Right Tea for Your Needs
Matcha, Sencha, Gyokuro and Hojicha; which Japanese green tea have you had? They are all green teas, but tastes are very different. And they also have different health benefits. Why is that?
How To Brew Loose Green Tea
Green teas are not all created equal, but they are delicious! The taste profile of the teas are affected by the terroir/growing conditions and the method by which they are processed.
The Green Tea Ritual; How To Use A Guywan To Brew Green Tea
The guywan is another of those Chinese inventions like paper and printing and china itself – the simplest way of preparing and enjoying tea all day and night long. Use a guywan a time or two and you feel as though you’ve been handling one all your life.
Top 10 Japanese Green Tea Whisk Holders from Amazon
Keep your chasen (bamboo matcha whisk) in shape with our top whisk stand / holder finds on Amazon.
10 Ways to Enjoy Green Tea with Milk
You already know that green tea is a delicious, healthy beverage, but you might not be aware of just how versatile your favorite tea can be. A wide variety of beverages, desserts, and baked goods blend the rich, satisfying taste of milk with the subtle, earthy flavor...
Japanese green tea: Sencha
In 1731, a Japanese Zen priest observed Chinese immigrants, living in Nagasaki, drinking sencha - steeped or infused tea. Sencha liberated tea drinkers from the rigid rules and expensive tea room decorations of chanoyu and represented a rejection of the chanoyu...
10 Non-Japanese Snacks to Enjoy With Japanese Green Tea
There are treats and mini bites that can satisfy sweet cravings without consuming preservatives and artificial flavorings.
How To Brew Loose Green Tea with Local Honey
How to best use honey and what honey to use with what tea.
10 Japanese Snacks to Accompany Japanese Green Tea
Experience modern Japanese culture with these Japanese-made snacks with your tea.
Top 10 List of Shampoos With Green Tea
If you decide you’d like to try a green tea shampoo, here’s a list of our recommended green tea shampoos that can be conveniently bought online, and possibly also found in local pharmacies and groceries.
Green Tea Can Give You Stronger and Thicker Hair
Studies have shown that green tea can help to promote hair health in various ways.
Naturally Reduce Caffeine in Green Tea
I have learned a mind-blowing technique for reducing caffeine in your cup with a very simple trick.
Nine Ways to Sweeten Sencha Green Tea – Part 2
Continued from Nine Ways to Sweeten Sencha Green Tea – Part 1 Japanese Green Tea is a wonderful drink for many reasons: In many communities it’s an affordable drink, in others it’s a component to history and/or culture. Tea is also enjoyed for its flavor and for some,...
Nine Ways to Sweeten Sencha Green Tea – Part 1
Japanese Green Tea is a wonderful drink for many reasons: In many communities it’s an affordable drink, in others it’s a component to history and/or culture. Tea is also enjoyed for its flavor and for some, the sheer complexities in flavors, processing, and approach...
Green Tea: A Short Story
“Green Tea” is a short story written by Irish writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu (1814 – 1873) who specialized in horror fiction, including the familiar Gothic tales. Could a story titled “Green Tea” possibly belong to the terror and fantasy genre? “Green Tea” first appeared...
Five Ways That Green Tea May Help With Acne
It seems like every health article goes on and on about how green tea can work wonders for a whole range of conditions from improving blood flow, digestive issues, reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, to even helping prevent Alzheimer’s plaques from forming.At...
How To Brew Green Tea With No Bitterness
Here at T Ching, we are proud to begin featuring these delightful and informative videos by Diane Walden of Cal Teas. We decided to start from the beginning, so up next is this how-to on brewing green tea. Research has shown the potential of green tea extracts/weight...
Green Tea For Beautiful Hair
Return to T Ching Classics: Tea and Hair The discovery in 2007 that green tea boosts the production of detoxifying enzymes is just one of many that have come to establish this beverage and leaf as an ally to human health and beauty. These days, health buffs are just...
Tuesdays With Norwood, Re-Steeped: The Green Tea Ritual
We're going back into the archives to revisit these classic posts by James Norwood Pratt. This post includes "The Green Tea Ritual" - Parts 1 and 2. We have added a link to the end of each one to take you to the next if you would like to read them as a sequence, or...
Why Do You, um, Pee so Much With Green Tea?
Let’s be honest, most people notice a significant increase in urination when they start consuming green tea. It’s a question and a giggle that I get from people all the time. So much so that I thought it would be worth looking into. Here’s what I found in simple...
Tuesdays With Norwood, Re-Steeped: Final Chinese Green Teas
We're going back into the archives to revisit these classic posts by James Norwood Pratt. This post includes "Huangshan Mao Feng and Guapian" and "Maojian and Yunwu". We have added a link to the end of each one to take you to the next if you would like to read them as...
Tuesdays With Norwood, Re-Steeped: Two More Chinese Green Teas
Tea plantation on a hill near Dragon Well (Longjing) We're going back into the archives to revisit these classic posts by James Norwood Pratt. This post includes the last two in the series of Chinese green teas: "Green Tea: Dragon Well (Longjing or Lung Ching)" and...
Tuesdays With Norwood, Re-Steeped: The Treasury, Teas of China – Introduction, & Green Tea (Lu-Cha): Eyebrow and Gunpowder
We're going back into the archives to revisit these classic posts by James Norwood Pratt. This post begins the next series: types of tea. Today's includes "The Treasury", "Teas of China - Introduction", and "Green Tea (Lu-Cha): Eyebrow and Gunpowder". We have added a...
Japanese Green Tea Company at Portland Tea Festival 2019 – Part 2
Continued from Japanese Green Tea Company at Portland Tea Festival 2019 - Part 1 We were excited to be part of Portland Tea Festival (Tea Fest PDX) which was held on July 20th 2019 at World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon. Here are some pictures we...
Japanese Green Tea Company at Portland Tea Festival 2019 – Part 1
We were excited to be part of Portland Tea Festival (Tea Fest PDX) which was held on July 20th 2019 at World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon. Here are some pictures we took during the event and my comments. This was the first time...
Tea-rrific Hydration: Can Green Tea Recover Your Lost Electrolytes?
It is not uncommon for people to make use of tea to improve health and lifestyles. So it’s welcome news for sporty tea drinkers that a tea brand has won two Great Taste awards and is slowly being preferred over sports drinks. So this begs a very good question: Can...
How To Brew Japanese Green Tea in a Keurig Machine – Part 2
Continued from How To Brew Japanese Green Tea in a Keurig Machine - Part 1 JAPANESE GREEN TEA LOVERS HAVE A BREWING OPTION FROM KEURIG While we’re talking about Keurig brewing, I thought I would give a quick review on one of the most popular Keurig small pod products...
How To Brew Japanese Green Tea in a Keurig Machine – Part 1
It seems as if everyone has a Keurig on the kitchen countertop for brewing coffee in an instant. At home and in the office, Keurigs are everywhere. The world of Japanese green tea lovers shouldn’t feel left out of the Keurig hysteria. This is because the...
Tasty Japanese Green Tea Cold Brewing Is Here! – Part 2
Continued from yesterday's post: Tasty Japanese Green Tea Cold Brewing Is Here! - Part 1 Product Cons: Only a few negative comments about the Hario were made. Here are some of the product cons I discovered: Customers disliked that the recommended brew time – 5...
Tasty Japanese Green Tea Cold Brewing Is Here! – Part 1
A great time to enjoy Japanese green tea is -- well--always! And that means when you live a busy lifestyle, you may not have access to a teapot and stove to heat the water for the perfect green tea infusion. If you could brew on the go, you would never...
Green Tea & Rose Lemonade With Honey Hibiscus Syrup
Flavorful, refreshing and healthy iced tea blended beverage recipe
Genetic Mutation Creates A Caffeine Free Green Tea
I was enjoying reading the recent World Tea News report when I saw a very interesting story about a rare wild tea plant. Growing at elevations of 2,300 - 3,275 ft in a region of southern China’s Fujian province, Chinese researchers discovered the Hongyacha plant;...
Major Green Tea Manufacturers in Japan – Part 2
Continued from yesterday's post Ueshima Coffee Company: Not Just Coffee Anymore Ueshima Coffee Company, or UCC, originated the canned coffee beverage available in vending machines in Japan. Although coffee remains the company’s most important product, recently it has...
Major Green Tea Manufacturers in Japan – Part 1
Ito En, the Originator Ito En is Japan’s #1 manufacturer of canned and bottled green tea products. The company was the first to make a canned green tea drink that was sold in Japanese vending machines when it debuted its canned sencha green tea in 1985. Today, Ito...
5 Ways to Enjoy Tulsi with Japanese Green Tea – Part 2
Continued from yesterday's post 3. Tulsi with Hot Milk and Matcha Is it a cold day and you want something warm to warm you up and soothe your mood? Well we know the perfect fix to keep you cozy inside! Prepare some hot milk with matcha and add a touch of tulsi and...
5 Ways to Enjoy Tulsi with Japanese Green Tea – Part 1
If you've never had tulsi before, it's about time that you tried this amazing spice. If you have had it before or use it regularly, then you know just how delicious it can be in almost anything. Tulsi smells much like clove and has a strong, mint-like flavor that can...
DIY Beauty Products Made With Green Tea
Green tea may be thousands of years old, but it’s the latest superhero skin-care ingredient - and for good reason. Dermatologists such as NYC’s Joshua Zeichner rave about its antioxidant properties, specifically catechin polyphenols, which mop up environmental...
Matcha vs Loose-leaf Green Tea: What Are the Differences?
Calling All Tea Lovers! Here’s the Low-down on Matcha vs. Loose-leaf Green Tea So, you love green tea, but you’re not quite sure about this matcha versus sencha business. Maybe you’ve seen matcha at your local market, but you’ve been hesitant to try it because, well,...
What You Should Know About Using Matcha and Green Tea For Bread: Baking with a recipe for Matcha Green Tea Milk Bread
The best part about baking is the creative freedom of making something one of a kind with your own hands. Choosing your favorite fresh ingredients and trying new things leads to delicious discoveries about taste and health. Adding green tea or matcha to baked bread is...
Green Tea: Healing And Serenity In A Cup
Aaron Fisher, in his book The Way of Tea: Reflections on a Life with Tea, notes, “Tea’s ability to both stimulate our awareness and calm us down at the same time makes it the ideal center for a natural and spontaneous meeting with the Tao." Every tea drinker knows...
What is the Best Way to Store Your Matcha & Japanese Green Tea?
5 Essential Storage Rules for Matcha and Japanese Green Tea Matcha, an ancient Japanese green tea, has become widespread due to its countless health benefits, antioxidant properties, and similar-to-coffee caffeine content. Before you run to the store and stock up on...
Three Alternatives to Regular Black Tea: Green Tea, White Tea, Red Tea
Guest post by Dakota Murphey Did you know that, after water, tea is the most popular drink in the world? Not so surprising when you consider that 165 million cups of tea are drunk every day in the UK alone. After Turkey and Ireland, the UK is the third biggest tea...
50 True Facts about Green Tea and Health (Catechin, ECGC, Polyphenols and Tannin)
The use of green tea as a medicine began thousands of years ago, at first in China and then spreading throughout Asia. Like water, green tea has no calories. Regular green tea has a water content of 99.9% and it can rehydrate the body. Green tea is sugar-free, even...
Exploring the Green Tea Smoothie Revolution in Japan
Trends have a way of taking something relatively obscure and pushing it through a "coolness" filter. The latest trend, the green tea smoothie, has revolutionized the way green tea is consumed, and Japan is on the forefront of this exciting trend. And, like every...
How To Make a Tasty Green Tea Latte
There are different ways to make a green tea latte, but all of them involve matcha, which is the fine powder made from grinding a special variety of green tea. It has two unique characteristics in its farming and processing: The first is that it's shade-grown for...
Drinking Green Tea Boosts Oral Health
Return to T Ching Classics: Teeth and Oral Health According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 91% of Americans over the age of 20 have had cavities at some point during their lives. It is further reported that 27% of these individuals have...
Green Tea Mania’s 10 Stocking Stuffer List
Thinking about good gift ideas for a green tea lover? Here is my list of few green tea products that are good for stocking stuffers. Other cultures have just barely scratched the surface of the many uses of green tea. The Japanese have quite a head start and are still...
20 Surprising Things about Gyokuro Green Tea You Didn’t Know About
Everyone is looking to get healthy while still enjoying interesting foods and drinks. This is one of the reasons why green tea in its many variations have grown more and more in popularity these days. One type of tea that is made of green tea leaves that has recently...
A beautiful moment with Japanese green tea
Holly introduced me to Japanese green tea ten years ago, almost to this day. It was a sencha, and such was the uniqueness of the mouthfeel and sequence of flavours that I have been intrigued by it ever since. Being a graphic designer by trade, I was just as struck by...
Tea Review: The Great Mississippi Tea Company Green Tea
A few weeks ago, there was a surprise in the mail: a few ounces of green tea from The Great Mississippi Tea Company. Intrigued by tea grown in the contiguous United States, I tasted and tested this lovely green tea over four steeps on a warm Thursday afternoon. The...
Scientifically-proven ways Japanese green tea makes your bones stronger
As many of us green tea drinkers know, Japanese green tea has many health benefits. One of the benefits that does not always get commonly discussed but that has been scientifically studied is that drinking green tea can lead to stronger bones. We cannot change the...
10 Trendy Green Tea Cocktail Recipes
Green tea and matcha aren't just for ceramic tea mugs anymore. Bartenders across the nation have been using green tea and matcha in their trendy recipes, and it's been a great success. Here are a few trendy and tasty cocktail recipes for any bartender to wow their...
Green tea, skin health, and the sun
Return to T Ching Classics: Tea and Skin Those of us who love green tea drink it for the delightful flavors it unleashes into our cup. One study, referenced from this blog, adds another layer of value to this cherished brew. Green tea appears to improve skin health...
Japan’s Greatest Culinary Combo: Green Tea With Rice
Nowadays, people put Japanese green tea into almost everything. Just a few of the more unique green tea combos include green tea alcoholic beverages, green tea fudge bars, and, of course, the ever popular green tea Kit Kats. However, there's one green tea combination...
Green Tea and Blood Pressure – Increase Your Life By Decreasing Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is an often deadly but treatable condition that can be improved with green tea by helping sufferers reduce their systolic and diastolic numbers, maintaining alertness, and improving their overall health simply by adding a cup of green tea to their...
Why Runners are turning to matcha for Health and Performance
With the increasing focus on health and natural foods, many runners are turning away from traditional pre-workout drinks and artificial nutritional substances and instead looking to natural alternatives. Rising in popularity is matcha green tea which is increasingly...
5 Reasons Green Tea Is Good for Your Oral Health
Return to T Ching Classics: Teeth and Oral Health Green tea is already known for its multiple health benefits. It’s brimming with antioxidants, making it one of the magic potions for reducing the risk of certain types of cancer. Catechins, particular antioxidants...
The Science Behind Why Japanese Green Tea can Make You Smarter
There are three major reasons green tea is the ultimate brain power booster. Green Tea contains some powerful compounds, all of which will prime your brain to operate at a higher level naturally. The 3 Reasons that Green Tea Makes You Smarter EGCG L-Theanine Hundreds...
The dos and don’ts of green tea smoothies
Green Tea is a truly remarkable beverage. It's not only versatile and delicious, it’s also extremely beneficial for your health and wellness. Green tea’s bioactive compounds are a goldmine of antioxidants and other nutrients that are known to foster fat loss, improve...
Houjicha: roasted Japanese green tea
I live in a 60-year old Japanese house. Beautifully positioned between two mountains surrounded by rice fields and a flowing stream. Sliding doors. Tatami floors. Single glazing. Zero insulation. No central heating. Get the picture? It’s so cold inside the house that...
Crunch time for loose leaf Japanese green tea
Noriyuki Teshima, 33 years old, is a rarity in the world of Japanese green tea. Rather than head to the city for a more cosmopolitan job and way of life, he has stayed true to his roots: tea. The tea farm Noriyuki inherited from his father, while still in his 20's,...
Green Tea Extract – Part Two
Part II Based on our original research, we received feedback from readers with a different viewpoint. Some of the comments that were received are… “I take one Green Tea Pill a day and I feel great!” “GTE has helped with weight loss, so I don’t care what you say, this...
Canned Green Tea
The expressions displayed on my Indonesian friend's and Vietnamese friend's faces when I handed them a canned coffee years ago were priceless; they glimpsed at each another and smirked. Since then I have encouraged both of them to visit Japan -- canned coffee...
Japanese Green Tea: The Inside Story
Over the last year and a half, Chiki Tea has become increasingly well-known in local tea-producing circles around Kyushu island--Oita prefecture in particular. Some farmers are keen to get to know us because of our connection to the West. With a dwindling and aging...
5 Ways to Use Green Tea in Your Skincare Routine
Return to T Ching Classics: Tea and Skin Green tea is loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants are something we all can benefit from getting more of to fight off free radicals. Antioxidants can help with overall health and also skin health. Try incorporating green tea...
Why is the Matcha in London so… Bad?!
This month one of my co-founders, Alex, is in London, scoping out the Japanese green tea scene. We’re exploring the idea of opening a Chiki Tea café over there. Over the last few weeks, Alex has had the arduous task of sampling various Matcha drinks around the centre...
Green Tea Extract: What is it?
And furthermore… is it a safe option? The questions stem from mounting research that many food extracts used for medicinal purposes contain too much of a good thing. In most cases, many foods and herbs have specific health benefits, and many companies are trying to...
Is it Safe to Drink Green Tea from Japan?
Following the disaster at the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant in 2011, I must confess to being concerned about drinking Japanese green tea. On some level, it just seemed easier to eliminate this tea from my list of green teas that I enjoy, rather than worry...
Spring in a Glass: Matcha Mousse and Rhubarb
One of the surest and most delicious signs that spring has arrived is the appearance of fresh rhubarb (AKA "pie plant") at my local farmers’ market. Whether greenish skinned and skinny or fat and ruby-colored, this vegetable is equally at home in the savory kitchen...
First Experiences with Matcha
This past Christmas I received a tea gift I had been wanting for quite some time: a small and perfectly simple matcha set. Over the last weeks I’ve been enjoying learning how to prepare the delicious brew. After a few hiccups, I think I’ve managed to get it right. The...
Weight Loss and Green Tea – It Appears to be True
Most of us have heard about the potential for green tea to act as a weight loss tool. I’ve never really given it much credence. However, an article on Huffington Post, a well respected source, provides some clear evidence that supports this claim. I had heard the...
The Japanese Green Tea Cafe Project
At a press conference held in Nagasaki Prefecture this past April, Japanese Green Tea Café Project's stakeholders announced their plan of opening 50 tea cafés in the States. When you visit one of these cafés, scheduled to open within the next 10 years, you will be...
Matcha green tea latte with zen green tea matcha
The trick to preparing a cafe style matcha green tea latte is to make the tea first, then add the hot milk and foam.
Green tea assisting chemotherapy in fighting cancer.
Once again, World Tea New broke the story about green tea’s role in fighting cancer.
UNBAG the green tea Kit Kats! Uji Matcha celebrated
In The New Yorker article entitled Flipping Supreme, the owner of Unique Hype Collection, an NYC retail establishment, recounted one of his business ventures:
Green Tea + C: help for the common cold!
The common cold, a winter malady I suffer just once every three or four years, brings out the worst in me. My best is most people’s worst, so it is noticeable.
Green Tea +C: A Matcha Made in Heaven
In our office at Sencha Naturals, we drink green tea every day. (It comes with the territory, right?) But what’s interesting is that none of us were tea drinkers when we first started with the company.
The importance of the green in green tea
We’re all familiar with the profound health benefits associated with green tea, ranging from a reduced risk of cancer to cardiovascular and cognitive benefits. Did you ever wonder what the color green may be contributing…
The Simple Joys of a Glass of Green Tea
Tea can be as complicated as you want it to be – what with its rituals and myriad details to handle. At the same time, it can be a simple delight. Being of Chaozhou (home of gongfu tea) descent, I fuss over the little details and…
January is green tea month
Every year, as the calendar page turns, a bright, shiny New Year arrives and along with it comes a plethora of online, magazine, and newspaper articles on how to improve your health and lose weight in the coming year. Culturally, we go…
Dragon Well – The best and the worst of Chinese green tea
Dragon Well, or Long Jing, was what sparked my love affair with tea. When I first tried Dragon Well a decade or so ago, I realized “that’s what tea’s all about.” In fact, I blame Dragon Well for the fact that I usually order coffee…
Green tea – Health drink or hedonistic delight
Green tea has been one of the fastest growing segments of the tea industry in the west over the past decade, a phenomenon no doubt at least partially attributable to population studies tracing the link between green tea…
How to brew green tea at home
Chinese teas can be divided into six main categories. Among them, green tea has the longest history and ranks first in variety and consumption. Even though I’ve lived in the Wuyi Mountains for almost three years…
Matcha latte
I have been obsessed with matcha for quite some time. I think it is one of the most fabulous things on the planet. Lately though, I have refined my obsession to that of perfecting my matcha latte…
Green tea coming out of the faucets?
Where would you expect to see such a thing? In none other than the “Green Tea Capital” of Japan – Shizuoka prefecture! Although I did not see green tea coming out of faucets first hand, if I’d have known…
Spring Iced Green Teas
Return to T Ching Classics: Springtime for Tea LoversSpring is in the air! That means it’s time to break out the green teas. I’ve always thought of green tea as my thinking tea. Brewed at a lower temperature, it is very soothing and relaxes the body and mind. I love...
Smoking green tea: is it safe to light up?
I find it interesting that while lifelong tea drinkers and connoisseurs consume green tea in liquid form (or perhaps dabble in treats sprinkled with Matcha), there is a subculture of green tea fans who consume the product by smoking it. I wonder who even first looked...