Chinese or Japanese green tea: 2 different stories

Green tea is consumed worldwide for its unique flavor but also for its numerous virtues. It traces its origins to all corners of Asia but has widely spread across the planet to become a ritual in many civilizations. Where does this famous beverage that we love to consume, hot or cold, come from?

Chinese green tea, centuries-old origins

green tea was the first variety of tea to be manufactured. There are many legends about its origins, but the most famous dates back nearly 5000 years. In 2700 BC, Emperor Shennong, a great botanist and creator of traditional Chinese medicine, is said to be the first to have conceived this famous beverage. After taking a nap under a wild tea tree, a leaf fell into his cup and created by pure chance a completely new drink. Convinced by this new aroma and its benefits, he then included tea in many treatments. Gradually, green tea became a luxury product and a true tradition, which then spread beyond China's borders and throughout Asia.

How to prepare Chinese green tea?

The Chinese version is traditionally prepared in a cast iron teapot. The water temperature and steeping time are very important criteria. They must be respected to obtain quality tea. These parameters vary depending on the chosen tea. For example, Chinese chun mee green tea, which offers a mild taste with a slight hint of bitterness, should be steeped for 2 to 3 minutes in water at 75 to 80°C. Ideally, to reduce bitterness, it is advised to do a first 30-second infusion and discard the water. Chinese gunpowder green tea, used to make the famous mint tea, usually steeps longer, 3 to 4 minutes, at a temperature of 80°C. Purists prefer it plain, but it is very pleasant to drink with a little sugar.

Japanese green tea, another legend

Japan is also a surprising breeding ground for tea varieties. Consumed for 1500 years, matcha is the most popular Japanese tea. It is actually a very fine powder obtained by grinding green tea between two stones. Legend has it that tea was imported to Japan by an Indian Buddhist monk. At the time, it was traditionally consumed boiled in milk and seasoned with salt and spices. It was in 1191 that matcha tea appeared in Japan and became an extremely popular drink. The tea ceremony is indeed a ritual deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

How to prepare Japanese green tea?

Japanese tea comes in many varieties. Each has its own specific preparation methods. Among the most consumed, we find Japanese sencha green tea, which represents 80% of tea produced in Japan. Characterized by its yellow color, it offers a light aroma and a taste that is both bitter and sweet. Japanese bancha green tea is also high on the list and is distinguished by its high iron content. These two beverages are prepared in the same way: they are left to steep for 2 minutes at a temperature of 70°C.