Regularly people ask us: Why did you choose specifically green tea from JAPAN? In previous blogs, it has become more clear why green tea has our preference; this is the purest tea (no or very minimal fermentation and healthy substances stay in the leaves) and it is simply delicious to drink 😉 But why Japanese tea?

We get our green tea directly from the tea farmers in Japan. The tea comes from the regions (prefectures) Shizuoka, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. Shizuoka is located in the east of Japan. Our tea grows on tea plantations near Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan with a height of up to 3776 meters. It is a volcano on the border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures. The soil here is fertile tasty and so very suitable for growing tea.

Shizuoka is the capital of the prefecture Shizuoka in Japan. A lot of the capitals in Japan have the same name as the prefectures. In the prefecture of Shizuoka is also located the worldcity Tokyo. The prefectures Miyazaki and Kagoshima are located in the south of Japan. Our rare green tea Guricha (fruity and mild) is only produced in the Miyazaki area. Our green tea Kukicha (made from leaves and stems of the tea plant) is from Kagoshima.

China and India are the largest tea producers in the world. Of all tea in the world, about 35% comes from China. As many as 21% of global tea production comes from India. The Japanese have discovered tea in China. They have been also started to grow tea and they continue to perfect it; Japanese are known for their perfectionism. Japan has also become a major green tea producer. Japan produces a lot less tea, but this remains to grow. About 10% of global tea production comes from Japan and they are exporting 1% of the tea produced. This is also the reason that Japanese green tea is mostly available in specialty tea shops and restaurants, as HUG THE TEA 😉

There are differences between Japanese, Chinese and Indian green tea. This is especially the way in which it is processed. Japanese tea is picked first and then steamed in order to prevent as the aging process. Then the tea leaves are dried. Then, the tea leaves are rolled in most cases until they get a needle-like shape, such as, inter alia, the case for the Sencha, Gyokuro and Kabusecha. In the other case the tea leaves are ground into powder, resulting in Matcha. Japanese drying process ensures that the tea gets a clear gold-green color and a tasty (umami = fifth taste), but very fresh taste.

Japanese Gyokuro green tea (needle-shaped)

Chinese tea is first picked and then dried in a pan, oven or in the sun. Then, the tea leaves are rolled in various forms, for example, in beads or spirals. Chinese drying process ensures that the tea gets a golden yellow color. The result of the tea flavor is sweet and less spicy (umami) and fresh than Japanese green tea. Chinese en Japanese green tea is both from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The biggest difference between Japanese and Chinese green tea is the form in which the tea leaves are rolled and the drying process of the tea leaves. These differences brings a large differences in taste of the tea.

Chinese green tea (pearl-shaped)

Green tea from India is processed differently than Japanese and Chinese green tea. We know less about India green tea and there is less available about it on the Internet. Green tea from India usually has hard and bitter flavors.

Indian green tea (curly)

Conclusion: We are very impressed by Japanese green tea, because:
• Japanese green tea looks beautiful, fresh and pure, because of the fresh green color and sleek shape.
• Japanese tea gets a nice golden-green color in the tea glass (when you add hot or cold water to the tea)
• All Japanese green teas have very own tastes and characteristics. The Gyokuro contains many umami (the fifth taste) and is very high in antioxidants. While Guricha is naturally fruitier and sweeter and has a mild aftertaste. This has to do with if it is a shade grown tea (Matcha, Gyokuro, Kabusecha) or a sun grown tea (Guricha and Sencha).

Japanese green tea simply radiates quality!

We are less impressed by Chinese and Indian green tea, because:
• Chinese tea – in our opinion – looks less nice and fresh, because of the color -more brown and less green- and because of the shape.
• The bead-shaped Chinese green tea, reminds us of rabbit droppings or other ‘turds’ 😉
• Chinese tea contains 35% of global tea production and is therefore less exclusive than Japanese tea.
• Indian tea has, just as Chinese tea, a less green color and looks through it less attractive and less like green tea.
• Indian tea contains 21% of global tea production and is therefore less exclusive than Japanese tea.

So that’s why HUG THE TEA goes for GREEN tea from JAPAN!