Japanese and Chinese matcha may contain the same type of healthy compounds, but that from CHina just won't be in the same quantity or concentration. Japanese matcha has significantly higher levels of antioxidants, l-theanine, and ECGC – to name just a few.
Health Benefits: Japanese Green Tea Has More Antioxidants
One of the primary health benefits attributed to green tea is its high concentration of immune-enhancing antioxidants. Japanese green tea contains more antioxidants than Chinese green tea, with 60% antioxidants compared with Chinese green tea's 12–16 percent.
While both Chinese and Japanese green tea are made from the same plant, they produce different colors and flavors due to differences in processing. All green tea is cooked in some fashion after harvesting to halt the oxidation process, resulting in its characteristic green color and more vegetal flavor.
Well, the difference is that Japanese green tea leaves are un-oxidized - they are steamed right after harvesting to stop the oxidation. This makes it retain a huge amount of antioxidants & nutrients that have beneficial health effects on the body, leading for it to be tagged the healthiest beverage on the planet.
Today, Japan has become the second-largest green tea producing country, known for producing some of the most unique and highest quality green tea. Discover how green tea is made, the health benefits, the varieties of flavors from Japan, and how to brew the perfect cup.
Rishi Tea Sencha Tea
Certified organic, non-GMO, and 100% green tea, Rishi Sencha Green Tea tops our list. Sencha tea has a delicate flavor profile with sweet and bright earthy notes, making it an easily drinkable beverage. Rishi sources their sencha tea from Kyushu Island in southern Japan.
In moderation, yes. Adding a cup or 3 of green tea or matcha to your every day beverages can benefit your health – and that's besides it being tasty, as well! Green tea is possibly one of the healthiest drinks you can consume, especially with its high concentration of polyphenols and low caloric content.
Matcha is a powdered type of Japanese green tea (Camellia sinensis) of the Tencha variety [5]. The popular beverage has been growing around the world [6]. It is particularly rich in antioxidant compounds as a result of the special cultivation method [7,8].
Renowned as the highest quality form of Japanese green tea, Gyokuro is the most expensive and rare of all the green teas.
Today, Japan is the main production site for high-quality matcha powder. The fertile soil, mild climate, and slight elevation of the locations all contribute to quality matcha production. Already, it is clear why costs might be high if the overall available landmass for growing and preparing matcha is limited.
If you want smooth and mellow sweet grassy green tea, try Gyokuro or Matcha. If you want tea low in caffeine, try Genmaicha, Houjicha, Houjicha Karigane, or Organic Houjicha. If you want tea to serve with sushi, try Sencha. If you want rich green tea with full flavor, try Matcha or Sencha Fukamushi.
For Japanese people, green tea is the drink of choice in the morning. They also drink it during the afternoon break or serve it to guests in a show of hospitality. Several times a day, they will fill a small teapot with tea leaves, pour in hot water, and let it brew for a few minutes.
Sencha happens to be the most popular type of tea in Japan. It is a loose-leaf green tea that grows under full sunlight.
The contrasts in farming techniques give Japanese Matcha a nutritional advantage. The shading process ensures chlorophyll and other nutrients are concentrated in the leaves. This includes an abundance of the natural antioxidant polyphenols.
Green tea is often touted as the healthiest tea. It is chock full of polyphenols and antioxidants that help to boost brain and heart health. Green tea is considered one of the least processed true teas as it does not undergo oxidation. Leaves are harvested and immediately dried and rolled.
The best time to drink Matcha green tea is between 8 a.m. and 12 noon or during an early afternoon. Why? - Because this specific timing is considered as the best time for your body's digestive system to best metabolize nutrients.
Green tea has polyphenols known as tannins that increase stomach acid, leading to stomach pain, nausea, burning sensation, or even constipation. You have to drink green tea between meals or after a meal. Drinking green tea on an empty stomach in the morning may harm the liver due to its high catechin content.
While it is considered normal to add sugar with tea in places like the U.S and U.K, it is virtually unheard of in Japan. Even the tea intended for the broader market is unsweetened. You have more green tea less sugar even with bottled teas.
Morning Time
Sencha is the gold standard of green tea that is most popular in Japan, with 40% grown on Shizuoka plantations. This green tea offers approximately 50mg of caffeine in each cup, which is half of a cup of coffee, but still an excellent choice to begin your day.