You might know the difference between black, white, green, and other teas (if not, check out our guide), but how about all the various types of green tea? Here's a brief look.

What is green tea?

The difference in teas comes from the oxidation process, in which tea leaves are exposed to the air to dry and darken. The more oxidized a tea is, the stronger. Compared to black or oolong tea, green tea is less oxidized. Compared to white, it's more so.

Is green tea healthy?

If consumed in moderation, green tea is believed to have various health benefits. A large study in Japan showed a link between daily consumption of green tea and lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Another Japanese study showed that "higher consumption rates of green tea were associated with a reduced risk of stroke."

Green tea has also been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels, aid in digestion, and decrease inflammation in the skin.

Chinese versus Japanese green teas

Chinese and Japanese green teas differ in both preparation and taste. Chinese green teas are pan-fired, giving them a nutty, roasted flavor. Japanese green teas are steamed, resulting in a deep green color and grassy, vegetal undertones. 

Types of Chinese green tea

There are hundreds of types of Chinese green tea. Here are just a few of our favorites.

Jasmine — Infused with fragrant jasmine flowers, jasmine tea has its own varieties, such as:

• Yin hao or "silver tip" —  A fragrant tea from Fujian province, China
• Downy pearl — In which the tea buds are handrolled into pearl shapes
• Blooming tea balls — Made by artisans in China who sew high quality jasmine-scented green tea leaves with pink amaranth flowers. Steeping the ball will cause the leaves and flowers to unfurl and result in a fresh and fragrant tea.
• Gunpowder — So called because of the tightly rolled leaves resembling tiny pellets, this tea's smoky flavor and aroma comes from the way the tea leaves are roasted. The caffeine content of gunpowder tea is higher than that of other green teas.

Maofeng — Translated as "downy summit," which refers to the down that covers the young tea leaves, this smooth, bright green tea has a light and pleasant flavor with a lingering sweetness.

Long jing — One of the most celebrated green teas in China, this "dragon well" tea is harvested in early spring before the Qingming Festival.

Types of Japanese tea

As for Japanese tea, there are about 20 varieties. Here are just a few we love.

Matcha — A finely ground tea powder with umami-filled flavor that can be also found in cookies, candies, ice cream, and other treats.

Unlike other tea leaves, these are shade-grown, resulting in a darker color and rich flavor. Before it's ground into powder, matcha is called tencha. After steaming and drying, the tencha leaves aren't rolled. Instead the leaf veins and stems are removed and the leaves then ground.

Sencha — The leaves of this rich and brothy tea are the first ones picked of the season. With a clean and refreshing aroma, its sweet and mildly astringent flavor is reminiscent of steamed veggies. Sencha is a good amount of vitamin C, in fact the highest of all teas.

Bancha — Picked after sencha, these leaves are tougher, resulting in a more astringent and less fragrant flavor. However bancha tea is perfect to sip after a heavy meal. It also contains more fluoride than other teas, which may help with dental health and bad breath.

Genmaicha — A variant of sencha, genmaicha is made with roasted and popped kernels of brown rice. Ideal after eating oily or deep-fried foods.

Hojicha — Roast some bancha or sencha over high heat, and you get reddish-brown leaves called hojicha. Rich and toasty, it has relatively little caffeine, making it the green tea of choice in Japan for children and the elderly.

Try some green teas for yourself

Check out our green teas online as well as the full tea collection. If you're in the New York City area, be sure to stop by our Soho and Pearl River Mart Foods stores, where we have even more loose leaf teas available.