Japanese vs. Chinese Green Tea | Differences

China and Japan are the two largest Green tea producing countries in the world. They produce exemplary yet very different tasting Green tea.

What are the differences between Chinese and Japanese tea?
How do the two cultures express themselves in the teacup?

In this video I give an overview of the key differences in their tea and then taste a Japanese tea with a Chinese tea to describe the difference. Let's explore together!

----------------

★ FEATURED TEA & TEAWARE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join us on Instagram

Tweet along with us

Write some friendly graffiti on our Facebook wall

[oliverkarp]

Its very hard to talk about cultural differences and you did it extremely respectfully, and in my opinion correctly. Great job, thanks.

[hazeldavis]

Chinese tea- playing in a blossoming meadow as a child. Natural and free.

Japanese tea- warm and safely snuggled up at home on a rainy afternoon.

It's so nice to live in a world where we can have both.

[daniilturpitka]

I didn’t really like hot brewed sencha so I used it for cold brew. The result was amazing! It’s very fresh both in taste and aroma. Perfect for summer days. I felt in live with it’s slightly bitter aftertaste that makes you want to drink this tea more and more. I did it in two infusions. Firsts one was about an hour in the fridge and the second one approximately 3-4 hours. They were very different in color and taste and I can’t even tell which one I like more. I definitely recommend everyone trying cold brew sencha)

[uniunissa]

What an treasure it is to find this channel. I recently got interested in the world of teas. Its like learning about new art, exploring whole new world. And is there better way to enjoy this video than with few brews of organic gyokuro! I like this one so much. I've started my tea journey with these japanese teas gyokuro, sencha and guricha. I like that brothy feel and taste (umami) and that theanine kick. I swear its bit like being "high" type of feeling, yet clear mind. So relaxed, calm and focused. Im gonna dive deep into this world of teas. Thanks for this great channel!

[enronlu]

Thank you for the excellent video! As a Chinese who is studying Japanese tea in Japan right now, I totally agreed with you on the opinion that the different way the two countries grow, process and brew the tea reveal the difference between two cultures.I don't think many Chinese ever tried sencha before, perhaps the same to Japanese, if both can drink each other's tea more, perhaps there will be less hostile and misunderstanding.

[FrF]

Wow, Don estimated the brewing time of the Japanese tea correctly to the second (16:10 - 17:10)!

[redhiveone]

perfect timing. this morning my wife asked me what is the difference between chinese and japanese green teas. I had a hard time explaining. much appreciated, Don.

[adrianamor]

In relation to the leaf/water ratio. Sometimes with japanese green tea an even higher amount of leaf is used with respect to chinese green teas. For example, with Gyokuro I usually do 8-10g of leaf per 60-80ml of water (1st infusion). By the way, another difference that I just came up with: usually the best infusion with japanese greens is the first one, while with chinese greens you usually get the best infusion on the 2nd? Why do you think this is the case?

[ryomai]

GREAT review, spot on, totally agree on every point in my experience - love both teas equally. Being used drinking Sencha, first time brewing / drinking PROPER Chinese tea I was so surpised by it's subtle more golden (instead of greenish) color and natural flavors. Thank you for this video. You got an extra customer when I come to London.

[onixxx]

I had the pleasure of tasting Hoshino TAY gyokuro which has won the all Japan tea competition in 2016, it is beyond words, the perfume and clarity is amazing. I also like Anhui green tea, Lu An gua pian is a good starter for a japanese tea lover, and Bi luo chun is also along my favourite chinese green teas, they are so different that it is like comparing apples to oranges. I think westerners who are raised on sugar are shocked by sencha.

[inguracka]

Loved it, as someone who just started the journey of quality tea-drinking, and started with Japanese sencha one I am now interested to try Chinese too!

[szilona]

Dear Don, It was very interesting and useful to watch your video. I have been drinking green tea for a long time, but now I am aware of the difference between teas. Thank you.

[chrisdyson]

Excellent, detailed and informative comparison. Thank you.

[HerHomeschoolHomestead]

Thank you! I adore your channel. Please, keep them coming. ♥️

[rasoolbuxlashari]

I like tea with some fragrance, the Only tea in my life i like the Taste is from china, given by my Chinese Brother i have no words to express how much Soothing, aromatic, very calm Feeling i enjoy After tea . that is natural grown on mountain in that small village, they dont sale it, its naturally grown, aroma is superb, i have tried numerous tea in china, only one Japanese tea, that was like a Medicine may be i dont know much About Japanese tea, Chinese natural wild tea is not popular but Excellent, Japanese. Cant be compared in tea with china if you lucky Enough to find such tea or even Better, china is very big Country with rich culture many things stilll undiscovered.

[codyshi]

My favorite Chinese green tea is the Dragon Well.

[cpa]

Very interesting, can you do a comparison of oolong tea? Taiwan vs Chinese Oolongs

[worldofwarcraft]

My favourite Chinese green tea is your Jade Sword. Not too brothy and a little sweet.

[sbrsbr]

I just love the way he brings forward the vision of the character of flavors.

[Disconnectmyself]

I am bit surprised you would brew good quality sencha with 80°C water. But I can see it work in that water to tea amount ratio.