12 Best Japanese Green Tea 2024

Green tea is the perfect drink to have to calm and soothe your body and mind. Check out this list of best Japanese green tea to enjoy the benefits of a cup of Japanese green tea.

Immerse yourself in the world of Japanese tea culture with our guide to the best Japanese green tea.

Explore the delicate balance of tradition and innovation as we showcase top-rated green teas renowned for their vibrant flavors and health benefits.

Embark on a journey of exquisite taste and discover the essence of Japanese tea craftsmanship.

Which Is The Top Japanese Green Tea?

Ippon Yoshida is a well-respected brand known for its high-quality loose leaf teas. They cultivate their own tea leaves in Uji, a region known for its ideal conditions for growing green tea

Best Japanese Green Tea	Japanese Green Tea Variety	Check price on Amazon
MAEDA-EN Japanese Sencha Green Tea	Sencha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
CHAGANJU Sencha Green Tea Loose Leaf	Sencha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Ocha & Co. Premium Organic Japanese Fukamushi Sencha Loose Green Tea Leaf	Fukamushi green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Gyokuro Green Tea Loose Leaves by Valley of Tea Store	Gyokuro  green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Ocha & Co. Premium Organic Japanese Kabusecha Green Tea Loose Leaf	Kabusecha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Ito En Oi Ocha Matcha Japanese Green Tea Blend	Matcha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Kirkland Ito En Matcha Blend Japanese Green Tea Loose Leaf	Matcha + Sencha tea leaves	Check latest price on Amazon
DoMatcha Organic Tencha Leaves with Matcha Green Tea Powder	Matcha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Buddha Teas Organic Japanese Genmaicha Green Tea Bags	Genmaicha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Ito En Hojicha Premium Japanese Green Tea Bags	Hojicha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon
Ocha & Co. Organic Shincha Japanese Green Tea Loose Leaf	Shincha green tea	Check latest price on Amazon

Best Japanese Green Tea

MAEDA-EN Japanese Sencha Green Tea

The first best Japanese green tea is this Sencha green tea by MAEDA-EN. Each pack contains 100 individually, foil-wrapped tea bags. And each tea bag can brew at least 2 cups of green tea.

It tastes smooth and delicious. High in catechin, it’s packed with health benefits - aids in weight loss, lowers blood sugar levels, reduces skin pigmentation, improves oral health and more.

 

CHAGANJU Sencha Green Tea Loose Leaf

Here’s another option for Sencha green tea in loose leaf form for you. This best Japanese green tea leaves are naturally grown and has a Japanese organic JAS certification to its name. The Sencha green tea leaves by CHAGANJU is directly sourced from contract farmers in Uji, Kyoto and appraised by experts. It’s grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Ocha & Co. Premium Organic Japanese Fukamushi Sencha Loose Green Tea Leaf

The next best Japanese green tea is the Fukamushi Sencha Japanese green tea. Fukamushi green tea leaves are steamed longer than Sencha leaves. The Fukamushi Japanese tea leaves have a powdery texture and deep green color.

The extra steaming breaks down the nutrients in the leaf and releases its healthy nutrients into the tea brew. The premium organic Fukamushi Sencha green tea by Ocha & Co. is grown in an award-winning organic plantation located in Shizuoka, Japan.

The pack is vacuum-sealed to retain the freshness of the green tea leaves. It has a rich, crisp taste and aroma. 

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Gyokuro Green Tea Loose Leaves by Valley of Tea Store

This Gyokuro green tea offers complex flavors with buttery and seaweed tones. The flavor is sweet-ish and refreshing.

The tea also has the umami flavor due the rich antioxidant and mineral content. This Gyokuro Green Tea is harvested in the first flush of May 2020. It also packed on an artisanal farm to keep the freshness of the green tea leaves intact. 

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Ocha & Co. Premium Organic Japanese Kabusecha Green Tea Loose Leaf

The next best Japanese green tea on the list is the Kabusecha Japanese green tea. This variety is grown in the JAS certified, award winning organic tea plantation in Shizuoka, Japan.

The tea leaves are grown in natural shade for 10 days which results in increased the content of amino acid of the tea leaves.

When brewed, the Japanese Kabusecha green tea is sweeter and smoother than your regular sencha green tea. This pack is vacuum sealed to keep the freshness intact. It’s a 100g pack

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Itoen Oi Oicha Instant Green Tea with Matcha Powder

This Matcha green tea powder by Ibn En Oi Ocha is packed in individual sticks so it’s easy to carry with you anywhere you want.

Each pack contains 100 matcha powder green tea sachets that you can directly dissolve in water. It tastes smooth, refreshing, grassy and slightly sweet. 

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Kirkland Ito En Matcha Blend Japanese Green Tea Loose Leaf

This Matcha green tea is blended with Sencha green tea leaves and tastes slightly sweeter. Each pack contains 100 tea bags packed with nylon filter bag. This allows for optimum water flow when you brew your tea. 

DoMatcha Organic Tencha Leaves with Matcha Green Tea Powder 

Here’s another Matcha blend for you. This is one of the best Japanese green tea that is a blend of Organic Tencha green tea leaves with Matcha powder. It has a smooth flavor and a calming effect.

The Tencha Japanese green tea leaves are a rich source of antioxidants. The pack contains 20 tetra-shaped tea bags that are made from cornstarch in order to add more nutrients and flavor to the brew, Each tea bag can brew three cups of hot or iced green tea.

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Buddha Teas Organic Japanese Genmaicha Green Tea Bags

Genmaicha green tea is a rich source of antioxidants and minerals. It is GMO-free and Gluten-free. The tea leaves are free from artificial colors, preservatives and additives. One pack contains 18 tea bags that are bleach-free and biodegradable.

The Buddha Teas genmaicha blend in made with organic rice and green tea. The flavors of the sweet green tea and salty roasted grains results in a complex flavor that doesn’t require sugar or honey. 

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Itoen Oi Ocha Hojicha Tea Bags

The Hojicha Japanese green tea has a strong flavor with roasted, smokey tones. It aids in digestion. Each pack contains 50 tea bags. Each tea bag is a tetra-shaped bag made with nylon. It has a sweet, clean taste.

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Ocha & Co. Organic Shincha Japanese Green Tea Loose Leaf

Shincha is the first harvest of green tea leaves. When brewed, you get a light yellow colored green tea that is a blend of bitter-sweet with a fresh aroma.

The green tea leaves are grown in JAS certified organic plantations in Shizuoka, Japan. Each pack weighs 80g and is vacuum sealed to ensure freshness of the green tea leaves. 

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Types of Japanese Green Tea

#1 -- Sencha Japanese Green Tea

Sencha Japanese green tea is the most popular type of Japanese green tea. Sencha Japanese green tea is made by steaming the leaves and then rolling them to produce crude tea.

This steamed Japanese green tea leaf is green and has a grassy taste that is refreshing. The intensity of the flavor depends on the sencha variety and how it’s brewed. Sencha green tea contains a moderate amount of caffeine - between 12 - 75 mg. 

If Sencha is brewed in the right way, it is not highly acidic. But if you brew it too long or if the water is too hot then the tea can develop the astringent aftertaste.

When you buy Sencha Japanese green tea, it’s best to opt for young sencha, grown and harvested in Japan. For best experience, store the sencha green tea in an airtight box away from light and heat. 

Health Benefits Of Sencha Japanese Green Tea

• Helps in weight loss
• Improved blood flow
• Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol
• Recommended for individuals with Diabetes
• Promotes better brain function. Reduces risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease

#2 -- Fukamushi Sencha Japanese Green Tea

Fukamushi Sencha Japanese Green Tea is a variety of Sencha green tea and differentiates itself from Sencha by its steaming process. Fukamushi Sencha is steamed twice as long as your regular Sencha tea.

It is also known as Fukamushi Ryokucha. Since the tea leaves are exposed to the steam's heat for a long period of time, its texture becomes powdery. Also, the tea will have a darker green color and a strong flavor.

It does not have a grassy odor or the astringent taste. A unique quality of Fukamushi is that even though many of the active components of the tea do not dissolve in water, it can still be absorbed into the body. 

Health Benefits Of Fukamushi Sencha Japanese Green Tea

• Helps in weight loss
• Improved blood flow
• Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol
• Recommended for individuals with Diabetes
• Promotes better brain function. Reduces risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
• Boosts immune system

#3 -- Gyokuro Japanese Green Tea

20 days before harvesting, Gyokuro Japanese tea bushes are covered from the sun to limit the amount of light that reaches the new shoots (covered culture). This results in suppressed generation of catechins and amino acids.

Because of which Gyokuro Japanese green tea has a rich flavor with decreased astringent taste. The aroma of Gyokuro Japanese green tea is similar to nori seaweed. 

Health Benefits Of Gyokuro Japanese Green Tea

• Keeps you energised through the day
• Reduces risk of heart diseases
• Improves skin conditions as it contains Vitamin C
• Helps in Weight loss
• Improves oral health

#4 -- Kabusecha Japanese Green Tea

Kabusecha bushes are covered about one week before the leaves are picked to block the sunlight out. The new shoot leaves are grown without exposure to sunlight which gives it a darker green color, a rich flavor, and low astringency than Sencha. 

Health Benefits of Kabusecha Japanese Green Tea

• Speeds up metabolism 
• Aids in Weight loss
• Reduces risk of heart diseases

#5 -- Matcha Japanese Green Tea

Matcha tea leaves are young tea leaves. The leaves are then ground to form powder. To make matcha green tea, this Matcha powder is dissolved in hot water. The bushes are kept under shade, away from sunlight.

This increases the chlorophyll content in the leaves which gives it the bright green color. The leaves are then hand picked and the stems and being are removed. Matcha Japanese green tea is used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. 

Health Benefits Of Matcha Japanese Green Tea

• Reduces risk of heart diseases
• Aids in weight loss
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces bad cholesterol levels 

Related: Tea not your thing? Check out this list of best Japanese Instant Coffee to get your morning fix!

#6 -- Tencha Japanese Green Tea

Tencha green tea is basically the leaf form of Matcha - that is before it is ground. After Tencha leaves are ground, it’s known as Matcha.

The raw leaves of Tencha green tea, like Gyokuro, are grown practicing the covered culture for more than 20 days. But the difference is that the after the Tencha leaves are steamed, they are dried without being rolled. 

Health Benefits Of Tencha Japanese Green Tea

• Gives you balanced energy through the day
• Aids in weight loss
• Relaxes your body and mind
• Detoxifying
• Anti aging properties

#7 -- Genmaicha Japanese Green Tea

Genmaicha green tea is a combination of brown rice and Sencha or other variety of green tea in 50:50 ratio. In fact, the word ‘Genmaicha’, in Japanese, means brown rice. Genmaicha is procured by soaking, steaming, roasting and popping brown rice which is then mixed with Sencha or other green tea varieties.

The roasted brown rice lends its savoriness to Genmaicha green tea along with the refreshing, grassy flavor of Sencha. Genmaicha is low in caffeine, since 50% of it is brown rice, which makes it suitable for children and elderly. 

Health Benefits Of Genmaicha Japanese Green Tea

• Regulates blood sugar levels
• Reduces risk of heart diseases
• Improves oral health
• Detoxifying and calming effect

#8 -- Hojicha Japanese Green Tea

Hojicha Japanese green tea has a unique roasted aroma as it is made by roasting Sencha or other green tea varieties. The green tea leaves are roasted using a pan at a temperature of about 200℃.

After roasting, the teal leaves are cooled immediately. Hojicha green tea is less bitter as the caffeine content of the tea leaves are sublimated when roasting. It has a savory aroma and a light taste. 

Health Benefits Of Hojicha Japanese Green Tea:

• Boosts immune system
• Reduces risk of heart diseases
• Boosts metabolism and aids in digestion
• Improves oral health
• Decreases inflammation in the joints, recommended for individuals with arthritis pain

#9 -- Shincha Japanese Green Tea

Shincha green tea is the first picking of the season. It is also known as Ichibancha or in-season tea. It has a refreshing taste and aroma of new leaves. It is also low in catechin and caffeine. This makes it less bitter and astringent. Shicha green tea has a rich, sweet-ish flavor because of the higher amino acid content present in the tea leaves. 

Health Benefits Of Shincha Japanese Green Tea

• Aids in weight loss
• Lowers risk of diabetes and heart diseases
• Improves brain function

#10 -- Bancha Japanese Green Tea

Bancha leaves are full-sun crops that are picked later in the season. It yields larger leaves with lower theine content. It has a rich flavor with hints of wood and a strong aroma. It’s considered safe for children, elderly, and pregnant women to consume Bancha since it’s very low on caffeine. 

Health Benefits Of Bancha Japanese Green Tea:

• Detoxifying
• Rich in Calcium, Vitamin A and iron
• Recommended for individual with mild anemia
• Helps in digestion
• Reduces fluid retention and bloating

Which Japanese green tea is healthy?

Green tea is a widely consumed beverage in Japan and it’s very well known for its rich health benefits. Out of all the countless green tea available in Japan, the healthiest green tea is matcha. Matcha is a young tea leaf that’s finely ground and has an exotic green color. It has a very high antioxidant level that’s beneficial for your body.

Is Japanese green tea the best?

Japanese green tea is one of the renowned healthiest beverages in the world. There are multiple variations of Japanese green tea from sencha, matcha, kabusecha, etc. Japanese green tea is the best green tea in the world because it has a higher concentration of antioxidants which is 60% more than any other green tea in the world.

What is the difference between Sencha and Gyokuro?

Sencha and Gyokuro are some of the popular types of Japanese green tea. The major differences between Sencha and Gyokuro are taste, aroma, and texture. Sencha has a grassy taste, the aroma of green vegetables, and a rich, thick texture. Whereas Gyokuro has a creamy, buttery taste, has the aroma of thick cream and a transparent cloudy texture.

Which is better: Sencha or genmaicha?

Sencha is a green tea that has a grassy aroma and taste. It also has a higher level of caffeine and the taste can be astringent. Genmaicha is also another variation of Sencha green tea but genmaicha is mixed with roasted brown rice. This makes genmaicha a healthy alternative since the caffeine content is balanced out. Hence, genmaicha is better than sencha because it’s much healthier and has an enhanced taste.

Which Japanese green tea has the most antioxidants?

Matcha is green tea that has a higher level of antioxidants than any other green tea. Researchers proved that matcha has 137 times more antioxidants than other green tea and hence it’s the healthiest Japanese green tea with countless positive benefits for your body.