Rich in traditions and renowned for being healthy, green tea comes in several varieties. Learn how to evaluate a quality green tea according to different criteria.
Green tea, a multicultural drink
Green tea is an unoxidized tea made from the camellia sinensis tea plant. It generally has a fresh, herbal flavor. Depending on the variety, it can be light or strong, sweet or bitter, have a nutty or grassy taste, or even a seaweed note. Its unique flavor will depend on the terroir of the region of origin. Several countries produce green tea around the world, including China and Japan, known for their quality green tea and their age-old customs around this drink.
Good to know: how is green tea produced?
The green tea manufacturing process is done in different stages:
- harvesting tea leaves;
- wilting;
- the “kill-green” step intended to stop the oxidation process;
- rolling;
- drying.
Experts will immediately recognize the difference between Chinese and Japanese green tea. How ? Japanese tea producers steam the leaves to stop oxidation and preserve color, flavor and nutrients, while Chinese green teas are typically pan-cooked. Japanese green teas will have a more herbaceous and vegetal flavor, while those of Chinese origin will have more earthy and toasted notes.
The criteria that will determine a quality green tea
So not all green teas are the same. To determine if it is a quality green tea, look for the following qualities:
Tea, a product originating from a region
Just like wine or mineral water, tea is a product above all from a terroir with its own particularities: climate, richness of the soil, altitude, sunshine... There are as many varieties of tea as there are different origins. Thus, producers have developed over the years tea plants with specific and superior qualities. In addition to the richness of the terroir, these are also defined by a particular method of breeding, production and yield. Everything is done with respect for the plant. This is why the notion of “grands crus” is also found in tea.
Thus, the most qualitative and sought-after teas are generally found on artisanal farms whose surface area does not exceed 10 hectares and which ensures the producer close proximity to his plantations.
The prestige of tea gardens
Alongside the terroir, the name of the garden in which the tea is grown is also a good indicator of its quality. Indeed, some gardens are very prestigious and renowned! They thus produce exceptional teas with unique notes and aromas. We can take the Darjeeling Gardens in India for black tea as an example.
The specialized tea house, a guarantee of quality
The best teas generally come from specialized tea houses but they are also the most expensive to purchase. Be careful with the price which is not always a guarantee of quality.
Harvest time
The harvest months are also very important for taste and aroma. Thus, green teas harvested in spring (February-March) are known to be the tastiest. At Kusmi, we believe that there are as many preferences as there are human beings, so don't hesitate to taste it to form your own opinion!
Leaves: color and appearance
A quality tea will have whole leaves, well swollen once moist, unlike tea bags, which contain powder and pieces. The color of these will also give many indications of the quality of your tea, as well as the flavor you can expect:
• Dark green – dark green sencha leaves will indicate heavy steaming and a very strong vegetal flavor.
• Bright green – sencha with brighter leaves will have been lightly steamed and will be less grassy.
• Green-gray – teas with a dark green-gray leaf color are likely to have a bitter taste accompanied by strong astringency.
• Green-yellow – the bright yellow-green leaves will make a pleasant, slightly sweet, toasty tea.
The transformation process
There are 2 production processes: the CTC process and the manual method.
• The CTC process involves the use of machines to process tea leaves. These are thus cut, crushed and rolled automatically and industrially.
• The traditional method involves full or partial processing of tea leaves by hand. Only premium quality sheets are selected. With this process, the tea leaves and shoots are less likely to be damaged.
Unsurprisingly, it is the sorting and selection phase of the leaves which determines the quality and price of green tea.
A discreet natural aroma/taste
Unlike flavored teas, pure green teas do not have a very strong aroma. However, a pleasant scent will be revealed in a teapot preheated to 75 degrees, the ideal temperature for enjoying a quality green tea.
The infusion test
Once infused, a quality green tea offers a bright green color. If it turns a yellow or amber color, that's a bad sign! Yellow colored tea is simply linked to poor drying of green tea.
The presence of organic and sustainable designations and certifications
As with other foods, tea also benefits from labels. The latter certify the organic nature of the tea sold but also attest to the quality of its leaves. For good quality green tea, Kusmi recommends that you opt for organic loose tea. Indeed, green tea labeled organic is a tea that has undergone numerous quality controls and whose production is environmentally friendly and follows strict specifications: without GMOs, artificial fertilizers, chemical pesticides or other substances that can harm the quality and taste of the tea leaves.
Kusmi Tea, a sustainable organic green tea & Made in France
Green tea flavored with jasmine, green tea with mint, natural green tea, green tea with rose… Kusmi Tea offers you a range of delicious green teas made in our workshops in France. As part of our commitment to sustainable agriculture and a healthy lifestyle, all our products are certified organic.
From the appearance of the leaves to the infusion test, you now know how to recognize quality green tea. Also discover our buying guide on how to choose the right green tea.
A quality green tea is a good gift if you want to please your loved ones, especially if they are amateurs!