Which Green Tea is Better - How to Choose. How to choose the right green tea

So what is the best green tea?

How to choose quality tea

Firstly, if you want to try not a fake, then immediately exclude tea bags. After such processing, all useful qualities drink. Everything that is sold in filter bags is beautifully packaged tea production waste. People, knowledgeable in this drink, they will not buy it in cardboard or iron packages produced in factory conditions. It is better to buy green tea only in trusted places and by weight.
Secondly, the taste directly depends on the area where the tea bushes are grown. The Chinese province called Fujian, which is located opposite Taiwan, is known for the fact that it is in it that an entire production process for the processing of expensive varieties of this plant operates. Green tea really costs a lot of money, but it is worth considering that the air there is very clean, as well as the nature is beautiful and the mountains and much more, which only speaks of an ecologically clean area.

The best tea is produced by harvesting five trees planted in the area no less than 500 years ago. These tea trees grow on the heights of the mountains and therefore, in order to collect leaves from them, it takes a lot of time and effort.

Thirdly, the product is considered to be of the highest quality if its shelf life is a little more than one month. There is one "but" - you can store it longer, but it will lose its properties. Tea that has already been brewed should not be stored for more than one day.

Therefore, all Chinese drink only fresh brewed tea, because it has not yet accumulated foreign smells and tastes, and it is very beautiful in color.

In fact, the brands of green tea in Japan and China do not differ much. The only difference is the processing method. The most common is the Chinese brand.

Leaves are the main indicator of quality. The leaves should be a bright color (maybe either pistachio or bright green) and beautiful shape. The leaves should be soft and lively.

In the old drink, they are a little hard and of different shapes, dry and crumble easily. Most often dark or brown shades. It is worth paying attention to the expiration date. Real green leaves are stored for no more than 1-2 years, it is advisable to keep them in a parchment or foil package.

The four best teas by weight

Gyokuro. One of the most expensive types of Japanese green tea, unusually sweet and invigorating. better coffee(high content of titanine and caffeine). Gyokuro is grown according to special technologies, i.e. it grows in the shade. Its leaves are usually dark emerald in color and have a special oblong shape (similar to spruce needles). The average price for 100 g reaches 800 rubles, but it's worth it.
Biluochun Emerald Spirals of Spring. It is grown in the Chinese province of Jiangsu. Due to the fact that fruits are grown next to tea plantations, the leaves of the tea bush naturally absorb the fruity aroma. After drying, it is not subjected to further processing. The leaves are strictly curved. Price from 500 rubles per 100 g.
Xinyang Maojian - grown high in the mountains. The drink, in addition to a pleasant and delicate aroma, contains a large number of vitamin C. Because of this, tea infusion It is recommended to drink in the morning, as it has a very invigorating effect. Its cost is from 340 rubles.
Yuquanili "Pearl with a milky smell". This variety is grown in China. This is a product that does not contain foreign additives, has delicate taste and pleasant aroma, and its milky-vanilla smell is achieved through special processing.

Among the classic varieties of Chinese tea, Mao Feng should be distinguished - it has a mild and sweetish-floral taste. It is recommended for people prone to frequent stress. A variety such as Tuocha is considered one of the most healing.

Ideal for those who regularly diet. Chun Mee is also brought to us from China. This drink is strong and tart, inexpensive and most importantly does not contain any additives.

Lovers of fruity flavors should pay attention to Lung Ching (Longjing). This variety with a delicate floral taste and smell belongs to the elite varieties, it is also called imperial.

The Best Inexpensive Varieties for Tea Bag Fans

Not everyone wants to spend daily drink a lot of money, so let's also consider ordinary (bagged) tea. It is now on the shelves a lot, a variety of firms and variations.

But judging by the above quality tea, as well as customer reviews, we can distinguish the following types:

MaitredeThe "Napoleon". This is the so-called milk oolong. Sold in a can, which allows you to keep its freshness and aroma longer than in cardboard boxes. The leaves are pistachio-colored, have a twisted shape (when brewed, they bloom into almost a whole leaf). The infusion itself is pleasant to the taste, pale straw color. Produced in China.
Next on the list is Hilltop Gunpowder Green Tea. The material for such a drink is selected very carefully. Those who have been to tea plantations in China claim that these are only the top few petals from each bush. Tea is sealed tin can(with beautiful design, suitable for a gift). Its leaves are rolled into balls. At tea ceremonies, they are surprised by its rich taste and amazing aroma.

Tea drinking traditions by season

Chinese people like different kinds of tea depending on the season. For example, in the spring they drink tea collected from various inflorescences of plants, but in the summer they prefer only green teas. Autumn for the Chinese is the time for drinking oolong tea, and in winter they prefer red.

According to the tradition of tea drinking, the Chinese drink the divine infusion, slowly, talking to each other, or thinking about their own. The people of China believe that in this way they will become rich. As for the dishes in which tea is brewed, teapots made of purple and red clay are considered the best.

Every brand is useful in its own way. Even if you have just started to join it, it is worth remembering - it is not the main thing in which place the tea plant has grown, it is important to brew it correctly.

Tips for preparing such a drink can be reduced to the basic rule - never brew a tea leaf with boiling water.

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There is an opinion that you cannot buy good tea in an ordinary store. However, connoisseurs of the tea market are convinced of the opposite: on the shelves of the hypermarket you can find quality drink. But how to choose it, so as not to be disappointed later? Do you need special secret knowledge to really buy tasty tea? Svetlana Veremetsko, the winner of the third tea championship of Belarus in 2017 in the category “Mastery of making tea” and a practicing coffee trainer, is helping us figure it out today. Together with her, we walked around the hypermarket, studied the assortment and opened several packages that we liked.

The higher the better

- You often hear the opinion that hypermarkets are good no tea, - says Svetlana. - And people invent some incredible schemes, they try to bring super tea from abroad. Or they are looking for specialized shops where tea, in their opinion, is somehow magical.

But the expert believes that loose "sorcerer's" tea is not much different from packaged store-bought tea.

- There are gourmets who prefer to consume only exclusives like Yes Hong Pao. But such amateurs are at most two percent of the total number of consumers. Yes, and mega-gourmet varieties cost quite different money. The rest of the buyers just want to get a quality product at an affordable price.

In a good hypermarket, eyes widen from abundance. How not to get lost in this tea sea and choose a quality product? Do not open every package. But the expert says that much can be learned from external signs.

- The quality of tea primarily depends on the height at which the bush itself grows. The best tea is alpine. Due to specific conditions, its leaf grows slowly. And the smaller the sheet, the higher the concentration in it useful substances, which means that the drink as a result is more saturated. In the low mountains, tea grows faster, so it is of lower quality and, accordingly, cheaper, but the concentration of substances in such raw materials is low. But it is precisely this that is purchased by manufacturers of a budget product.

Size matters?

- We believe that the best tea is large-leaf tea. But I will tell you a terrible secret: only Belarus, Russia and Ukraine think this way. This has been going on since the late 80s, when it was a large sheet that began to be imported to the USSR.

Another common stereotype: the worst tea is in bags. And the expert strongly disagrees with this. Such misconceptions arise due to ignorance of the features of tea production.

- During drying and fermentation, the leaf inevitably crumbles into particles of different sizes. And before packing, it is divided into fractions so that the tea leaves in the pack are approximately the same: the brewing speed depends on their size. A large sheet needs more time, a small one - less. Tea "dust" in bags is brewed almost instantly. But the size does not affect the quality, because it is the same tea.

Tea bags from the highlands can be more expensive and tastier than large-leaf tea made from lowland "burdocks". And despite the biased attitude of Belarusians towards the drink in bags, it accounts for 70% of sales in our market. Whatever one may say, but brewing it is much more convenient. For comparison, we buy two packs of tea bags from different brands. Both contain 25 bags, but one costs 4.32 rubles, and the second costs only 1.73.

I wonder what is the difference between tea bags and pyramids?

- There was a very curious story with the pyramids. Manufacturers began to pack large-leaf tea in bags, but faced consumer distrust: they say, it is not known what was actually put there. Then they came up with transparent nylon pyramids so that the buyer could see the contents. The taste of such tea also depends solely on the raw materials.

The packaging of tea is also different. The same product is packaged both in cardboard boxes and iron jars. What's the difference? What's better?

- It is more convenient to store tea in an iron can, and there it is better protected from moisture and foreign odors. And the difference in price arises from the cost of the tin itself. It's more like a gift.

But how to determine the quality of the sheet itself? Is price an indicator?

- It is, but only when we buy plain black or green tea without additives. It's relatively fair value for money.

Taste depends not only on raw materials: it is important to observe the conditions of storage and transportation. Now the bulk of the tea on the shelves of our stores is purchased in India and Ceylon, but packaged in Russia. Is it good or bad?

- It all depends on the manufacturer. A reputable company that values its reputation complies with all conditions. The question is mostly economic: it is cheaper to pack in Russia.

But Svetlana herself prefers tea packaged directly in Ceylon. In her opinion, it preserves the taste and aroma better. Indeed, in Sri Lanka, many factories work "on wheels": in the morning they buy tea at an auction, and by the evening it is already in packs. And there is a lion with a sword on the product packed on the island. Permission to use this mark is granted by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. By the way, there are only four brands with this emblem left on the Belarusian market.

The smell of the smell of strife

Notice how many flavored and fruit teas are on sale. Some with very specific smells, like champagne or chocolate truffle.

- Flavors in tea have the right to exist: if the buyer likes it, then why not? The main thing is that the manufacturer uses a quality leaf, and does not try to cover up the lack of smell and taste of the tea itself with additives. Therefore, when choosing flavored tea, be sure to read the composition: according to GOST, the components are listed in descending order of their quantity. And if after tea in the list there is a flavor, and only then - pieces of an apple, then the drink will have more chemicals than fruits.

We randomly take green tea with mango flavor from the shelf: a vigorous smell hits the nose even through the packaging, knocking out the sense of smell for a while. It seems that the manufacturer has relied more on chemistry than on quality. A 100-gram pack of such a drink costs 4.59 rubles, which is not so little. For comparison: for such money you can buy an unpretentious, but good tea packaged in Ceylon.

- Chemistry gives out too fruity smell. Well, two pieces can't dried strawberries give off an amazing aroma. Therefore, the natural smell is reinforced with flavorings. This is partly due to the peculiarities of consumer psychology. People believe that if tea is fruity, then it should smell like fruits. The same goes for jasmine tea. real drink obtained by impregnating the tea leaf natural oil jasmine. And quite a few flowers are added to it - for beauty.

What the autopsy showed

First, let's compare tea bags. First difference: the more expensive product is placed in the package. The cheap ones are right in the box.

In budget tea, the rope is attached to the bag with an iron clip, which, according to the expert, is not good. “Why do we need extra iron in a cup?” But in more expensive tea, the rope is tied with an eco-friendly knot: this is done by a special machine. But a paper clip is easier and cheaper to install.

Now we open the bags and examine their contents.

- Please note: more expensive tea looks darker and more uniform. These are signs of a quality product.

The cheap one looks like a brown mass with fibers that come across in it and does not impress the expert. And the difference in taste will be noticeable.

On the left - cheap tea from a bag, on the right - more expensive

Now it's time for a mango-flavoured product. After opening the package, the smell instantly fills the whole room. The expert sorts through the contents, separating the tea from petals and cubes, declared as pineapple pieces. The diagnosis is disappointing: the tea is of poor quality. The tea leaves differ markedly in color and size, and in good product this should not be.

Tea leaves vary in color and size

The second fragrant "patient" does not smell through the pack, but after opening the truffle spirit is felt very clearly. We disassemble the contents: cocoa beans and pieces are added to the tea mass coconut flakes. The expert examines the sheet: a radically black color and increased brittleness. Conclusion: the product is stale and initially of low quality. Recall that it cost 4.59 rubles.

For comparison, we pour Ceylon tea with a lion on paper at 4 rubles per 100 g. The picture is completely different: the leaves are the same size, and the color is black with a bluish tint. And it smells like tea, not flavoring.

On the left - black tea with "truffle", on the right - black Ceylon without additives

- The product, though not the most expensive, but still very good.

But what does the best black tea we bought in the store look like? We open a 100-gram package, which cost us 9 rubles. The color and smell is good, but what are the light streaks on the leaves? These are tips - leaf buds. The more of them, the better the tea.

Expensive black tea with tips

We compare the appearance: at the top left - black flavored (4.69 rubles), on the right - Ceylon (3.82 rubles), at the bottom - Ceylon with tips (9 rubles)

- I will reveal another terrible secret: pure black or green tea is not the most profitable product, because it leaves no marketing loopholes. But with flavored ones, you can work “miracles”. For example, cocoa beans and coconut chips do nothing but increase mass. And we pay not only for tea, but also for cheaper decorative additives. And such a “soup set” costs more than an unpretentious, but “honest” Ceylon product.

Someone chooses cheap tea because quality is not so important to him. And there is a layer of buyers who are forced to put up with low quality for reasons of economy. But is this saving really that big?

-At first glance, there is a difference: buy 100 g of tea for 3 rubles or 9. But bad tea is consumed faster. You can check it yourself: measure by weight equal amounts of both teas and brew in equal amounts water. And you will immediately see the difference: the cheap one has a paler color and a weaker taste. Therefore, the benefit may be very insignificant.

Let's summarize our trip to the hypermarket:

ratio "price - quality» most clearly seen in tea without additives;
tea bags can be both very good and very average in quality;
flavored tea should not smell like a perfume factory;
petals, pieces of fruit and other inclusions do not add flavor and aroma, but increase the weight of the package;
the tea leaf in the pack must be uniform in color and size;
The quality of tea does not depend on the size of the leaf in the pack, but on the growing conditions.

The Relax.by portal thanks Korona hypermarket for a wide range of teas and assistance in photography.

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Probably green tea is the richest variety. If oolongs, for example, were crowded in only two provinces in southern China, and pu-erh is produced only in Yunnan, then green tea ranks first in terms of prevalence. And of course, when they say Chinese tea”, the first thing that comes to mind is green tea. What varieties of green tea exist today and which ones are the best?

Green tea varieties and non-varieties

Let's separate marketing first. Probably, for a person who is not immersed in tea, there is no difference between "Emerald Spirals of Spring" and "Dreams of a Geisha" in terms of the creativity of the name. At the same time, Bi Lo Chun "Emerald Spirals of Spring" is a varietal tea, and the dreams of sultans, geishas are marketing.

What does varietal tea mean? This is tea grown from a bush of a special variety, in a certain region and produced according to its own technology. Everything, as with wine and vineyards. If one of these parameters does not meet the standard, then the tea does not have the right to be called by this name. Thus, Long Jing "Dragon Well" tea can only be called tea that is obtained from leaves from certain bushes grown in Zhejiang province. Tea grown from the same bushes, made in the same way, but not in another province.

Moreover, the state protects the names of teas on a geographical basis - Xi Hu Long Jing can only be tea that is grown on plantations near Xi Hu Lake. Long Jing grown elsewhere cannot be called Xi Hu. Why is everything so difficult? Because climate and geography greatly influence the quality of tea, its taste. There are some conditions on the shore of the lake, others in the mountains, and still others on the plains, and all this creates different tea. Xi Hu is the tastiest and most expensive Long Ching, and therefore, under this name, a dishonest manufacturer can sell tea for more than it costs.

And when you take ordinary sencha, which is harvested in hundreds of tons from industrial plantations and diluted with pieces of fruit and flavors, you get all the creative splendor that can be seen in some tea shops - the dreams and dreams of sultans, geishas, dragons, monkeys, samurai, phoenixes and more eastern fauna. Who exactly comes up with these names, we do not know.

Teas twisted into rings and balls are not varieties either. Usually this is all a way of increasing the cost of raw materials, marketers call this “improving consumer properties”. The so-called "blooming" teas, when a flower appears from a ball in a glass, are not for drinking at all, but for admiring the process. Put it on the table like flowers - and you admire it. Initially, this was the point, and drinking this tea is like taking a sip of water from a vase.

Which green tea is best?

In general, of course, this is the one that you personally like. And so - in China there is a list of "Famous varieties". He often corrects, some enter there, some leave. These teas won prizes at industry exhibitions and were presented as state gifts. I mean, these are really outstanding teas, the best of the best.

Long Ching (Dragon Well)

What is famous for: No. 1 tea in China. Almost a symbol of all green teas. Recognized almost as a cultural heritage of the country, received great amount awards, presented on behalf of the head of state, known since the 8th century. 18 bushes have survived to this day, from which the variety originates. Amazing floral aroma with notes of chocolate, the aroma of the sun and spring. Sweet, rich taste. Perfectly invigorates, tones.

Huang Shan Mao Feng "The Fleecy Peaks of the Yellow Mountains"

What is famous for: in the 80s was an official government gift. Very pronounced freshness in taste and aroma, with light floral nuances. Relaxes, refreshes.

Bi Lo Chun "Emerald Spirals of Spring"

What is famous for: tea number two in China after "Dragon Well". It grows among fruit trees in plantations near Dongting Lake, Jiangsu Province. Small, twisted in a spiral tea leaves, covered with white pile. Very graceful, gentle, soft, sweet. Floral aroma and fruity taste. Strongly relaxes. When brewing in glassware, you can watch the dance of the villi - a very spectacular sight. A characteristic feature of this tea is the incredible lightness that appears during tea drinking.

Tai Ping Hou Kui "Monkey Leader from Hawken"

What is famous for: gold at the Panama Pacific Show in San Francisco, in 2004 was named the "King of Green Teas". Heady floral aroma, thick soft taste with tobacco notes.

Liu An Gua Pian "Pumpkin Seeds"

What is famous for: 8 times won prizes at national and world exhibitions. It was presented on behalf of the party to foreign delegations. Very gentle, soft, light, almost women's tea. Without astringency. One of the sweetest green teas.

Meng Ding Gan Lu "Sweet Dew from Meng Ding Peak"

What is famous for: tea growing on one of the sacred Taoist mountains - Meng Ding, at an altitude of about 1500 meters. Manuscripts say that varieties of tea such as "gan lu" ("sweet dew") were known during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC - 1st century AD). It has a delicate aroma and fruity taste. Very gentle and light elegant tea.

Zhu Ye Qing "Freshness of Bamboo Leaves"

What is famous for: grows on mountain plantations surrounded by monasteries. Already in the era of the Tang Dynasty, tea was supplied to the emperor from here. It has a fresh aroma, tart taste with a sweet aftertaste. Refreshes wonderfully. A separate pleasure is to watch the dance of the tea leaves, which rise vertically in the glass and then fall, then rise back.

What kind to start with if you want to become a connoisseur of tea - or just to finally find the exact tea that you can enjoy every day? Let's figure it out in this article. And first, let's remember

What kind of tea is there?

When people talk about "tea varieties", what do you think they mean?

Everyone knows that tea is a plant, a tea bush. Plants different varieties, from a botanical point of view, have different decorative or physiological characteristics. For example, two varieties of peonies or tomatoes may differ in external data, have different colors and shapes of petals, the size and taste of fruits, etc. And many still think that green and black tea are made from different plants. Actually there is one kind tea plant- camellia sinensis - and many of its varieties. The type of tea (green, black, yellow, etc.) depends on the processing of the tea leaf.

We will not go into botanical details. After all, for the buyer, taste, aroma, color matter. ready drink. These indicators are determined commercial grade.

Commercial grade of tea - an indicator of quality

The trade grade of tea consists of many factors. In addition to the variety of tea plant (Chinese, Assamese, Cambodian), the following are taken into account:

the place of growth of the plant itself (this is country of origin, the most famous are Chinese, Indian, Ceylon, Kenyan and other teas from Africa, Georgian, Vietnamese, Japanese and, of course, native Krasnodar, characteristics plantations),
time and conditions of collection (which leaves are collected, manually or by machine, collection season, etc.),
features of sheet processing (drying, twisting, grinding and many more special processes).

And that's not all - many varieties of tea are obtained by blending and additional aromatization(There is nothing wrong with this if the flavors are natural).

All these factors affect the final grade of tea. And as a result, we can read on the pack, for example, “Chinese green large leaf long leaf tea(… company name)". Here every word matters.

Blending is another reason for the variety of teas

Blending (and in simple terms - mixing) is carried out by tea-packing factories. Each blend gets its own unique name and sometimes becomes the "face of the company". The composition of such a mixture may include 1-2 dozen varieties of tea leaves grown in different countries.

Which tea maker is the best?

AT Soviet time we had access to one type of tea, which many still miss ("with an elephant"). Then the country rushed to the other extreme, and only imported tea could be bought in stores. Now the choice is great, there would be money.

It is very difficult to choose the best tea producer. Mainly because the same company produces 3-5 different brands of tea in several price categories - expensive, medium, economy. And ardent adherents of Greenfield tea, in fact, choose the same manufacturer as economical lovers of the Princess Nouri brand (both are made by the Orimi Trade company). Therefore, the definition best manufacturer tea” is very conditional.

From Russian manufacturers tea note companies:

"Orimi trade", she owns the brands "Princess Noori", "Princess Kandy", (as well as Gita, Java), as well as Tess, Greenfield,
"May"- and this is not only May Tea, but also Lisma, Curtis,
Unilever- "Conversation", Brooke Bond, Lipton (the owner of the company is England, but the production is located in Russia).

Among foreign teas, the most famous "Dilmah"(supplier of Ceylon tea), English Twinnings, « Ahmad, Ceylon "Riston"(positions himself as " english tea premium class) « Akbar".

When selecting tea varieties for the rating, we were based on customer reviews and research results. We did not consider rare, elite and expensive varieties, sold only at auctions or in tea shops of a narrow specialization. The ranking contains popular trade grades of black and green tea, which are easy to find in stores near your home.

Today green tea you won’t surprise anyone anymore, and a few years ago there weren’t so many amateurs. What is so useful about this wonderful product, which is so loved by the inhabitants of the East. First of all about regular use green tea should be considered by those who live in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions, as well as people suffering from various chronic diseases. For those who try green tea for the first time, it may seem that something is not right in it, because many people are used to traditional black tea. But if you know what green tea to buy and how to brew it correctly, you can not only enjoy the process of preparing and drinking, but also have great health benefits.

In 1945, in Japan, after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, scientists began to search for a cure that could neutralize, at least partially, the effects of radiation, from which tens of thousands of people died every year. And luck smiled at them. After all, it is this country and China that have traditionally been drinking green tea, not black tea, since ancient times. As it turned out, green tea is one of the best means of removing radioactive substances, and is also well suited for the prevention of radiation and similar diseases.

Japanese scientists observed people affected by the bombing who settled in the town of Wuji. It has been a long tradition in this city to regularly drink about 10 cups of green tea a day, which are somewhat smaller than traditional Russian cups, by comparison. While many Japanese with the same degree of radiation exposure were dying, the refugees from the city of Wuji were getting better and better. They began to compare the diet, ecology, lifestyle, and came to the conclusion that the only difference was that the inhabitants of Uji drank one and a half times more green tea than the average Japanese, since this was an ancient tradition of this town, which refugees from Hiroshima is not without pleasure, adopted from the indigenous people.

Scientists then made a sensational discovery, it turned out that green tea very well removes strontium-90 from the body, one of the most harmful reactive isotopes, which, if it enters the body through the lungs or with food, can cause oncology. Green tea is able to remove excess of this harmful substance from the body. Ukrainian doctors and biologists who studied the consequences of the Chernobyl accident came to the same conclusions.

Scientists have found that the main benefit of green tea depends on the amount of tannins and catechins that bind harmful substances and remove them from the body. Catechin prevents cell mutation, and tannin is 20 times more effective than vitamin E, which is responsible for fat metabolism and the aging process.

Also, due to vitamin K, green tea improves blood composition, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver, prevents its obesity, and also improves the functioning of the kidneys, adrenal glands and spleen. Due to vitamins of group C, PP, B, copper, iodine and a number of organic acids, the work of the thyroid gland and the endocrine system is normalized. Zinc strengthens blood vessels, maintains their elasticity. Vitamin P, which has bactericidal properties, which are the higher than the variety of tea, protects against colds and generally strengthens the immune system.

It has also been proven that green tea is a good regulator of excess weight, due to the specific caffeine contained in it, which accelerates the processing of fats that the body does not need.

Also, green tea is useful for hypertension, it washes away salts that are dangerous for the health of patients with hypertension.

There are a few simple rules, do not take tea in bags, no matter how expensive it is, and no matter how beautiful the packaging is, unless, if you are very impatient, then in pyramids. The best green tea is fresh tea.

There are three main features good tea:

Freshness - tea should be harvested this year, good green tea is harvested in March-April, tea harvested in summer can no longer be called good. Fresh green tea has a subtle, natural flavor, the color should not be too dull, but not too bright.

Naturalness - high-quality green tea is, first of all, natural tea, without various additives, fragrances, preservatives and other chemicals. Of course, there are good teas with flavors, but only if the flavor is natural and one, and not a mixture, for example, with jasmine or soursep.

Uniformity - Tea leaves should be approximately the same size, shape and color.

The hallmarks of a good tea are pure and natural taste, bright aroma, different shades in taste and aroma are different for different teas, aftertaste. Also, good green tea can be brewed several times, approximately 5-8 times.

Fresh green tea is easy to distinguish from old, fresh tea is slightly soft, dense, has its own color depending on the variety. Old tea will be dry, dull in color and crumble easily.

When brewed, fresh tea will be clear, with a mild flavor and a clean, distinctive aroma. Old tea will give a cloudy infusion, with a mild taste and aroma.

Usually, the more expensive the tea, the better, for example, tea popular in China - Long Jing in Russia is sold at $ 20 per 100 grams. It is, of course, better to take green or white tea by weight in specialized stores, although not everyone can afford such stores lately. Therefore, you can pick up something in some large supermarket or store, a department specializing in the sale of packaged tea, so it turns out much cheaper and the quality can be quite decent.

In ordinary stores, usually, nothing good, unfortunately, happens. Everything is known in comparison, and if you compare any branded tea with any even the most inexpensive tea by weight, then you can feel this difference. Sometimes you can find original packaged green tea - for example, from the Mlesna company. In large supermarkets, sometimes, there is more or less good tea packaged in bags, with stickers. But often these are incomprehensible mixtures with incomprehensible names, it is always better to take pure tea.

High-quality, original tea from branded. Usually, not only raw materials and processing are distinguished, but also manual assembly, assembly season, assembly weather. But branded tea is better in terms of standards, meaning you always buy the same tea. Loose tea is the same and may differ both in price and quality. In case of loose tea the standard can probably be provided only by large companies, for example, such as the Tchaikovsky network. Sometimes in supermarkets you can also find loose tea, which is probably a sign of standard and quality. For example, Okay supermarkets have a small assortment of tea and coffee by weight.

All green tea is usually divided into Chinese, Japanese and Ceylon, there is also good Taiwanese, Thai, Vietnamese, but Chinese and Japanese green tea is considered better and healthier.

Freshly brewed green tea should have a light aroma, delicate taste and a cooling aftertaste.

Fresh, dry green tea should have a sweetish aroma with notes of fresh herbs and flowers. The aroma of brewed green tea should be fresh, clear, smell like fresh grass. In good green tea there is no aftertaste of astringency and bitterness, the taste should be sweetish and oily. The color of good green tea is almost transparent with a yellow-greenish tint.

Varieties of green tea

There are several main varieties of green tea.

Long Ching or in translation - the well of the dragon. This variety is the most common.In China, about 40 different green tea bushes have been bred for this variety. There are many shades of taste of this tea and the quality is also very different. The aroma of this tea is dominated by the smell of roasted pumpkin seeds and grassy shades, while the taste is fresh and sweet notes. In Russia, a good Long Jing costs about $20 per 100 grams.

Mao Feng or Fleecy Peaks, is considered the most invigorating and energizing green tea.

Tai Ping Hou Kui or Monkey Leader from Tai Ping, this tea is characterized by large flat leaves and a delicate taste with a grassy undertone.

Lü Mu Dan or Green Peony, the leaves of this tea are somewhat similar to peony petals, and have a refreshing and cooling taste.

Liu An Gua Pian or pumpkin seeds, the leaves of this tea resemble in shape pumpkin seeds, tea has a rich aroma and a good tonic effect.

Bi Lo Chun or Emerald Spirals of Spring. This tea has a delicate taste, thick aroma, beautiful emerald color, tea leaves with white pile.

Sencha- Japanese green tea, quite common and inexpensive, leaves - flat needles, has a fresh, delicate taste and grassy aroma.

Gunpowder- gunpowder, the most inexpensive and everyday green tea, has a rich taste, aroma and dark green color.

Oolong - turquoise tea

Oolong is externally green tea, the infusion is yellow-green. Oolongs are usually referred to as green teas, but it is rather an intermediate option between green and red tea. The taste of oolongs is denser and thicker with a floral aroma. The Chinese also use them in their tea ceremony and brew them about 10 times.

Dairy oolongs are common - they have a velvety flavor, milk, cream and are slightly sweet. They can be found by weight. and in packaged form, in ordinary stores - for example, a good Marcony milk oolong in "My Store" or Basilur milk oolong.

Flavored green tea

There are a lot of different flavored green teas, but as a rule, the tea itself is of poor quality. Flavorings are usually used to hide old and inferior teas. Although it certainly smells good. Usually the more used various additives, the less tea itself and its benefits remain. Therefore, if you take tea with flavor, it is better if it is one, and not a mixture. For example with jasmine, osmanthus, lotus, or sausep.

Popular jasmine-flavoured green teas are Jade Rings and Jade Rings.

At packed green tea

Of the well-known and not so well-known brands of green packaged tea, one can single out the Ceylon "Hyson", "Heilis", "Kvolitea", "Mater", the company "Mlesna", offers a wide range of green, black and white tea, Newby, Jaf, Basilur, Martea. Of the Chinese - "Camel", "Tien Shan", good, inexpensive Chinese tea - "Black Dragon" by Marcony. Of the inexpensive well-known brands, Greenfield, Riston and Krasnodar tea can be distinguished. By weight, the most common green tea is Tie Guan Yin (oolong), Green snail, Sencha. As a rule, green teas are pure form, and with additives, it's up to your taste. It is worth paying attention to the mate drink, it is expensive in bulk stores, but in large supermarkets you can find it packaged at a significantly lower price. It is not necessary to buy a pumpkin for him, you can brew in an ordinary porcelain teapot, like green tea. You can add lemon to green tea, even not very good green tea will be quite pleasant to drink with lemon. Ginger can also be added to boost immunity.

How to brew green tea

It is important not only to buy good green tea, but also to brew it correctly. The traditional Asian, Chinese way of brewing is different from the European one. The Chinese brew green tea in a small clay teapot or use a gaiwan - a cup on a saucer with a lid, with a volume of about 80-120 ml, with water of about 80 degrees. At the same time, tea is placed about 15-35 percent of the volume of the teapot. The first three brews, brew for only a couple of seconds, and immediately pour the drink into a cup, subsequent brews for about 10 seconds. Sometimes the first brew is not drunk, but drained to remove dust from the tea.

Usually, gaiwan with a volume of 100 ml is warmed up and put 3-4 grams of tea - 1 tablespoon. Brewed five times, this produces 2 full-fledged mugs of tea or 15 Chinese bowls of 15 ml each. The Chinese usually drink tea in this way 3-4 times a day. To obtain a healing effect, you need to drink green tea at least once a day, that is, 3-4 grams per five brews.

You can also brew green tea in a porcelain teapot.

It must first be warmed up, it is not necessary to cover the kettle with a lid, it is better to drink in small cups, if there are none, then it is better to pour an incomplete cup. Brew with slightly cooled boiling water - 85-90 degrees.

The taste of tea will largely depend on the quality of the water, so it is advisable to use the water as pure as possible. If you brew in the European way, then you need very little brewing of green tea, and brew it for a couple of minutes.

How to choose Chinese green tea - video