Tea is the most famous and popular beverage in the world. Tea was discovered by Emperor Shen Nong of China 5,000 years ago, but only became popular in the last 2,000 years. In Japan, green tea, Camellia sinensis, was introduced around 800 years ago by a Zen monk named Myoan Isai who brought the plant from China. (Read more about the history of Japanese tea.)
In Japan and China, there are many types of tea that can be purchased and consumed every day. Some teas have a mild flavor, while others have a strong and lively flavor. In addition, some tea leaves are needle-shaped. While others have long and slender leaves. There are many differences between the two types.
The main differences between Japanese and Chinese teas. Include the production and processing process, fermentation level, tea type, flavor, price, matcha green tea, availability, price, benefits, and culture.
Both Japan and China produce very large quantities of tea. In particular, Japan produces 60% of all Sacha tea, while in China in 2015 only 50% of all green tea was produced, indicating that the two countries produce tea in very similar quantities. *In China, there are six types of tea: green tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong, fermented tea and black tea. In Japan, besides yellow tea, all other types of tea are produced and grown in large quantities, but white tea and fermented tea are rare.
Tea production process
In Japan, tea is processed by machinery, where the leaves are dried before being fed into a machine and ground into a fine powder. This powder is often called matcha, but when rolled into needles it is called sencha. This ยูฟ่าเบท process is less labor-intensive and produces more.
In China, tea is processed by hand and made into various shapes such as spirals, balls, and swords. This process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, but it produces many different types of tea and gives the best taste to drink.
Oxidation
The only factor that inhibits oxidation is antioxidants, which reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Our bodies make special molecules that reduce the risk of disease, break down food, and aid digestion. Japanese tea contains 60% antioxidants, while Chinese tea contains only 12-16%. This means that Japanese tea is healthier than Chinese tea.
Variety of tea
In Japan, most of the green tea produced and grown is limited in variety, especially Yabukita, while China has hundreds or thousands of varieties, each with its own name. Chinese tea is much more diverse than Japanese tea.
taste
Japanese tea has a refreshing, vegetable-like flavor, and if steeped for too long, it can become slightly bitter. Japanese tea is refreshing and energizing, while Chinese tea has a sweet, mild flavor, an appealing aroma, and a sweet chocolate-like taste.
Matcha Green Tea
Matcha green tea comes from both Japan and China. Although they look similar in appearance, their cultivation locations and tastes are completely different. Japanese matcha has a rich and unique taste, which is caused by growing tea in the shade, which changes the taste and composition of the tea leaves. Meanwhile, Chinese matcha has a different production process, resulting in a different taste. If you are interested, you can buy Japanese matcha here.
Availability
Both China and Japan produce and export green tea around the world, but production and supply vary greatly. China produces a wide variety of teas and exports 80% of them worldwide, while Japan only exports 1% of its teas, often found only in specialty stores and on the internet. This means that Japanese teas are less widely available than Chinese teas.
price
Both Chinese and Japanese teas are more expensive than other types of tea. Chinese tea is considered the most expensive tea in the world because producing high-quality green tea is like a living art for the Chinese. They pay attention to details and take their time in meticulous production, using the best quality tea leaves. Meanwhile, Japanese tea is also expensive because of its excellent quality and taste.
Benefits of Japanese green tea
- Japanese green tea has many health benefits and helps promote good health.
- Japanese green tea is rich in antioxidants and beneficial nutrients such as catechins and polyphenols, which help protect cells from damage. It also helps reduce the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Japanese green tea also contains flavonoids, which are beneficial to nerve cells, reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and is also beneficial for diabetics.
- Regular consumption of Japanese green tea helps you feel relaxed. It also helps burn fat and excess calories, which helps in weight loss.
Benefits of Chinese Tea
- Chinese tea contains fewer antioxidants than Japanese tea, but the amount is enough to promote health and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Antioxidants in Chinese tea help the body to have energy and burn fat faster.
- It helps to increase the strength in exercising. Regular consumption of Chinese tea helps to prevent many serious diseases such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer.
- Chinese tea also helps to nourish bones, increasing bone density and strength.
- Chinese tea also has oral health benefits, helping to protect teeth, reduce bacterial growth, and reduce bad breath.