Green Tea 绿茶
Green tea is minimally oxidized, preserving the fresh, vegetal character of the tea leaves. The leaves are quickly heated after picking to halt oxidation, resulting in a light, refreshing flavor profile with notes ranging from grassy and marine to nutty and sweet. Green tea is the most produced tea in China, with famous varieties including Longjing (Dragon Well), Biluochun, and Huangshan Maofeng.
Processing
Minimal oxidation (0–5%). Leaves quickly heated after picking to preserve freshness.
Character
Fresh, vegetal, grassy, nutty, marine, sweet
Brewing
70–80°C water, shorter steeps. Glass or porcelain ideal.
Deeper Guide
How to Understand Green Tea
Green Tea is not a single flavor so much as a processing family. In this database it includes 17 teas from Anji County, Dongting Mountain, Huangshan, Anhui, and Qimen County. The shared foundation is that the leaves are halted oxidation through early heat-fixing, so the finished tea keeps a fresh, high-toned profile, but each origin and cultivar pushes that foundation in a different direction.
Across the listed teas, recurring flavor signals include umami, chestnut, fruity, floral, sweet pea, and cucumber. Those notes are a practical starting point for tasting: first identify the dominant family of aromas, then compare body, finish, and brewing tolerance.
Good entry points include Anji Bai Cha (Anji White Tea), Biluochun (Green Snail Spring), Dongting Biluochun, and Huangshan Maofeng. Treat them as reference points rather than final answers. Once you know the reference style, the less famous teas become easier to evaluate because you can tell whether a tea is lighter, roastier, sweeter, more aromatic, or more textural than the benchmark.
When buying green tea, avoid judging only by the broad category name. The same family can include both simple daily drinkers and highly specific regional teas. Look for origin, harvest season, intact leaf, clean aroma, and brewing notes that fit how you actually prepare tea. A lower-priced tea with clear origin and fresh aroma is often more useful than an expensive tea with vague sourcing.
For tasting practice, brew two teas from this category side by side and keep the variables steady: same vessel, same water, same leaf ratio, and short repeated infusions. The differences that appear after the second or third steep are usually the most reliable clues about quality, processing, and whether the tea suits your palate.
Where to Begin
Essential Green Tea
Anji Bai Cha (Anji White Tea)
安吉白茶
Anji
A unique green tea (not white, despite the name) from Anji county known for its pale color and...
Biluochun (Green Snail Spring)
碧螺春
Dongting
Prized spring green tea from Dongting Mountain near Tai Lake, known for its tightly curled...
Dongting Biluochun
洞庭碧螺春
Dongting
Biluochun, literally "green snail spring," is one of China's ten famous teas, grown among fruit...
Huangshan Maofeng
黄山毛峰
Huangshan
Premium green tea from the misty peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Anhui province. Named...
Liu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed)
六安瓜片
Anhui
Unique green tea made only from single leaves (no buds or stems), shaped like melon seeds. One...
Lu'an Guapian
六安瓜片
Qimen
Famous Anhui green tea whose name means "Lu'an Melon Seed" for its flat, oval, seed-like leaves....
More Green Tea to Explore
Styles & Varieties
Green Tea Subcategories
Biluochun
碧螺春Spiral-shaped green tea from Jiangsu with fruity, floral notes.
2 teasGunpowder
珠茶Tightly rolled green tea pellets, primarily for export.
1 teasLongjing (Dragon Well)
龙井Pan-fired green tea from Hangzhou known for its flat, smooth leaves and chestnut flavor.
2 teasMaofeng
毛峰Downy tip green teas, most famously from Huangshan.
1 teasTerroir
Growing Regions
Preparation
How to Brew Green Tea
Gongfu Style
Use 4–5g per 100ml, water at 75–80°C. Steep for 20–30 seconds, adding 5 seconds each steep. 4–5 steeps.
Western Style
Use 2g per 200ml, water at 75–80°C. Steep for 2–3 minutes. 2–3 steeps.