Green tea is widely considered to originate from China. When people refer to tea here, they’re talking about green tea. Production of this hot drink then began to spread to other parts of Asia where it is also widely enjoyed.
Green tea has now become one of the most popular hot drinks in the world. In the UK, roughly 4 in 10 Brits drink green tea which highlights its popularity. With so many people drinking this tea, however, it begs the question, do people know how it’s processed?
It is believed that there are around 1500 different types of tea in the UK and they’re all made using a similar technique. Read on to find out more about how green tea is made.
Where does green tea come from?
Green tea comes from the same plant as all other teas. This is known as Camellia Sinensis or the tea plant as other people may call it. This plant is native to China and Southeast Asia but can be grown in most climates around the world.
How does this plant become green tea?
To turn this plant into green tea, the leaves are first plucked before being withered slightly and then finally, it’s cooked. This process allows for a higher concentration of chlorophyll, polyphenols, and antioxidants which is what makes the delicious tea.
Is green tea made any other way?
In short, yes. Different green teas require different cooking methods in order to make their taste slightly different.
Chinese tea, for example, is made using a pan-fired technique. This is when leaves are heated in a basket or pan in order to halt the oxidation process. This firing process may be done multiple times to change the flavour of the tea. The most popular Chinese teas made this way are Dragonwell and Gunpowder.
Japanese green teas on the other hand are steamed within hours of the plant’s initial plucking. This halts the oxidation process and brings out the rich green colour. Steaming green tea brings sweet flavours which are amongst the most popular. Some of the most popular Japanese variants include Sencha and Hojicha.
Think you’ve got what it takes to make your very own green tea? The process is relatively simple and you can create a plethora of new and interesting flavours.
