Green tea: a unique aromatic palette for an elixir full of benefits
Green tea comes to us from China and Japan, it is obtained from the Camellia Sinensis. Particularly rich in theine, green tea is recognizable by its clear liquor which offers a palette of colors ranging from yellow to green.
In Japan, green tea occupies a very important place: it is indeed the one that is savored during the tea ceremony.
While green tea was popularized and marketed thanks to Japan, it is nonetheless China that is the origin of all the varieties that we know today.
Green tea has thus been consumed in China for nearly 5,000 years, while in Japan this beverage has been known for "only" 1,500 years!
In China as in Japan, green tea is appreciated for its medicinal properties. In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is notably consumed by Zen Buddhist monks for its stimulating and toning effect, which is particularly useful for staying focused during long hours of meditation. Initially consumed by monks, green tea gradually became a common consumer product; it even constitutes a philosophy of life inherent to Japanese culture.
In our Western history, green tea also occupies a cardinal place. The very first tea that traveled from Asia to Europe was indeed a green tea! Until the 19th century, Europeans would only know green tea. It would not be until the discovery of Camellia Sinensis Assamica by the English that we would taste green tea, but also black tea!
Discovering green tea culture
What distinguishes green tea from other teas above all is the way the leaves are processed. For a black tea, the oxidation of the leaves is complete, whereas for a green tea the oxidation process is intentionally prevented.
Once picked, the leaves of a green teaundergo different treatments depending on the final color one wishes to give the liquor.
In China, the leaves are roasted in a wok to provoke what is called "the Maillard reaction." This form of cooking makes it possible to obtain notes of nuts and undergrowth.
In Japan, the leaves are steamed, as if blanched, so that the tea retains its "three greens": that of the leaves, the liquor, and the leaves after infusion. This method makes Japanese green teavery recognizable, because it allows for herbaceous, vegetal, and sometimes even iodized notes.
Korean tea has chosen to interweave the two traditions to produce green tea. Thus, Korean green tea undergoes two roastings: first by steam according to the Japanese method, then in a wok according to the traditional Chinese process.
The liquor - and particularly its color - differs according to the origin of the tea. Thus, a Chinese green tea generally produces a yellow liquor while a Japanese green tea offers a green liquorparticularly rich in vitamin C.
How to enjoy your green tea?
Provided it is prepared according to the rules of the art, green tea offers a very richand varied aromatic palette. It is a tea that can be infused on average for 2 to 3 minutes, at a temperature between 70 and 80 degrees. Of course, care should be taken to adjust these parameters according to the chosen tea and personal habits.
Certainly, Japanese and Chinese green teas occupy an important place in our catalog. But you will also find green teas of the highest gustatory quality from Rwanda, Nepal, or even Korea.
Our selection of teas naturally includes a great classic of green tea: Gunpowderwhich is used as a base for the preparation of Moroccan mint tea. In addition to this must-have, highly appreciated by lovers of refreshing liquors, Malesherbes, Lundi Lightor even the green tea of the Invitésand the green tea Il était une fois Noëlgather many followers.
Of course, we must invite you to discover and rediscover Matchaas well as Sencha, which are also particularly sought after by green tea lovers. Matcha is a unique tea of its kind that forms a very fine powder that can simply be mixed or whisked to obtain a creamy texture. Sencha, meanwhile, is a particularly common green tea in Japan because it is the most cultivated variety in the country. It is appreciated in particular for its vegetal notes and its fresh scent. To celebrate these two iconic green tea preparations, Betjeman & Barton has imagined an original recipe: the Matcha-Sencha Latte green tea, a pure delight that will quickly become an addiction!
Whatever your choice and your preferences, know that green tea can be consumed throughout the daywhen it is decaffeinated and until 5 p.m. if you wish to keep the theine. Like all teas, green tea can indeed be decaffeinated: the theine is released during the first seconds of infusion. By getting rid of the liquor from your first infusion, you will be able to enjoy your tea in the morning, but also in the evening, simply to enjoy the unique aromas of green tea.
