Picking
Tender buds and young leaves are selected according to the tea’s intended grade and shape. Consistent picking helps the whole batch fix and dry evenly.
Green Tea
Fresh leaves are heated early to limit oxidation, preserving the clear, lively character that defines Chinese green tea.
Green tea quick profile
- Defining process
- Fixing
- Oxidation
- Minimal
- Caffeine
- Beginner
The defining process
How Green Tea Is Made
Withering
The fresh leaves rest briefly so surface moisture can evaporate and the texture softens. This makes them easier to handle without encouraging noticeable oxidation.
Fixing
The leaves are heated soon after harvest to slow the enzymes that drive oxidation. Pan-firing also begins to build the toasted, chestnut-like character found in many Chinese green teas.
Shaping
While still pliable, the leaves are rolled, pressed, or flattened into their finished form. The chosen movement influences appearance, aroma release, and how the tea opens in water.
Drying
A final, controlled drying removes the remaining moisture and stabilizes the finished leaf for storage. Done carefully, it preserves freshness while completing the tea’s aroma and texture.
Tea profiles
Explore Chinese Green Teas
Brewing differences
Green Tea Brewing Notes
- Use gentler heat
Begin at 75–85°C—lower than oolong, black, and dark tea.
- Skip the rinse
Fresh green tea usually goes straight into the first drinkable infusion.
- Keep it short
Start at 15–20 seconds for 3–4 g per 100 ml, then adjust to taste.
- Choose neutral teaware
Porcelain and glass make heat easier to control and the leaves easier to observe.
Straight answers
Common Green Tea Misconceptions
Green tea should always taste grassy.
Chinese green teas can also be nutty, floral, sweet, chestnut-like, or lightly savory.
Boiling water works for every green tea.
Very hot water can overwhelm delicate leaves, so start within the recommended range and adjust.
Brighter green always means better quality.
Color varies by cultivar, harvest, process, and storage; it is only one quality signal.
Green tea contains almost no caffeine.
Caffeine varies with the leaf and the brew, so tea type alone cannot predict the exact amount in a cup.
From the tea journal
Learn More About Green Tea
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