Green tea is a popular drink consumed all around the world! It offers many health benefits and has a refreshing taste with distinctively grassy notes. Green tea has even been shown in studies to help with weight loss! It comes in many different varieties as well, from intense gunpowder to delicate sencha. Loose-leaf tea is an excellent way to enjoy the full flavor profile and aroma of green tea.
Since the tea market is flooded with different kinds of green tea, it's difficult to choose which one is best for you! Take a look at our list of favorites for some options. Vahdam's Himalayan Green Tea is perfect if you prefer a bold cup of tea. We also created a buying guide reviewed by a certified tea sommelier to help you confidently pick loose-leaf green tea.
Quick List - Top Loose-Leaf Green Teas
YAMASAN
Experience the Ultimate Refreshment With Organic Sencha Green Tea
Kate Hesser is a certified tea sommelier, tea taster, blogger, and brand collaborator. She provides event and restaurant menu consulting, and personalized tasting experiences for in-home gatherings and office retreats. She believes every tea is made with pride and has something unique to show us!
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
When choosing a loose-leaf green tea, there are many factors that you should keep in mind, including the tea's flavor and variety. Continue reading to learn more!
Although all green tea is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant, many different varieties are grown around the world. China and Japan are the two largest green tea producers in the world! Here are some common tea varieties that you will come across.
Some of the most well-known Chinese green teas are gunpowder, dragonwell, and chun mee. Gunpowder tea, also known as pearl tea, is made from green tea leaves rolled into small pellets and has a bold and astringent flavor.
Dragonwell tea, or Longjing tea, is pan-roasted and has a sweet, slightly nutty, and mellow flavor with distinctively grassy notes. It doesn't get bitter and is great if you're looking for a smooth and mild tea.
Chun mee tea leaves have a unique eyebrow shape. Chun mee tea tastes bright and slightly tangy with a sweet aftertaste.
Gunpowder tea is the least forgiving when it comes to steeping times. Just two minutes - or maybe three - at 175 degrees, then quickly remove the leaves from the water! Long Jing tea leaves are shaped into long, flat pieces after pan firing.
Japan is also famous for green tea production. Sencha is the most popular green tea in Japan, and it has a bright, grassy, and mildly astringent flavor.
Houjicha is made by roasting sencha leaves at high temperatures. Due to the long roasting time, houjicha has less caffeine than sencha and tastes slightly nutty. Genmaicha is made of sencha tea leaves with roasted brown rice. It has a subtle, toasty flavor and tastes best served hot.
The flavor profile varies from region to region since it's influenced by factors such as the soil and climate conditions.
Green tea produced in Shizuoka has a well-rounded and slightly bitter flavor. Gifu is another leading tea-producing prefecture in Japan. Since it's grown in fertile soil, the tea in Gifu has an intense and rich flavor profile.
Meanwhile, due to Kagoshima's mineral-rich volcanic soil and subtropical climate, the tea grown there tends to taste slightly fruity. Kyoto is the birthplace of the tea ceremony in Japan and has ideal growing conditions for green tea. The green tea in Kyoto has a strong, slightly sweet, and aromatic taste.
While Chinese tea leaves are shaped in lots of different ways, almost all Japanese tea leaves are shaped into long flat, needle-like shapes.
Go for classics, such as gunpowder tea or sencha, for the pure and clean taste of green tea leaves. However, if you find green tea too astringent and grassy or just want to try something different, consider a tea blended with extra ingredients.
Green teas blended with fruits like peach and mango are usually are a little bit sweet. Teas made with citrus fruits like lemon or orange are tangy and refreshing. Green tea also goes well with mint leaves. If you like soothing and fragrant teas, consider blends with flowers like chamomile or rose.
The grading system for green tea varies depending on the country of origin. But usually, high-quality loose-leaf tea is made of buds and whole leaves. So check the product's description for information about the condition of the tea leaves.
You should also check the review section and see what people think about the size of the leaves. Try to avoid teas with broken leaves, dust, or fannings, as they release tannings quickly, resulting in bitter and astringent brews.
Do keep in mind that the taste is affected by the steeping time and technique, too! If you brew green tea at high temperatures or for a long time, it will turn very bitter.
Chinese teas, especially, are plucked in specific combinations of a bud with one or two leaves and are formed into unique shapes that impact how they interact with the water when steeping, and thus, their flavor.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tiesta Lean Green Machine | ![]() | Citrus Peels for a Tangy Touch | |
2 | Vahdam Himalayan Green Tea | ![]() | Finest Grade Tea Leaves Without Fannings | |
3 | Tea Forte Green Mango Peach | ![]() | A Refreshing Tea Blend With Mango and Peach | |
4 | YAMASAN Organic Sencha Green Tea Loose Leaves 80g | ![]() | Experience the Ultimate Refreshment With Organic Sencha Green Tea | |
5 | Numi Organic Jasmine Green Tea | ![]() | Fragrant Tea With Jasmine Flowers | |
6 | Taylors of Harrogate Moroccan Mint Leaf Tea | ![]() | Mint Leaves for a Refreshing Twist | |
7 | The Tao of Tea Organic Pearl Gunpowder Green Tea | ![]() | Gunpowder Green Tea With a Smoky Taste | |
8 | Sugimoto Tea Company Sencha Classic Green Tea |3.5 oz. | ![]() | A Sustainably-Farmed and Refreshing Tea | |
9 | MagJo Jasmine Dragon Pearls Green Tea |4 oz. | ![]() | Mild and Floral Green Tea | |
10 | Harney & Sons Genmaicha Green Tea | ![]() | Blended With Roasted Rice for a Nutty Taste |
Tiesta's Lean Green Machine is a green tea blend with lemongrass, orange peel, and lemon peel for a slightly zesty flavor. It doesn't contain any artificial ingredients. Plus, it comes in a recyclable airtight container with a window that lets you see how much tea is left.
While some buyers say this green tea is on the bitter side, many others love that it's refreshing. They also like the citrus additions, particularly the lemongrass, saying they add a fruity kick. Many reviewers like the functionality of the canister, too!
This loose-leaf green tea comes from tea plantations in the Himalayas. It's classified as finest tippy golden flowery orange pekoe, which is the finest grade of tea. Vahdam is also a certified climate-neutral brand with plastic-neutral practices.
Most reviewers think that this tea tastes flavorful and slightly astringent. They are also satisfied with the quality of the tea leaves, saying that there are no stems or fannings. Reviewers like the resealable package that helps keep the tea leaves fresh, too.
This green tea from Tea Forte has mango and peach pieces for a fruity twist. The addition of peppermint, ginger root, and honeybush gives it a refreshing kick. Plus, you can recycle the aluminum canister.
For some buyers, the taste of ginger is too overwhelming. Yet, the majority love that it's flavorful and aromatic. Buyers add that this tea tastes great without sugar or honey!
This organic Sencha green tea, sourced from the esteemed tea gardens of Uji, Kyoto, Japan, is a product of careful selection and expert craftsmanship, embodying centuries of tea cultivation. Certified 100% organic, it is produced using the far-infrared roasting method, which enhances the tea's umami flavor and aromatic profile, resulting in a rich and satisfying taste. The tea is a blend of first-harvest and second-harvest leaves, mainly from the Yabukita and Saemidori cultivars, reflecting the meticulous quality control maintained by tea masters over generations.
Sencha green tea is renowned for its health benefits, rich in bioactive compounds that promote overall wellness. It is versatile in its preparation, being suitable for both hot and cold brewing methods, which cater to individual preferences and seasonal enjoyment. Hot brewing preserves the tea’s beneficial properties, while cold brewing allows for a mellow taste, making it especially refreshing during warmer months. The tea's deep green leaves, cultivated under optimal sunlight conditions, deliver a mellow aroma that has made Sencha the most consumed green tea in Japan, representing about 80% of its total production.
This tea combines green tea leaves with jasmine blossoms for a delicate and sweet flavor. It's certified organic by the USDA and contains no artificial flavors. On top of that, this tea is fair-trade certified and is sourced responsibly from tea cooperatives in China.
Most reviewers say this tea has a delicious and mildly sweet flavor without being too bitter. They note that the jasmine flowers add a pleasant subtle fragrance to the tea, too.
This Moroccan Mint Leaf Tea is made with Chun Mee green tea, which has a distinctively acidic and bright flavor. It's blended with mint leaves for a refreshing twist, creating a balanced flavor. Plus, it's a carbon-neutral product!
Although some buyers share that this tea is on the mild side, many others still enjoy its smooth and fragrant flavor. They also appreciate that the mint flavor really shines through without being overwhelming.
These organic gunpowder tea leaves are harvested from the Zhejiang province in China. They are dried, rolled into small pellets, and roasted for a bold and smoky flavor. It's strong enough to re-steep, too.
Some buyers mention that the tea has a lot of stems in it. Meanwhile, many others praise its strong and flavorful taste, especially the smoky undertones.
This Japanese loose-leaf green tea is made from steamed leaves for a fresh flavor with grassy notes. It's produced using a sustainable farming technique called Chagusaba to protect the environment. This method is also designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the United Nations.
Some reviewers report that it has a lot of tea dust. Nevertheless, many praise its refreshing and smooth flavor. A lot of buyers also love the vibrant green color of this tea!
This jasmine pearl green tea is sourced from the Huangshan Mountains in Anhui province, China, and is blended with jasmine flowers. When brewing, the pearls unfurl to create a smooth cup with a delicately floral aroma.
A few buyers complain that the jasmine aroma is too faint. Nevertheless, most find it delicious, smooth, and not bitter.
This Genmaicha Green Tea is a flavorful blend of green tea leaves and roasted brown rice. Compared to conventional green tea, this genmaicha tastes less bitter. It's also slightly savory and nutty!
Some reviewers say that this tea has an acquired taste that some may not like. Still, most reviewers like its smooth, subtle, and earthy taste. They say that the addition of roasted rice gives this tea a delicious and warm flavor, too.
I really enjoy Fortnam & Mason Moroccan Mint. It is gunpowder tea with dried mint leaves and is warming and refreshing at the same time. The packaging is beautiful and the aroma of the tea is strong and bright.
In addition to reviewing and commenting on our buying guide, Kate also took the time to answer some commonly asked questions about green tea.
"You can follow the directions on the package or from the shop," Kate explains, "but most green teas should be brewed at around 175 degrees and for 2 to 3 minutes. The leaves are tender, so water hotter than that will scorch them and bring out bitterness.
Water that is cooler than that (unless specified) may not penetrate the leaves enough to release the essential oils and flavors. If the leaves stay in the water for too long, they will eventually become bitter."
Kate says, "For most teas, use 2 grams of tea for 6 to 8 ounces of water, depending on how strong you like it. That said, most instructions will tell you to use 1 teaspoon of tea per 6 to 8 ounces of water, but it is hard to measure longer leaves by the teaspoon. Weighing your leaves makes for a more consistent cup of tea."
Interested in making the tea brewing process easier and more fun? Here are some essential tools that will help you brew the best cup of tea!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Tiesta |Lean Green Machine
No. 2: Vahdam |Himalayan Green Tea
No. 3: Tea Forte|Green Mango Peach
No. 4: YAMASAN|Organic Sencha Green Tea Loose Leaves 80g
No. 5: Numi |Organic Jasmine Green Tea
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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