Among the six major tea categories in China, which one is the most popular among the people, has the largest production volume, and the highest sales volume? Many tea lovers may be surprised to learn that the answer is green tea. Different from Pu-erh tea from Yunnan or Wuyi Rock Tea among oolong teas, which often draw wide attention from tea lovers due to the high prices of certain mountain areas and small tea-growing fields throughout the year, nor like black tea, which has quietly entered the lives of many young people in recent years with the popularity of new tea beverages.
Green tea, which is rather low-key, has long held the throne as the king of production and sales among the six major tea categories with an overwhelming advantage. In 2023, the national production of green tea reached 1.934 million tons, with an output value of 206.06 billion yuan. Whether in terms of production volume or output value, it is nearly four times that of black tea, which ranks second. Today, the tea master will have an in-depth chat with tea lovers about the most popular green tea among the people.1. What is Green Tea
Among the six major tea categories, green tea is the earliest tea category in Chinese history. The famous teas of the Tang Dynasty recorded by Lu Yu, the sage of tea, in “The Classic of Tea”, and the teas mentioned in the poems and articles of Song Dynasty literati such as Su Dongpo, Ouyang Xiu, Huang Tingjian, Emperor Huizong of Song, and Lu You are all green teas in the understanding of modern tea-making science. According to modern tea-making science, based on the different processing methods of tea leaves and the resulting quality differences, green tea is an unfermented tea. The basic technological process consists of three key steps: fixing, rolling, and drying. As the tea category with the largest production and sales in China, green tea is produced in more than 20 tea-producing provinces (autonomous regions) across the country. No matter what the fixing method is or what the shape formed by rolling is, the dry tea of the green tea produced everywhere is basically dominated by green colors, such as turquoise, yellowish-green, or dark green… 2. Classification of Green Tea There are numerous varieties of green tea in China, and there are also various ways to classify it. The main way is to distinguish according to the specific methods of the two major technological processes of fixing and drying: (1) According to the different fixing methods, there are two types: heating fixing and hot steam fixing. Green tea fixed by heating is called “pan-fired green tea”, and green tea fixed by hot steam is called “steamed green tea”. (2) According to the different drying methods, there are differences among pan-drying, oven-drying, and sun-drying. Green tea dried by pan-drying is called “pan-fired green tea”, green tea dried by oven-drying is called “oven-fired green tea”, and green tea dried by sun-drying is called “sun-dried green tea”. Most of the green tea in China is mainly pan-fired green tea, which is fixed by heating and dried by pan-drying. For example, famous teas such as West Lake Longjing and Dongting Biluochun are like this. Steamed green tea, which was popular during the Tang and Song dynasties, is now a niche variety among green teas in China. A relatively representative famous tea is “Enshi Yulu”. Japanese green tea still mainly consists of steamed green tea. Oven-fired green tea can be divided into ordinary oven-fired green tea and delicate oven-fired green tea according to the maturity of raw materials and different production techniques.Commonly, ordinary pan-fired green tea is not used for direct consumption but serves as a base for scenting flower teas. Delicate pan-fired green teas include many famous varieties such as ‘Huangshan Maofeng’, ‘Taiping Houkui’, ‘Shucheng Lanhua’, and ‘Jingting Lixue’. After the fresh tea leaves from the tea plant undergo fixation and rolling, they are dried in the sun, with notable examples including Yunnan’s ‘Dianqing Green Tea’, Shaanxi’s ‘Shaanqing’, Guangxi’s ‘Guiqing’, Sichuan’s ‘Chuanqing’, and Guizhou’s ‘Qianqing’.
Additionally, among the six major types of tea, green tea is one of the most diverse in appearance, and thus can be categorized based on shape into flat-shaped green tea, single bud-shaped green tea, straight strip-shaped green tea, curved strip-shaped green tea, spiral-shaped green tea, pearl-shaped green tea, orchid-shaped green tea, flake-shaped green tea, bouquet-shaped green tea, and block-shaped green tea, among others. As the tea with the longest history, largest production, and widest distribution in China, there are countless representative famous teas from various tea-producing regions. The following are some well-known teas that tea enthusiasts may have heard of, with many having elegant names: from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ‘West Lake Longjing’ and ‘Jingshan Tea’; from Huzhou, ‘Guzhu Zi Sun’ and ‘Anji White Tea’; from Jingning, ‘Huiming Tea’; from Suzhou, Jiangsu, ‘Dongting Biluochun’; from Nanjing, ‘Yuhua Tea’; from Yixing, ‘Yangxian Xue Ya’; from Wuxi, ‘Taihu Cuzhu’; from Huangshan, Anhui, ‘Huangshan Maofeng’ and ‘Taiping Houkui’; from Lu’an, ‘Lu’an Guapian’; from Xuancheng, ‘Jingting Lixue’; from Shucheng, ‘Shucheng Lanhua’; from Ya’an, Sichuan, ‘Mengding Ganlu’, ‘Mengding Shihua’, ‘Wanchun Yinye’; from Emei Mountain, ‘Zhuye Qing’; from Dujiangyan, ‘Qingcheng Xue Ya’; from Enshi, Hubei, ‘Enshi Yulu’; from Wudang Mountain, ‘Wudang Dao Tea’, and so on. In the ‘Chinese Tea Classic’ edited by Academician Chen Zongmao and Researcher Yang Yajun, 153 types of famous green teas from all over the country are included, making it the most diverse category among the six major types of tea in the book. Brewing green tea to taste good often involves using single buds or tender leaves with one or two buds and three leaves. When brewing green tea, the water temperature can be slightly lower to prevent the release of too many bitter substances such as polyphenols and caffeine from the delicate leaves, which can affect the taste and aesthetic of the tea soup. For most delicate green teas, a water temperature of 80-90 degrees can better showcase the fresh fragrance, sweetness, and refreshing characteristics of green tea. Porcelain or glass is recommended for brewing green tea. Using a porcelain Gaiwan, the tea-to-water ratio can be controlled between 1:50 and 1:20, which can be adjusted according to personal preference for the strength of the tea soup. For example, for a 150ml Gaiwan, 3-5g of tea can be used, with a quick infusion of 5-10 seconds to experience the different flavor changes of each infusion; if using a glass cup or, due to the longer infusion time, the amount of tea can be slightly less, and Wu Yuan, the editor, suggests that 1-2g of tea is enough; when using a glass cup, in addition to placing the tea leaves first and then pouring water, the ‘upper infusion method’ can also be used, which involves filling the cup with water first and then adding tea leaves; or the ‘middle infusion method’, which involves pouring 1/3 or half of the water into the cup first, then adding tea leaves, and finally filling the cup with water. These two methods allow for a better appreciation of the beautiful sight of tea leaves slowly unfolding in water.5. How to Appreciate Green Tea
We can appreciate the beauty of green tea in an all-round way through senses such as vision, smell, and taste. As the tea category with the longest history in China, tea makers from ancient times to the present have spent a great deal of effort in making the appearance of green tea beautiful. Tea makers in different places have created green teas in various shapes through rolling and shaping, presenting different visual aesthetics to tea lovers.
In terms of aroma, most green teas made from delicate fresh leaves have a delicate fragrance and a stir-fried bean aroma. Among the high-grade ones, there is also a faint orchid and flower fragrance, which is refreshing. For example, the authentic West Lake Longjing.
In terms of taste, when brewed properly, the green tea soup is sweet, with a fresh taste and a long-lasting aftertaste and saliva production, leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth.
6. Who Is Suitable to Drink Green Tea
From the perspective of traditional medicine, green tea is cold in nature, bitter, sweet, and cool in taste. It can enter the heart, lung, and stomach meridians, helping us clear away heat and relieve summer heat, promote fluid production and quench thirst, clear the heart and relieve annoyance, and improve eyesight.
Friends who are prone to getting angry and having acne, and who like to eat spicy hot pot and have some barbecue in the evening, are recommended to drink some green tea appropriately after breakfast and lunch.
Unfermented green tea is cool in nature and can clear away heat. For friends with a hot constitution, strong stomach fire, or those who often like spicy food, green tea may help you clear away heat and reduce fire to a certain extent, making your body more comfortable.
For smokers, green tea is also your good friend. Green tea contains organic acids and caffeine. Drinking green tea can reduce the harm of smoking to the lungs and lower the probability of lung cancer, making your lungs healthier.
However, although green tea has many benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. People with a cold stomach, or those with digestive tract diseases such as gastritis and gastric ulcers, may be irritated by the cold nature of green tea. People with iron deficiency anemia or those taking iron supplements should also drink less or no green tea, because tea polyphenols will affect the absorption of iron.
Friends with poor sleep had better not drink green tea at night, otherwise they may suffer from insomnia.7. When Is Suitable to Drink Green Tea
Editor-in-Chief Wu Yin suggests that in addition to different personal constitutions and objective tea natures, if we can take into account the differences in seasons, mornings, and evenings, drinking tea will be more scientific and healthy.
Green tea, which is cold in nature, is suitable for drinking in spring and early summer when yang qi is growing and abundant throughout the year. And during the day, it is suitable for drinking during the period of abundant yang qi from early morning to noon.
Among the six major types of tea, green tea is the most valued for its ‘freshness’. Tea enthusiasts who appreciate green tea typically consume the green tea they purchase within the same year, rarely storing it for long periods. The storage of green tea is similar to other types of tea, primarily focusing on moisture-proofing, odor prevention, and avoiding light exposure.
Many tea lovers, in order to preserve the ‘original flavor’ of green tea, choose to store it in the freezer compartment of their refrigerator. It is important to note that due to the presence of various foods in the refrigerator, special attention should be given to odor prevention when using this method. Tea enthusiasts might consider placing green tea in a sealed bag lined with aluminum foil before storing it in the refrigerator. These are some common knowledge points about green tea compiled by the Tea Master. Tea enthusiasts are welcome to share their favorite green teas and their drinking experiences in the comments section.
