Loose leaf
Green
Numi Organic Gunpowder Green
Tight little pellets. Hot water finds them. They unfurl.
By the leaf
Green.
Vegetal, grassy, occasionally sweet. Gyokuro to sencha to gunpowder: every type reviewed.
Brew temp
175°F
Steep time
2-3 min
Caffeine
medium
The short answer
Brew green tea at 175°F for 2-3 min. It carries a moderate amount of caffeine. Vegetal, grassy, occasionally sweet. Gyokuro to sencha to gunpowder: every type reviewed.
Green tea, xxxShort on time? The three we would pour first, and the one rule that keeps them honest.What we recommend.
11 reviews
Loose leaf
Green
Rishi Jade Cloud Organic Loose Leaf
Cool the water first. The leaves don't respond well to pressure.
Paper bags
Green
Ito En Oi Ocha Green Tea Bags
Japan's most-sold green tea. In a bag. No ritual required.
Loose leaf
Green
Teavivre Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green Tea
Pan-fired flat. Toasted, sweet, no grass. The Chinese standard.
Paper bags
Green
Yamamotoyama Genmaicha Green Tea
Green tea, roasted rice, popped corn. Savory cup. Long-afternoon medicine.
Loose leaf
Green
Ippodo Kuradashi Hojicha (80g Bag)
Roasted dark. Toasty, caramel-edged. A cup at ten won't argue with sleep.
Paper bags
Green
Yamamotoyama Hojicha Roasted Green Tea Bags
Roasted dark. Caffeine cooked off. Drinks at any hour, including the late ones.
Loose leaf
Green
Tealyra Jasmine Dragon Pearl Green Tea
Rolled tight. Five nights of jasmine. Drop them in and watch them unspool.
Loose leaf
Green
Rishi Tea Gyokuro Loose Leaf
Three weeks under shade. Amino acids build. Ocean-mineral, sweet, five-plus steeps.
Loose leaf
Green
Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha Loose Leaf
Steamed, not fired. Grassy-sweet, faintly oceanic. Two minutes and no more.
Loose leaf
Green
Moroccan Mint Green Tea (Gunpowder + Spearmint Loose Leaf)
Gunpowder opens slow. Spearmint finishes it.
Green, head to head.
All comparisons →Pellet vs. Pan-firedNumi Organic Gunpowder Green vs. Teavivre Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green TeaTwo Chinese greens, two completely different geometries.Convenience vs. RitualIto En Oi Ocha Green Tea Bags vs. Rishi Jade Cloud Organic Loose LeafA paper bag from Japan, or a loose tin from China.Refined vs. NuttyTeavivre Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green Tea vs. Yamamotoyama Genmaicha Green TeaA Chinese green to study, or a Japanese green to drink with food.
Jasmine green vs. Jasmine whiteTealyra Jasmine Dragon Pearl Green Tea vs. Jasmine Silver Needle White Tea Loose LeafSame perfume, two different bodies underneath.Shaded vs. full-sun greenRishi Tea Gyokuro Loose Leaf vs. Rishi Jade Cloud Organic Loose LeafSame plant family. Three weeks of shade changes everything.FAQ
Green tea, answered.
What temperature should I brew green tea at?+
Green tea brews best at 175°F. Match the water to the leaf: too hot and it turns bitter, too cool and it brews flat.
How long do you steep green tea?+
Steep green tea for 2-3 min. Pull the leaf at the end of that window rather than leaving it in the cup, or the later sips turn astringent.
Does green tea have caffeine?+
Yes, a moderate amount. Green tea sits in the middle: enough for a lift without a jolt.
What's the best green tea to buy?+
We rate Numi Organic Gunpowder Green among the standouts. Tight little pellets. Hot water finds them. They unfurl. See all 11 green picks reviewed above.
Brew it right
The full green method: ratio, water, technique.