緑茶(りょくちゃ)

緑茶(りょくちゃ) is tea made from unfermented tea leaves and is the most commonly consumed type of tea in Japan.

Types

• 煎茶(せんちゃ): the most common everyday variety
• 抹茶(まっちゃ): powdered green tea, used in tea ceremony
• 玉露(ぎょくろ): high-grade shaded tea with a rich, sweet flavor
• ほうじ茶(ちゃ): roasted green tea with a toasty flavor
• 番茶(ばんちゃ): coarser, everyday tea

Usage

In everyday Japanese, お茶(ちゃ) usually means 緑茶(りょくちゃ) by default. The specific term 緑茶(りょくちゃ) is used when distinguishing from other types like 紅茶(こうちゃ) (black tea) or ウーロン茶(ちゃ) (oolong tea).

Common collocations

• 緑茶(りょくちゃ)を入(い)れる (make/brew green tea)
• 緑茶(りょくちゃ)を飲(の)む (drink green tea)
• ペットボトルの緑茶(りょくちゃ) (bottled green tea — very popular in Japan)