Green Tea お茶

If you really want to know what Japanese green tea tastes like then

 you should stop by your local Asian-mart. 

American green tea is only a watered down cousin. 

Japanese green tea has a deeper, earthier flavor, like the smell of fresh-cut grass.

 

The sign above advertises four different types of green tea (each one sold in pocket-sized party favor bags): green tea leaves (for steeping), matcha (green tea powder), roasted tea, and rice tea.

  

Here is a very informative article about the different types of tea in Japan, if you want to learn more about each of these and others. http://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=4&chapter=0&language=en

I like regular green tea and matcha, but I think the others are an acquired taste. 

Matcha, if you are wondering, is  a green tea essence which has been turned into a powder so that it can be added to hot or cold liquids. If you are texture sensitive, I would suggest only adding this to creamy things (like ice-cream or milkshakes) because it can have a slightly grainy-chalky texture otherwise. Conveniently, here is a recipe for matcha ice-cream.   

http://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=4&chapter=0&language=enhttp://injapan.gaijinpot.com/play/food-and-dining/2012/08/01/matcha-green-tea/

I know that discussing Japanese tea almost requires a discussion of the tea ceremony, but I do not have enough experience or knowledge to comment on that since I still have not seen one.  Sorry.  

Instead, I implore you to look at this shocking array of green tea types 

(different textures of grind, different production styles, different nuances) 

and be amazed as I was in this little tea shop in downtown Mito.