Green tea culture Korea vs Japan

(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)

When American friends come over to my place and ask for water, I hand them green tea stored in my refrigerator. They often respond with surprise, asking, “Can you please get me water?” Then I realized how for me, tea is almost synonymous with water.

Green tea originated in China, but today it has spread throughout Asia, including Korea and Japan. Korea has a widespread tea culture in daily life, and green tea, in particular, is one of the most beloved teas.

However, in Japan, their passion for green tea is on another level. As a Korean who is deeply into green tea, traveling to Japan was absolutely enjoyable. I could sample all types of green tea desserts, drinks, and shop for green tea products to my heart’s content.

Green tea in Japan

(Photo by Hyemin Lee)

(Photo by Hyemin Lee)

(Photo by Hyemin Lee)

The biggest difference between green tea culture in Korea and Japan I noticed is in matcha, a type of green tea made by grinding leaves into a powder, is the main focus. What surprised me when I first tried Japanese matcha was a much richer taste and a slight bitterness compared to Korean green tea.

When matcha is cultivated, green tea leaves are grown in the shade. The cultivation and use of buds and young leaves result in matcha having a rich and unique flavor, higher nutrient content, and stronger caffeine, according to the Global Japanese Tea Association.

Matcha has also significantly influenced the development of tea culture in Japan with the “sado” tea ceremony, which is treated as an art form. For Japanese, green tea is not just one of many types of teas, but a tradition and culture that have been enthusiastically embraced throughout history.

Green tea in Korea

(Korea Tourism Organization)

In contrast, Korean green tea tends to have a soft and mild taste, making it easy for beginners to enjoy. Korean green tea is praised for being grown in clean environments in Boseong, Haedong, and Jeju Island. Koreans usually enjoy green tea in tea bags, along with other beloved teas such as barley tea and corn silk tea.

O’sulloc, a premium Korean brand known for Jeju green tea products, is popular for its variety of teas and other products like green tea chocolate and snacks. If you want to experience Korean green tea, trying O’sulloc products is a good start. The brand also has a museum and tea field for visitors in Jeju.

While the way that Korea and Japan enjoy green tea has some similarities and differences, I was pleased that I could still consume it like water during my visit to Japan. Since I brought a half-empty suitcase, my favorite part of the trip was, of course, shopping to fill it with various matcha snacks.