The Best Green Teas

Okay, so you don't want to read through all my tasting notes on all those green teas? I figured so, but take a look at them if any of these peak your interest. Many things define a great green tea. There is the color, the aroma, the flavor and the traditions the tea follows (what it should look and taste like according to its classifications). So here is your Cliff Notes, your cheat sheet to great green teas. The teas listed below are what I think are the best green teas I have tasted as of yet. 

Buy these teas:

Dragon Well 

This must be from the Zhejiang region of China. Most are chestnut-like in flavor with a slight sweetness. The competition grade is the best. Not that I needed any more of this tea, but I just bought a half pound of West Lake Lung Ching, although this is not grown in the traditional spot it is spectacular, (get it at Special Teas) to round out my collection. Also, for a great tea get the Organic Dragon Well, Special Grade from Two Hills Tea

Bi Luo Chun 

(aka. Pi Lo Chun) This must be from the Dong Ting region of China. Both the Superior and Competition grades are great. The Superior is more musty and vegetal, while the premium and competition are sweeter and less musty. Go for a small batch of the competition grade. It's spectacular. I can't decide which merchant's tea I like the most. I am still tasting new samples. Special Teas & TeaCuppa

White Monkey King Green

One of my top favorites. This Chinese tea has a nice roasted, vegetal and slightly sweet flavor. I just bought a pound of this. Special Teas

Taiping Houkui

This is a spectacular tea. The flavors from this tea run the gamut. From sweet, to vegetal, to subtly smokey, to a nice toastiness. This is one to try. I just bought a quarter pound of this tea. Special Teas

Snow Buds Mountain

This is a well balanced and very sweet high mountain Chinese green tea. I just bought a half pound of this. Special Teas

Sencha Hiki First Flush

This is the perfect Japanese green tea. Very expensive, buy a sample or a few ounces. Special Teas

Lincang MaoFeng

This is a smooth, medium bodied lightly smokey Chinese tea. Special Teas

Sorry to all the other teas(tea guilt). Some approached greatness, but the ones above were spectacular and unique enough to qualify.

Remember if you order these teas from other merchants, either request or buy a sample of it first to make sure it's the real thing. You would be surprised at the difference between the teas from different merchants. Stick with the stores I buy from (go back and look at my tea reviews for the stores) or other reputable tea merchants. 

Enjoy!