Japanese Green Tea vs Vietnamese Tea

There are significant differences between Vietnamese Tea and Japanese Tea. However, each type of extraordinary tea has its own originality and peculiarities, generating fantastic stories that all tea enthusiasts will remember. Let's go to the ten battles between two kinds of tea to learn more about it.

1.   INCREDIBLE HABIT: Drinking Tea is a Favored Habit Between Vietnamese People

Tea drinking is considered a form of beauty in Vietnamese culture. It serves as a means of social connection. Vietnamese people use teacups to show their hospitality to guests.

Vietnamese tea appears in traditional ceremonies such as weddings or Tet holidays. Respectfully serving tea can show the filial piety of the youth to their grandparents and parents,  as the elderly happily drink each sip of tea from the young.

Vietnamese people like to drink tea every day: at home, at work, on roadsides, or in tea shops. The elders tend to favor green tea, lotus tea, and jasmine tea, and they are often at home, while the younger generation nowadays likes to drink milk tea, iced tea, filter tea bag, or instant tea.

2. FLAVOR: Japanese Green Tea isn`t Fermented

Most Japanese Green tea is not fermented in the traditional sense, like black tea. Tea leaves must be heated as soon as they are picked for this process. (see this video for more about this) The most common way to heat tea leaves is to place them in direct contact with the heating surface. However, in Japan, the process of manufacturing green tea is different as the tea leaves are cooked and heated in water vapor shortly after they have been harvested. Although this method originated in China many years ago, it is now used in Japan to manufacture premium green teas. (Note: this method is no longer common in China)

3. CREATIVITY: Vietnamese People Have a Variety of Tea Drinking Styles

Foreign newspapers or magazines probably rarely mention tea from Vietnam, and are less known compared to Chinese or Japanese teas. However, the tea culture in Vietnam has been deeply rooted in every Vietnamese person's mind. Vietnamese tea-drinking culture appears everywhere, from rural to urban areas. The drinking styles are both sophisticated and straightforward. While many Asian countries only use dried tea leaves, Vietnam takes a unique way of drinking tea by using fresh tea leaves.

4. HEALTH ADVANTAGES: Japanese Green Tea and Health

Catechins are polyphenols found in green tea that can combat infections while they are also suitable for slowing the aging process and have anti-cancer capabilities. You can lower your blood sugar as well as your blood pressure by consuming green tea. In addition, it promotes a healthy immune system and aids in cholesterol reduction. As you can see, green tea has a number of health advantages; however, you must locate good quality green teas to get the most out of them. Green tea also consists of theophylline, a better and healthier type of caffeine, which gently releases energy throughout a span of 6-8 hours. It is known that bodybuilders frequently consume green tea extract before exercising to increase their energy levels.

5. A GREETING CUSTOM: Tea in Vietnam is an Expression of Hospitality

The way Vietnamese people prepare tea can show their hospitality as the host. They are meticulous in tea selection, preparation of ingredients, tea tools, and the tea leaves themselves. Vietnamese people care for the quality of the tea leaves and the water they use to brew since these factors affect the entire quality of each cup of tea they will be serving. A  Vietnamese tea set is always very clean, and each cup is served respectfully with two hands.

6. DIVERSITY: Japanese Green Tea Has More Than 10 Different Types of Tea

You might be shocked to learn about how many different of types Japanese teas there are. In Japan, there are more than TEN kinds of green tea! Isn`t that astonishing? The five most recognized ones being Sencha, Tencha, Matcha, Genmaicha, and Bancha, its types have diverse tastes, heights, and harvest times – depending on whether it is grown in the shade and how it is processed, each craft fantastic stories for sure. See here for a comprehensive list of Japanese tea types

7. UNIQUENESS: Vietnamese Lotus Teas are Different From Other Countries

Lotus tea in Vietnam is unique and different from that of other countries. It is a scented tea that blends green tea with the lotus aroma, or lotus rice. Lotus tea in Vietnam is usually made from high quality lotus buds.

Most tea producers make lotus tea handmade from 100% natural ingredients without using any chemicals. The secret of marinating tea in lotus leaves has been passed down through generations to get a clear liquor, a bitter taste, and of course the sweet taste of lotus. In order to manufacture 1 kilogram of lotus tea, the craftsman will need 1,000-1,200 lotus blooms. The "rice" is manufactured by marinating and drying one tea at a time. The procedure is repeated 5-7 times to infuse the taste of the lotus into the new tea, resulting in a uniquely premium beverage.

8. DEDICATION: Special Way to Enjoy Japanese Green Tea to the Fullest

Making matcha as part of chanoyu is the most traditional way to consume Japanese green tea (tea ceremony). Therefore, matcha would be the preferred beverage for tea houses (Chashitsu). However, if you do not like matcha, you may also steep your Japanese green tea in a regular tea kettle. Or, you can also consider purchasing a more conventional Japanese teapot.

This can either be a Tetsubin (cast iron teapot) or a Kyusu (clay teapot). The cast iron teapot was initially intended for heating water, but over time, it has also been used to steep tea as well since it is considered ideal for preserving the heat of your tea.

9. OMNIPRESENCE: Vietnam is the 5th Largest Tea Exporter in the World.

According to the Vietnam Tea Association, by 2020, Vietnam will have 34 provinces cultivating tea, covering a total area of 123 thousand hectares with an average yield of around 95 quintals/ha and total production of 1.02 million tons of fresh bud tea. Vietnam is presently ranked fifth in tea exports and seventh in tea production worldwide. Vietnam is exporting tea to 74 different countries and territories.

Despite facing complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, tea is one of the products we keep in production. For this reason, the growth of Vietnam’s tea exports to many main markets is guaranteed to be stable. According to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), tea exports reached 58,100 tons, which was worth USD 94.9 million in the first six months of 2021, and up to 0.3% in volume and 4.4% in value over the previous year. The average export price of tea from Vietnam in the first half of 2021 was USD 1,632.9 per ton, which was 4.1% higher compared to the same period last year.

10.   LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE: Japanese Green Tea Contains Lower Caffeine Compared to Vietnamese Green Tea.

Caffeine sufficiency may be beneficial to your blood pressure; however, its stimulatory impact on the nervous system has been found to boost blood pressure levels. Caffeine consumption of 3 to 5 cups per day has also been linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

One study discovered that the caffeine concentration of Vietnamese green teas was much lower than that of Chinese green teas; however, greater than that of Japanese green tea samples. These findings are corroborated by prior research done by Takeda (1994) and Katsuyuki et al. (2006). Takeda (1994) discovered that the caffeine concentration in Japanese teas are lower than that of Chinese teas. However, Katsuyuki et al. (2006) discovered that fresh Vietnamese green tea leaves (wet, not dry) had a comparatively high caffeine content energy expenditure and fat oxidation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 1999. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/6/1040.full

And the winner is…

It’s a tie! 5 to 5. Vietnamese Tea wins on incredible habit, creativity, greeting custom, uniqueness, and omnipresence. Japanese Tea wins on flavor, health advantages, diversity, dedication, and health advantages such as lowering blood pressure. I hope you are amazed at how fantastic each teas are.

FAQs about Japanese vs Vietnamese Green Tea

What's the actual difference in how Japanese and Vietnamese green tea are made? Why is Japanese green tea so much more expensive than Vietnamese? Is Vietnamese green tea healthier than Japanese green tea? Can I substitute Vietnamese green tea for Japanese sencha? How can I tell if my "Japanese green tea" is actually from Japan?

What's the actual difference in how Japanese and Vietnamese green tea are made?

Honestly, this one difference explains almost everything else. Japanese green tea gets steamed within hours of being picked, and that's why it tastes so vegetal and grassy — almost like a fresh-cut lawn, in a good way. Most Vietnamese green tea is pan-fired or wok-fired instead, which gives you that toasty, slightly smoky, roasted-chestnut flavor.

Same plant, two different finishes. Once you've tasted them next to each other, you can usually pick which is which in a sip or two. It's that distinct.

If you want to go deeper on what makes Japanese tea look so green and taste so fresh, our breakdown of the different types of Japanese tea is below.

Everything You Need to Know About Different Types of Japanese tea

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Why is Japanese green tea so much more expensive than Vietnamese?

This is one I get asked a lot, and the honest answer is it's a few things stacked. Japanese tea is grown on small family farms with a lot of hand labor and pretty tight standards on shading, picking, and steaming. Vietnamese tea gardens tend to be larger, more mechanized, and processed in bigger batches, which keeps costs down.

There's also the harvest timing piece. Japan has a real winter, so the first flush — shincha — comes after a long dormancy and gets picked in a tiny window in late April. That short, scarce window drives the price up. Vietnam's climate is warmer, so the same plants get picked several times a year without that long pause. No single "first harvest" worth chasing in the same way.

So you're not just paying for the leaf, you're paying for everything around it. That said, more expensive isn't always better. There are great Vietnamese teas and pretty mediocre Japanese ones — it just helps to know what you're paying for.

Is Vietnamese green tea healthier than Japanese green tea?

From what I've read, both are good for you and the differences are smaller than the marketing makes it sound. Japanese green tea — especially shaded ones like gyokuro and matcha — tends to be higher in L-theanine, the calm-focus amino acid, and the steaming step holds onto more catechins. Vietnamese green tea has plenty of EGCG too, and the fresh leaves are actually quite caffeine-rich.

If I had to put it plainly, matcha is probably the most nutrient-dense form because you're drinking the whole leaf as powder. But honestly, the bigger health variable is just whether you actually drink it regularly, and whether the tea is fresh instead of sitting on a shelf for a year. Quality and consistency beat origin every time.

If you're curious about the actual science of what's in green tea and how caffeine interacts with L-theanine, our deep-dive is below.

Green Tea Science Part 3: Everything You Need to Know About Green Tea and Caffeine

Read more

Can I substitute Vietnamese green tea for Japanese sencha?

You can, but they don't taste the same. If a recipe (or your favorite matcha latte) calls for Japanese sencha or matcha and you swap in a pan-fired Vietnamese green, you'll get something earthier, less sweet, less umami. It's not wrong, just a different drink.

For daily steeping, both work fine if you brew them right. Vietnamese teas usually like slightly hotter water, since pan-firing builds in some heat tolerance. Japanese sencha falls apart fast if the water's too hot — keep it around 70–80°C and you'll be fine.

If you're curious how Japanese sencha is supposed to taste at its best, the Sencha Lover Gift Set is what I'd point a friend to. Three different senchas next to each other is the easiest way to dial in the flavor before you start comparing across countries.

The Sencha Lover Gift Set - Premium Japanese Green Tea Set Package $179.00 $159.99 /

How can I tell if my "Japanese green tea" is actually from Japan?

This one's tricky because the labeling rules aren't very tight. A few things I'd look for. Country of origin should say "Product of Japan" — not "packaged in Japan" or "blended in Japan," which can mean the leaves came from somewhere else. The leaf shape matters too. Japanese sencha is usually deep green, flat, almost needle-shaped, like dark pine needles. If the leaves look curly, twisted, or pale, it's probably a Chinese or Vietnamese style.

Price is the other signal. If you're seeing a pound of "Japanese sencha" for under $15, it's almost certainly blended with something cheaper. Real Japanese sencha at that volume is rare.

The easiest path, honestly, is buying from a brand that names the actual farm or region — Shizuoka, Kagoshima, Uji. If the bag just says "Japan" with no region, I'd ask a few questions before trusting it.

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