10 Best Green Teas in the Philippines 2026 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian

Sencha tea is the most common kind of green tea, especially in Japan. Its taste can be described as grassy and fresh with a mild sweetness and acidity. Compared to other green teas, sencha is light on the palate, making it a good choice if you want a refreshing drink.

Genmaicha is the Japanese term for brown rice tea. It is a combination of dried green tea leaves and roasted or popped brown rice. This gives the tea a toasted smoky flavor and a distinct aroma. Plus, it is more full-bodied and has a stronger flavor than other green teas. 

Hojicha, a Japanese tea, translates to roasted tea. This is made by steaming and drying the tea leaves before slow roasting them at a high temperature, which reduces the bitterness and the caffeine content. The taste of hojicha is similar to genmaicha due to the roasting process but has the sweetness and hints of caramel in oolong. 

Chunmee tea originates from the Jiangxi province in China. It translates to “precious eyebrows” in English because it resembles this body part. The taste is less sweet compared to other variants but has a nice, acidic kick to it. Because of its strong astringent quality, it is great to pair with sugar, honey, or milk. 

Maojian, or Maofeng tea, comes from Henan, China, and is considered one of the finest green teas. The leaves are pan-fried, which gives them a fruity and grassy taste. As you sip this tea, you will first encounter a sweet flavor before the savory umami taste hits, making it a complex yet balanced beverage.

Loose-leaf teas are for tea connoisseurs who already know their way around this beverage and would like to prepare them on their own. They come in resealable bags or jars that contain whole or slightly broken down tea leaves. The amount can vary from as little as 100 grams to as many as 1 kilogram.

Buying loose-leaf tea gives you the option to add infusions to your drink, which is a huge advantage if you like customizing it. However, you should have tea brewing equipment at home should you opt for this variant. If not, find a shop that sells both the tea that you like and tea sets with reusable tea bags. 

Tea bags are easy to prepare as you can just leave them seeping according to the time and temperature indicated on the packaging. This type often contains dustings or fannings of tea. If you want to try loose-leaf tea but have not mastered the art of brewing yet, you may go for tea bags that contain loose tea leaves inside.

The number of tea bags inside a box or set varies, so you should get one based on your consumption. For unfamiliar flavors or brands, buy a box that has around 10 tea bags. On the other hand, you can purchase sets that have at least 25 or 50 bags for your favorite variants or if you drink tea regularly. 

Aside from loose-leaf and tea bags, you can also have tea in bottles. They are usually enjoyed ice cold and are best paired with meals and snacks. The best thing about them is that they are readily available in convenience stores and groceries. This makes them ideal for those who are always on the go and do not have time to prepare tea.

The contents of the bottles can either be single servings ranging from 100 mL to 300 mL or 500 mL to 1-liter ones, which are good for sharing. Though they might be labeled as tea, they usually have added sweeteners. If you find them too sweet for your liking, you can water them down or add more ice.