Hello everyone.
Today, I’d like to explain one of the most popular drinks you’ll find at Japanese convenience stores: green tea.
In Japan, there are many kinds of tea, but green tea is one of the most commonly consumed.
However, many foreign customers are unsure which one to choose.
So today, I’ll break it down using real products you can actually find in stores.
■ 3 Types of Green Tea (Simple Guide)
From my experience, green tea at convenience stores can be roughly divided into three types:
👉 Standard green tea
👉 Strong (bitter) green tea
👉 Light (mild) green tea
■ 1. Standard Green Tea (Best for Beginners)
This is the most common and easiest type to drink.
- Well-balanced flavor
- Not too bitter
- Commonly consumed daily in Japan
Popular products:
- Oi Ocha（お〜いお茶）– Ito En（伊藤園）
- Iyemon（伊右衛門）– Suntory（サントリー）
- Namacha（生茶）– Kirin（キリン）
👉 If you’re not sure, start with one of these.
■ 2. Strong Green Tea (Health-Focused Type)
This type has a stronger, more bitter taste.
👉 It contains higher levels of catechins, compounds often associated with metabolism and fat reduction.
Popular products:
- Healthya（ヘルシア）– Kao（花王）
- Iyemon Tokucha（伊右衛門 特茶）– Suntory（サントリー）
“Tokucha（特茶）” is especially popular in Japan.
⚠️ Important:
👉 Not recommended for beginners
👉 Significantly more bitter than standard green tea
■ 3. Light Green Tea (Mild and Easy to Drink)
Some brands also offer lighter versions of green tea.
These are:
- Less intense
- Smoother and easier to drink
- Closer to water in taste
Exact product names vary by store, but compared to standard types, the difference is noticeable.
👉 A good choice if you don’t like strong tea.
■ Green Tea vs Matcha (Important Difference)
Many people confuse these two.
👉 Green tea and matcha are completely different.
Green tea（緑茶）
→ Brewed from tea leaves
Matcha（抹茶）
→ Powdered tea mixed directly with water
👉 Matcha is much stronger, thicker, and more intense in flavor.
■ Final Advice
If you’re new to Japanese convenience stores:
👉 Start with
Oi Ocha（お〜いお茶）
or
Iyemon（伊右衛門）
You really can’t go wrong with these.
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