Chinese Green Tea Guide for Importers — Chunmee, Gunpowder, Steamed & Matcha

Green tea is China’s No.1 export category and the backbone of bulk tea trade to Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Japan. This guide explains the four families every buyer should know, how grades differ, and the discrimination skills that protect your margin. Product specifications: Chunmee 41022 · Gunpowder 3505 · Steamed green · Matcha.

1. Chunmee (眉茶) — the Bulk Workhorse

Thin, tightly rolled “eyebrow” leaf, strong brisk liquor. Item numbers encode the grade family: 41022 (whole-leaf standard), 41005 (tea-bag fannings), 9371 (economy). Buy by contractual stem and dust limits, declared crop season, and sealed counter-samples. Read the Morocco selection guide →

2. Gunpowder (珠茶) — the Pellet Tea

Round, tightly rolled pellets graded by tightness and gloss: 3505 is the superior item, 9372/9475 the lighter economy items. High-grade gunpowder feels heavy, stays hard in the palm and gives a roasted-sweet, full cup — the classic partner to Chunmee in North African and Central Asian programs.

3. Steamed Green Tea (蒸青) — the Japan/EU Profile

Steam fixation preserves deep green color and seaweed-fresh umami. Key variables: steaming depth (medium vs fukamushi), color (instrumental L value) and residue compliance with the Japan Positive List and EU MRL. Organic certified lots available.

4. Matcha (抹茶) — the Fineness Game

Stone-milled from shade-grown tencha. Ceremonial 1000–1500 mesh for whisked tea; culinary 800–1000 mesh for bakery and milk tea. Anti-adulteration: real matcha shows bright jade color, silky fineness and umami sweetness — never plain green-tea-powder bitterness. Demand tencha origin proof and third-party tests.

Universal Green Tea Quality Parameters

Parameter	Typical limit
Moisture	≤ 6.5% (GB/T 14456)
Total ash	≤ 7.0%
Tea dust / powder	≤ 1.0–1.5% by grade
Water extract	≥ 32%
Pesticide residue	Destination MRL (EU 396/2005, Japan Positive List)

Discrimination Skills Every Buyer Should Master

Dry leaf: tight uniform twist, natural grey-green (dull = old/re-baked), white-paper rub test for dye.
Liquor: bright yellow-green, clear; dark turbid liquor = poor fixation or old tea.
Leaf base: soft, even, greenish-yellow; scorched or coarse dark leaves = bad processing.
Season: spring = tips + aroma; summer = stems + bitterness; autumn = thin liquor.