Japanese Bottled Green Tea | Comprehensive Guide by Japanese webmaster

Bottled Green Tea is very popular drink in Japan. Japanese call it as ‘Ryokucha’ or ‘Ryokucha Petto’ and there is very high popularity in Japanese market.

In this article, I would like to provide complete guide to you for good understanding of this Japanese products. Thank you !

Feature of Bottled Green Tea in Japan

To understand Japanese Bottled Green Tea products smoothly, I would like to explain its features with 4 parts.

• Specifications
• Sales channels – where we can get Bottled Green Tea in Japan
• Situation – When / Which people have Bottled Green Tea in Japan
• History

Specifications

We can see various types of Bottled Green Tea in Japan. Most of products are with Green label. In Japan, Green labeled drink is Green Tea, in most of cases.

There are mainly two types, Hot Green Tea and Cold one. Temperature for cold drinking is around 5 degrees Celsius, hot is around 55 degrees Celsius.

The volume is various. Cold products is provided with 280ml to 2L. And Hot one is with 280ml to 500ml.

Where can we get Bottled Green Tea in Japan ?

There are various sales channel for Bottled Green tea in Japan. It’s mainly tow channels, at stores, like supermarket, kiosks, convenience stores, and vending machines.

As there are more than 55,000 of convenience stores and 2,000,000 vending machines in Japan, we can get Bottled Green Tea almost all over Japan in 24/7, 365 days.

Situation to have Bottled Green Tea in Japan

According to investigation by research company in Japan, people have Bottled Green Tea in various situation. Mainly it’s for water replacement and drinking in lunch time.

This company also investigate characteristics of consumers. According to the investigation, more than 80% of people have Bottled Green Tea at least once a month and 21% have more than 4 times per week.

History of Bottled Green Tea in Japan

Green Tea products were initially provided with Steel Can. The first steel can product was on sale in 1985 by green tea Manufacturer, Itoen as pioneer of this industry.

In 1990, Itoen started sales of Plastic Bottled Green Tea. This product change life style of Japanese. People started to have green tea outside, while it was mainly drunk at home.

In 2000, Itoen started sales of hot Bottled Green Tea. With this product, sales in winter season was increased and people get to have Green Tea whole year.

Flavor of Green Tea in Japan

There are mainly 2 types of Bottled Green Tea in Japan.

• Standard Green Tea
• Strong Green Tea

Japanese don’t have customs to add sugar into green tea. So both type don’t contain any sugar. So basically, Bottled Green Tea has some bitterness.

Standard Green Tea has sharp mouth feeling more than bitterness. And Strong one has bitterness more than sharpness. Both products are good for refreshing of mouth.

The 4 Best Bottled Green Tea Brands in Japan

There are so many brands of Bottled Green Tea in Japan. I’m afraid that it’s quite difficult for you to find your favorite one.

For your good opportunity to have Japanese Bottled Green Tea products, I would like to introduce the best 4 Japanese Bottled Green Tea Brands.

Criteria for Selection

I have selected the 4 best canned coffee brands with following criteria.

• Easy to Get
  • Available at Supermarkets
  • Many vending machines in the city
• Popularity
  • Well known among Japanese people
  • Large Sales in Japanese market

Oi Ocha by ITOEN

’Oi Ocha’ is most popular green tea brand in Japan. This product has more than 30% of share in bottled green tea market in Japan. Producer, Itoen is a pioneer to produce canned and bottled green tea. ‘Oi Ocha’ is the oldest among top 4 brands.

Iyemon by suntory

’Iyemon’ is the green tea brand with 2nd largest share in bottled green tea market in Japan. Market share is more than 20%. This brand is made under the partnership with ‘Fukuju-en’ as very old tea shop. ‘Iyemon’ is from name of founder of ‘Fukuju-en’.

Ayataka by Coca Cola Japan

’Auataka’ is the green tea brand with 3rd largest share in bottled green tea market in Japan. Market share is more than 20%. Sales is increasing 12 years in a row and getting closer to ‘Iyemon’ already. ‘Nigori’ (unclear liquid) like teapot-made is intentionally reproduced by ‘Ayataka’.

Namacha by KIRIN

’Namacha’ is the green tea brand with 4th largest share in bottled green tea market in Japan. Market share is more than 10%. In 2014, decaffeinated green tea, ‘Namacha Decaf’ was released to the market, which is supported by young women.

Summary

This is the end of article. In the end, let me summarize this article.

Now you got enough knowledge about Bottled Green Tea in Japan. I hope you can enjoy to have this representative products of Japan !