Look out for: Tannic freshness with a roasted rice background flavour. It shouldn’t be overly acerbic or pointlessly insipid.

Guest panellist: Nicholas Watt, head chef of Roka, W1 (0871 2238113)

The top three

Waitrose Organic Green Tea, 50g, 99p
There’s just the right amount of refreshing bitterness and subtle tannins here. Fresh and herbaceous with an invigorating aroma, you know you’re drinking proper green tea.

Twinings Jasmine Green Tea, 50g, £1.19
You can certainly taste the jasmine, but it’s a blend that works quite well. There’s enough green-tea flavour, and none of that unappetising “grassiness” you sometimes get.

Sainsbury’s Pure Green Tea, 50g, 95p
Not bad. Hint of a nice smoky background flavour, and though it’s not especially robust there are worse things to quaff between courses.

And the rest…

Clipper Pure Green Tea, 50g, 99p
Worryingly pale in colour. It’s mild and delicate, which is a polite way of saying there’s next to no discernable flavour… what’s the point?

Jacksons of Piccadilly Pure Chinese Sencha Green Tea, 50g, £1.49
You really want a bit more of a bite than this, plus the aroma is faint and dull – why not save yourself a bit of money and just drink hot water instead?

Tetley Minty Green Tea Magic, 50g, 99p
Far too minty, like drinking spearmint chewing gum, only with a horrid soapy finish. The only ceremony you should perform with this tea is pouring it down the sink.

Explore Food & Drink

• Gordon Ramsay

• Heston Blumenthal

• Recipes

• Wine

• Real Food

• Drinks

• Anjum Anand

• Eating Out

• Video Recipes

Times Recommends

• Champagne cocktail
• Food that's good for body and soul
• Joe McCanta’s never-fail hangover-relief shake